Finance, Grants, Deals

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has reached agreement to acquire Human Genome Sciences Inc following an increase in its per share offer to $14.25, up from $13 per share.

Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners has launched a new fund to invest in life science companies in France and in Europe. Called BioDiscovery 4, the fund raised €125 million at its first closing. It is expected to achieve €200 million by year end.

Genmab A/S has secured a third commercial deal involving its new bispecific antibody technology, this time with Janssen Biotech Inc (Johnson & Johnson). The deal includes a $3.5 million upfront payment and milestones of $175 million.

Silence Therapeutics Plc has secured commitments from existing and new shareholders to raise up to £5.7 million (gross), extending its cash runway and enabling it to complete a second clinical trial of an RNAi treatment for solid tumours.

Genkyotex SA has raised CHF25 million (€20.8 million) in new money from its venture capital backers after showing promising data from a Phase 1 trial of a new class of molecules that inhibit enzymes implicated in oxidative stress. The funding was announced on 9 July.

Wilex AG has elected to receive a final cash payment from Prometheus Laboratories Inc (Nestle SA) in connection with the out-licensing in 2011 of its cancer product Rencarex (girentuximab). The product is in a Phase 3 registration trial.

Oxford BioMedica Plc is about to extend its cash runway thanks to a decision by its pharmaceutical partner, Sanofi SA, to in-license two gene-based ophthalmology products. The decision enabled the company to ask its institutional investors for more support. And they have responded with a commitment to provide £11 million for additional working capital.

Venture-capital backed Prosonix Ltd has entered into a research agreement with Imperial College London to accelerate development of technology that is intended to improve the delivery of respiratory medicines. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca Plc are set to strengthen their diabetes franchise through a staged deal in which BMS will acquire Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc and thereafter exploit Amylin’s portfolio with AstraZeneca

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has again extended its $13 per share cash offer for Human Genome Sciences Inc- this time to a date after management will have completed a review of other strategic options. GSK’s offer to shareholders is now set to expire on 20 July.