Amgen Inc has moved to strengthen its cardiovascular portfolio with the agreed purchase of Dezima Pharma BV of the Netherlands which has a new drug for dyslipidemia in a Phase 2b clinical trial. Dezima is backed by Forbion Capital Partners and other venture funds.
Desktop Genetics Ltd, which brings CRISPR genome editing technology to a computer with access to the cloud, has raised £1.37 million in equity financing from a group of biotech executives, business angels and venture capitalists, including the chief executive of Syncona Partners LLP.
An experimental vaccine against the Ebola virus has received further support from the US government enabling the developers to improve their manufacturing and storage capabilities. The vaccine is being developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bavarian Nordic A/S.
Generic drug producer Mylan NV has made formal offer to buy all the outstanding shares of Perrigo Company Plc on terms that were not quite as favourable as its initial offer last April. Based in Ireland, Perrigo manufactures over-the-counter and generic drugs.
Actelion Ltd, which has a portfolio of drugs to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), said it has initiated preliminary discussions with ZS Pharma Inc, the details of which have not been disclosed. ZS Pharma has technology for treating ion imbalances.
A Phase 3 trial which was testing a new indication for the marketed respiratory medicine Relvar/Breo Ellipta failed to demonstrate that it could improve the survival rate for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a history of heart disease.
Novadip Biosciences SA, a spinout from the University of Louvain and the Saint-Luc University Hospital, has raised €28 million in a Series A financing round to develop a therapy for bone defects that is based on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy of Finland has announced its intention to float on the AIM market in London in order to raise money for a Phase 3 trial of its agent for acute respiratory distress syndrome Traumakine, a recombinant human interferon beta-1a.
Netherlands-based Forbion Capital Partners has announced the closing of a new €75 million fund which will enable its existing limited partners to invest in up to six portfolio companies as part of a final financing round before an exit.
The UK-based antiviral drug discovery company ReViral Ltd has raised $21 million in a Series A funding round to support development of a new treatment for infections caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that affects infants and older adults.