Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc, a contract research organisation based in Wilmington, North Carolina, is to invest $100 million in Celtic Therapeutics Holdings LP, itself an investor in mid-stage drug candidates.
Genmab A/S is set to receive DKK 116 million ($23 million) from GlaxoSmithKline following the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of its monoclonal antibody for cancer, Arzerra (ofatumumab).
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Rega Institute for Medical Research, both in Belgium, have announced the receipt of a €2.8 million from the Wellcome Trust to research a treatment for dengue fever.
The German drug discovery and development company, 4SC AG, has announced plans to raise €25 to €30 million in a rights issue to existing shareholders. The new shares are being offered at €3 per share, or at about the current market price.
Evolva SA, a Swiss biotech company with a genetic chemistry platform, is raising CHF 28 million in the first closing of a Series B financing that will support its planned takeover of Arpida Ltd, another Swiss biotech company.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $115 million to the non-profit partnership, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), to help it develop its portfolio of anti-malarial medicines. This is the MMV’s fifth grant from the foundation.
BioCeramic Therapeutics, a privately-owned company that is developing bioactive materials for orthopaedic and dental applications has received £1.2 million to support its operations ahead of the commercialisation of its lead product in 2010.
Sygnis Pharma AG has established a €10 million, three-year standby equity facility with YA Global Master SPV Ltd, the Cayman Islands investment vehicle of Yorkville Advisors LLC of the US.
A Switzerland-based diagnostics company, Biocartis SA, has raised €10 million in a Series A financing round led by Aescap Venture of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The company has technology for eventual use in in vitro diagnostic settings.
Merck & Co Inc has expanded its research alliance with Galapagos NV of Belgium to include the discovery of potential small molecule drugs in atherosclerosis. This raises the potential milestones from the alliance to €400 million, Galapagos said.