Rapid Micro Biosystems Inc. scooped up $120 million in a series C financing led by Ally Bridge Group, with participation by Endeavor Vision and existing investors Bain Capital Life Sciences, Longitude Capital, Xeraya Capital and Asahi Kasei. The Lowell, Mass.-based company has earmarked the funds to expand the global footprint of its contaminant testing platform for biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing and for new product development.
Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boston, brought in a $215 million series D financing to support development of its COVID-19 antiviral, which is designed to inhibit the viral RNA polymerase enzyme, a key element in RNA virus replication.
Saying it’s too early to gauge the potential economic benefit of a marketed COVID-19 therapy for his firm, Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. CEO Todd Brady cited “a strong feeling of altruism” among researchers addressing the crisis, as they turn over discoveries likely to be helpful beyond it.
DUBLIN – Kancera AB is the latest contender to reposition a clinical-stage small molecule with an immunomodulatory mechanism as a drug candidate for COVID-19.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Atea, Eiger, Evoke, Fate, Foundation, Incyte, Karyopharm, Merck, Morphosys, Octapharma.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Alkermes, Arch, Astex, Beyond Air, Cidara, Cyclo, Diffusion, Forma, KBP, Roche, Santhera.
According to an analysis conducted by BioWorld of the first quarter 2020 financial reports filed by the top 100 public biopharmaceutical companies ranked by market cap, and excluding big pharma companies, the amount that was invested in research and development (R&D) during the period increased by 13% compared to the same period last year.
Responding to COVID-19’s wakeup call as it exposes the risks of relying heavily on foreign biopharma supply chains, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signed a four-year, $354 million agreement with a team of private industry partners, led by Phlow Corp., to expand U.S. manufacturing of essential medicines at risk of shortage during the pandemic and in future public health emergencies.
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