News

Daiichi Sankyo to acquire Plexxikon for $805 million

Country
Japan

Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd has reached an agreement to acquire Plexxikon Inc of the US, which has a product for metastatic melanoma in Phase 3, along with a companion diagnostic. The Japanese company is offering $805 million for Plexxikon.

Belimumab trial highlighted in The Lancet

Country
United Kingdom

A Phase 3 trial of the monoclonal antibody, belimumab, has shown the drug to be safe and effective for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and may be a new option for management of the disease, according to a paper in The Lancet.

Ipsen and BioMérieux collaborate in personalised medicine

Country
France

Ipsen SA and BioMérieux SA of France have entered into a global collaboration to develop therapies and companion diagnostics for prostate and breast cancers, neuro-endocrine tumours and pituitary tumours. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

TiGenix to merge with Spanish stem-cell company

Country
Belgium

TiGenix NV of Belgium and Cellerix SA of Spain have agreed to merge creating what is expected to be the largest cell therapy and regenerative medicine company in Europe. It is the most significant corporate transaction in the field of regenerative medicine since the December 2010 alliance between Cephalon Inc and Mesoblast Ltd of Australia

4SC raises €11.74 million in private placement

Country
Germany

4SC AG, which has a portfolio of products focused on autoimmune and cancer indications, has raised a gross €11.74 million in a private placement with institutional investors to finance its ongoing product development activities.

Lundbeck’s 2010 results meet forecast

Country
Denmark

H. Lundbeck A/S achieved its forecasted growth in 2010 boosted by strong demand for products that treat central nervous system disorders. The Danish company expects revenue to increase by at least 3% in the current year.

MorphoSys sees another year of rising R&D spending

Country
Germany

MorphoSys AG expects to see another year of heavy investment in its proprietary antibody portfolio as the pace of early-clinical stage development quickens. In 2011, proprietary R&D spending is expected to rise by about 50%, the company announced.

Ablynx reports 6% increase in revenue in 2010

Country
Belgium

Ablynx NV, which discovers and develops fragment antibodies as therapies, said revenue in 2010 increased by 6% to €31.4 million primarily driven by milestone payments from Boehringer Ingelheim, which amounted to €11 million.

Addex narrows loss, progresses two lead products

Country
Switzerland

Addex Pharmaceuticals Ltd of Switzerland narrowed its loss and conserved cash in 2010 while moving its two lead products for respectively, Parkinson’s disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, and schizophrenia, ahead in the clinic.

Intercell raises €33 million with leveraged convertible issue

Country
Austria

Intercell AG, the Austrian vaccine developer, is raising €33 million with a three-year convertible note issue which gives its institutional investors considerable leverage possibilities. The company increased the private placement to meet demand.