Swedish biotechnology firm Medivir AB unveiled Monday its biggest drug development deal to date a licensing agreement worth up to US$42 million with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. for Medivir’s candidate HIV treatment, MV026048. (BioWorld International)

Swedish biotechnology firm Medivir AB unveiled Monday its biggest drug development deal to date a licensing agreement worth up to US$42 million with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. for Medivir’s candidate HIV treatment, MV026048. (BioWorld International)

Italy’s first major biotechnology start-up of the year is a spinout from the Milan research unit of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. BioXell SpA, which was formed at the beginning of January, held a public launch last week and disclosed its first-round funding of EUR22 million (US$19.3 million). (BioWorld International)