Histide AG, a Swiss biotech company founded in 2014, has raised CHF 4.5 million (€3.74 million) to develop its extracellular technology for directing cell fate. The funds were provided by Parter Capital Group AG and a number of private investors.
Cardio3 BioSciences SA of Belgium has acquired the US medical device specialist, CorQuest Medical Inc, for an undisclosed amount of money in order to strengthen its heart failure franchise. Cardio3 already has an autologous stem cell treatment for heart failure in Phase 3 development.
AstraZeneca Plc has expanded its oncology footprint with a deal to acquire a German diagnostics company, Definiens GmbH, and a separate agreement to conduct clinical trials of new combination treatments for cancer with Pharmacyclics Inc of the US.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has become the second large pharma company in recent weeks to invest in treatments for fibrosis with the signing of an option agreement to acquire Galecto Biotech AB of Denmark which has an early stage product for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Cambridge Epigenetix Ltd (CEGX), a spinout of the University of Cambridge that makes epigenetics tools, has raised $5.5 million from venture capital organisations in a Series A round. The financing was led by New Science Ventures LLP of New York, New York.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has purchased an exclusive option to acquire F-star Alpha Ltd, a Cambridge, UK-based company which has a preclinical drug candidate targeting HER2-positive tumours including those that are refractory to trastuzumab and pertuzumab.
ImevaX GmbH, a 2014 spin-out of the Technische Universität Mϋnchen (TUM) in Germany, has completed a €7.5 million Series A financing round to advance a candidate vaccine against Helicobacter pylori, a major cause of stomach ulcers.
Advent Life Sciences, which is part of Advent Venture Partners LLP, has raised £145.5 million for a second fund to seed and build life science companies in the UK, continental Europe and the US. The partnership said the amount raised exceeded its target.
Novartis International AG has reached agreement to sell its influenza vaccines business to CSL Ltd of Australia for US $275 million, subject to regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2015.
Erytech Pharma SA, which publically offered its shares for the first time in April 2013, has returned to the Paris Euronext exchange for €30 million in an offering that was 68% subscribed by US institutions.