AstraZeneca Plc has decided to further invest in a candidate drug for Alzheimer’s disease arising from a research collaboration with Targacept Inc, according to the US company. The molecule modulates the alpha4beta2 neuronal nicotinic receptor.
Apogenix GmbH has raised €7.5 million from private investors to advance development of its lead product for glioblastoma. The announcement comes shortly after the company said it will investigate a new indication for the same product.
Essex Woodlands, one of the world’s largest healthcare funds, is to take a controlling 51% interest in a new joint venture that will manage a portfolio of medical technology products currently owned by Smith & Nephew Plc of the UK.
Probiodrug AG has secured €15 million from venture capitalists and private investors to support its programme for glutaminyl cyclase inhibitors, the lead compound of which is set to move towards clinical proof of concept in Alzheimer’s disease.
The Swedish speciality pharmaceutical company, Pharmalink AB, has raised SEK35 million (€3.93 million) in a share placement with its existing investors including Sweden’s Industrifonden, to support the late-stage development of two products.
BioInvent International AB is to discover antibodies and provide research services to Les Laboratoires Servier under a licensing and collaboration deal announced on 4 January that has a potential value of €11 million as well as future royalties.
A new Swedish company, Galecto Biotech AB, has received venture funding to develop small-molecule modulators of the galectin family of proteins that could potentially treat fibrosis, inflammation and other diseases.
Apogenix GmbH of Germany has received €2.3 million from the German government to explore a new indication for its lead cancer product, APG101, which is a fusion protein. The new indication is myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Zealand Pharma A/S has received €3 million in milestone payments from the Helsinn Group of Switzerland following progress in the early-stage development of a new peptide drug for the treatment of diarrhoea induced by chemotherapy.
AstraZeneca Plc has struck deals with companies operating in China and Japan giving it access to novel compounds in the therapeutic areas of oncology and diabetes. The separate deals involve preclinical and clinical assets.