BioNTech SE, developer with Pfizer Inc of the first messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, is to strengthen its position in the growing field of RNA therapeutics with the acquisition of CureVac NV. Both companies have mRNA technologies, both are located in Germany and both have listings on the Nasdaq market in the US. In addition to experience with infectious diseases, both companies are developing candidate therapies for cancer.
Novo Nordisk A/S, developer of the semaglutide and liraglutide injectable medicines for obesity, has enlisted the help of Deep Apple Therapeutics Inc to enlarge its portfolio by discovering new small molecules that can treat obesity as well as other cardiometabolic diseases. The Danish company is to pay up to $812 million to secure the collaboration, which will give it access to an algorithm to screen potential compounds against a chosen target. The target is a non-incretin G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR).
SpliceBio SL, a clinical-stage genetic medicines company in Spain, has received $135 million in Series B financing to advance a new therapy for Stargardt disease, an inherited condition that can lead to the progressive loss of vision and blindness. The financing was co-led by EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from the Roche Venture Fund and existing investors. It will help finance an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of the company’s lead gene therapy candidate SB-007.
A French start-up company located in Strasbourg has been awarded €11.25 million in seed funding to develop neuroplastogens, a class of small molecule drug, for depression and neuropsychiatric disorders. Elkedonia SAS received the funding from a syndicate co-led by Kurma Partners and including Angelini Ventures, the venture capital arm of Angelini Industries of Italy.
The Philadelphia, US, based biotech company NodThera Ltd has started dosing patients in a trial of a small molecule drug for obesity that targets a protein in an inflammasome complex in the brain. The Phase 2 study will enrol 160 patients who are obese and may or may not also have type 2 diabetes. The trial will be carried out over 24 weeks with headline data expected in the second quarter of 2026. Although it is small, the trial is being positioned to test a relatively new concept: whether it is possible to change the course of obesity by correcting underlying metabolic dysfunction.
The European Medicines Agency is to update the side effect profile for semaglutide following evidence from epidemiological studies that use of the drug is associated with a very rare eye condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This may cause loss of vision. The decision was announced on 6 June and will affect the labelling of three approved semaglutide products, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. All three are produced by Novo Nordisk A/S and are on the market in the EU.
Eli Lilly and Co has entered into an exclusive licencing agreement with Sweden-based Camurus AB to use its technology to deliver incretin products to people with obesity and diabetes over extended periods – thereby reducing frequent administration. Based in Lund, Camurus has developed a technology called FluidCrystal that consists of a lipid-based liquid combined with a dissolved active ingredient. Upon injection, the medical compound is slowly released and gradually degrades in a patient’s tissue.
Sanofi SA is to acquire Blueprint Medicines Corp, expanding its immunology pipeline with a marketed product for systemic mastocytosis, a rare blood disorder that can affect multiple systems in the body. Sanofi is to pay $129 per share in cash for the US company, representing a deal value of $9.1 billion at the transaction close in the third quarter. This figure could rise to $9.5 billion if one of the company’s clinical programmes meets specific development and regulatory milestones.
Indivior Plc, a company that is developing medicines to treat opioid use disorders, has announced plans to consolidate the trading of its shares on Nasdaq in the US. Consequently, it has initiated a delisting from the London Stock Exchange which will take effect on 25 July. “A single primary listing on Nasdaq best reflects the profile of Indivior’s business,” David Wheadon, the company’s chairman, said in a statement on 2 June.
Immunic Inc has raised $65 million from a public share offering to advance its pipeline of small molecule therapies for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The offering consists of warrants to purchase stock in the company which can be exercised at different periods up until 3 June 2030. It closed on 3 June. Immunic could receive up to an additional $130 million if the warrants are exercised in full for cash. The financing was co-led by BVF Partners and Coastlands Capital with Leerink Partners as the bookrunner.