Adaptimmune Ltd, which is developing a T cell therapies for cancer and infectious disease, has raised $104 million in a Series A financing round to support its ongoing work in multiple cancer indications. The oversubscribed round was led by New Enterprise Associates of the US.
Probiodrug AG, a German specialist in Alzheimer’s disease, is planning to make an initial public offering of its shares on the Amsterdam Euronext exchange to support development of a drug that targets small amyloid-beta aggregates.
Merck KGaA has become the second large German pharmaceutical company to reconfigure its profile with the acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich Co for $17 billion. The deal, announced on 22 September, has been approved by the boards of both companies.
CureVac GmbH, a pioneer in RNA technology, is set to work with Boehringer Ingelheim on two new oncology projects that will seek to improve outcomes for patients with non-small lung cancer by leveraging existing treatments with a cancer vaccine.
France-based OSE Pharma SA, which is developing immunotherapies for cancer, is planning an initial public offering of its shares on the Euronext stock exchange in Paris. Proceeds from the offering would be used to finance a Phase 3 study of its lead product for non-small cell lung cancer.
Under pressure to accelerate the development of novel compounds, three of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies have announced deals valued at up to $700 million – deals that could potentially result in new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and two rare, genetic heart diseases.
Antibiotic drug development has received a boost with the decision by a syndicate of Scottish investors to support MGB Biopharma Ltd, which has an agent to treat Gram-positive infections in development. The drug is set to enter the clinic in the first half of 2015.
MorphoSys AG has received grant funding for up to €1 million from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to support development of antibodies against two undisclosed G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) . The two-year grant will cover the cost of early drug development.
Nicox SA has continued its expansion into ophthalmology with agreements to acquire the French eye-care company Laboratoires Doliage and a development-stage asset for viral conjunctivitis from Marinomed Biotechnologie GmbH of Austria.
Shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG of Germany began trading on the Nasdaq over-the-counter market in the US on 12 September following an initial public offering of eight million new shares. Priced at $7 per share, the shares were trading at $5.98 on 15 September.