Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., has granted Biosense Global LLC an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the chemotherapy RX-3117 in pancreatic cancer and up to three additional cancers in greater China. The deal, which delivers Rexahn $3 million up front, could be followed by up to $226 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments from Biosense.
Shares of Fibrocell Science Inc. (NASDAQ:FCSC) climbed 42.7% to $2.54 Monday on news that Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals LLC has agreed to support the development and commercialization of FCX-007, Fibrocell's lead gene therapy candidate for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB).
Shares of San Diego-based Tracon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:TCON) fell 49% to 66 cents Friday as the company decided to quit testing its lead candidate, carotuximab (TRC-105), in cancer. The decision followed advice from independent experts who saw no likely benefit from combining the drug with Votrient (pazopanib, Novartis AG) in the phase III advanced angiosarcoma trial called Tappas.
Asklepios Biopharmaceutical Inc. (Askbio), a North Carolina-based gene therapy pioneer, has secured $235 million in fresh funding that it said will help advance and expand its clinical work, enhance its manufacturing capabilities and drive its long-term growth. TPG Capital and Vida Ventures invested $225 million for a minority stake in the company while Askbio's founders and board members added $10 million more.
Azitra Inc., a Connecticut-based startup working on a bacteria-based therapy for the rare genetic skin condition Netherton syndrome (NS), has been awarded a $719,700 SBIR grant to advance development of its lead candidate, AZT-02.
The FDA has approved Amgen Inc.'s UCB SA-licensed sclerostin-neutralizing antibody Evenity (romosozumab) for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of breaking a bone. The drug is already approved in Japan and awaits further review in Europe.
Audentes Therapeutics Inc. is adding two new tools to its adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy toolkit, enlisting expertise from Nationwide Children's Hospital and its own team to develop new vectorized antisense therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).
Gesynta Pharma AB, a Swedish startup leveraging research from Karolinska Institutet, has raised €6 million (US$6.7 million) to advance a drug for the treatment of microvascular diseases in chronic inflammatory conditions through an upcoming phase I study. The investment, from Industrifonden and a group of private life sciences investors, will help the company illuminate the potential of GS-248, an asset acquired from Sweden's Orexo AB for treatment of an undisclosed orphan disease.
Editas Medicine Inc. and Bluerock Therapeutics LP have agreed to combine their respective genome editing and cell therapy technologies to discover, develop and manufacture a set of new off-the-shelf cell therapies targeting a broad array of indications. Editas will focus on oncology, including solid tumors and blood cancers, while Bluerock will work on neurology, cardiology and immunology indications. Potential products based on the approach are likely several years away. But Cindy Collins, interim CEO of Editas, said she is optimistic about their value.
