Finance, Grants, Deals

Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA, which has candidate products for pain and diseases of the central nervous system, has raised CHF 18.6 million (€15.2 million) in a share placement with institutional investors.

InDex Pharmaceuticals AB of Sweden has secured a licensing agreement with Almirall SA of Spain giving that company European marketing rights for its lead drug candidate for ulcerative colitis Kappaproct. The agreement comes ahead of the release of top-line data from a Phase 3 study of the therapy in patients experiencing a severe stage of the disease.

Evotec AG has signed a partnership agreement with the Debiopharm Group of Switzerland to discover and develop novel compounds for the treatment of multiple forms of solid tumours and leukaemias which have defined genetic alterations.

Genomic Vision SA, a French company focused on DNA analysis and genetic testing in cancer and inherited disorders, has raised €23 million with an initial public offering on the regulated market of the Euronext exchange in Paris. The shares start trading on 7 April.

Transgene SA, a developer of oncolytic virus therapies and an indirect subsidiary of the Institut Mérieux Group, has raised €65.5 million in a two-part share offering enabling it to carry forward an ambitious clinical trial programme for its portfolio of immunotherapies.

Nanobiotix SA, which produces nanoparticles designed to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy, has increased its capital with a €28.1 million offering on the NYSE Euronext Paris exchange. Proceeds will be used to advance its lead cancer agent – a medical device.

Horizon Discovery Group Plc has raised £68.6 million with an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market, well in excess of the originally targeted £25 million. Horizon will use the funds to expand the sales of its genomics research tools.

Evotec AG has announced the acquisition of a small asset management company, Bionamics GmbH, to help it accelerate the translation of academic innovations into assets for the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is set to gain access to new targets for the development of checkpoint inhibitors against cancer under a licensing deal with Five Prime Therapeutics Inc carrying an upfront payment of  $20 million.

BioInvent International AB, which is developing three antibodies to treat cancer, plans to raise SEK 48.9 million (€5.5 million) with a rights offering on the NASDAQ OMX Exchange in Stockholm. The proceeds will support the company’s ongoing research.