News

Evotec and Roche end depression study

Country
Germany

Evotec AG and the Roche group said they have voluntarily ended a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in a candidate molecule for treatment-resistant depression. The decision was triggered by difficulties recruiting patients under the study protocol.

Takeda to acquire Nycomed for €9.6 billion

Country
Switzerland

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd is set to significantly increase its commercial presence in Europe with the planned acquisition of privately-owned Nycomed A/S of Switzerland. Under the agreed takeover, Takeda will pay €9.6 billion in cash to Nycomed’s shareholders who are members of a consortium of private equity funds led by Nordic Capital Private Equity Funds.

CD-Venture supports Curetis AG funding

Country
Germany

Curetis AG, a molecular diagnostics company specialising in the development of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, has raised €4.5 million in an extension of a Series A financing, bringing the total for the round to €24.5 million.

French biomarker company raises €10 million

Country
France

A French company that specialises in biomarkers for cancer, Median Technologies, has raised €10 million in a private placement of its shares with institutional investors. The company is also planning an initial public offering on NYSE Euronext Paris.

Shire to buy regenerative medicine company

Country
Ireland

Shire Plc has announced an agreement to acquire the privately-held US regenerative medicines company, Advanced BioHealing Inc, for $750 million in cash. The US company has a marketed product for diabetic foot ulcers.

Roche, Merck to explore combination HCV therapies

Country
Switzerland

The Roche group and Merck & Co have announced a number of non-exclusive agreements under which they will explore new combinations of investigational and marketed medicines for hepatitis C. This follows FDA approval of the Merck HCV drug, Victrelis.

ArGEN-X advances antibody candidate

Country
Netherlands

ArGEN-X NV, a young Dutch antibody company whose technology is based on the llama, has progressed a candidate antibody into preclinical development, its second therapeutic candidate. The compound targets an undisclosed cancer cell receptor.

Anti-PIGF agent moved forward in the clinic

Country
Belgium

A monoclonal antibody that targets placental growth factor (PIGF) has been taken to the next stage of clinical development with the start of a Phase 1b/2 study in patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive type of brain cancer.

FDA approves new hepatitis C drug

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced the approval of Victrelis (boceprevir) to treat certain adults with chronic hepatitis C. It has been authorised for use in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin.

Scientists report regeneration of eye tissue

Country
United States

Researchers from the Schepens Eye Research Institute in the US have reported regenerating retinal tissue in mice using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from mouse skin. The institute is an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School.