A research collaboration dating from 2015 has yielded a licensing agreement for Argenx NV of Belgium. The deal involves an antibody targeted ApoC3, a protein involved in dyslipidemia, a disorder caused by an abnormal amount of lipids in the blood.
Denmark-based ALK-Abelló A/S is preparing for an expansion of its business in the US following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval on 1 March of its allergy immunotherapy tablet Odactra for adults with house dust mite allergies.
Ipsen SA, the French specialty pharma company, reported substantial increases in revenue and operating profit for 2016. It expects the momentum to continue in 2017 when its $1 billion acquisition of Onivyde (irinotecan liposome) for treating metastatic pancreatic cancer should be completed.
Nordic Nanovector ASA has its sights on expanding the application of its experimental radioimmunotherapies in haematological cancers following positive early data for its lead product Betalutin in follicular lymphoma. Betalutin is an antibody conjugated to a radionuclide.
Congenica Ltd has raised £8 million in a Series B financing round to support the expanded marketing of its technology for analysing genome-scale DNA data. Known as Sapientia, the platform produces diagnostic reports that can be linked to symptoms patients show for genetic diseases.
InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB, which is developing treatments for immunological diseases, reported unchanged revenue for 2016 and a widening of its operating deficit as it prepares to take its lead product for ulcerative colitis into a proof-of-concept trial.
Lead Pharma Holding BV has reported progress in its collaboration with Sanofi SA to develop new medicines for autoimmune diseases. A second milestone, the size of which was not disclosed, has been paid to the Dutch company by its Big Pharma partner.
The European Medicines Agency is recommending approval of Natpar (parathyroid hormone) to treat patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism who require more than calcium and vitamin D. If approved by the European Commission, Natpar would be the first hormone replacement therapy for this condition.
Galapagos NV more than doubled its revenue in 2016 while paring its operating loss to a manageable €11.4 million compared with €89.4 million a year earlier. Moreover, the Belgian company finished the year with cash holdings of €980.9 million, which was greater than the cumulative investments made by all equity investors in the company since its founding in 1999.
Sweden-based venture capital fund HealthCap has provided funds to a new company that is developing alpha-particle emitting radiotherapeutics for cancer. Fusion Pharmaceuticals of Canada has raised $25 million in a Series A financing round.