CEO Eric Dube said Retrophin Inc. will “share more [about clinical development plans] once the deal has closed” in the fourth quarter of this year and Orphan Technologies Ltd. belongs to his firm, which has seen only animal data so far with OT-58, an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for classical homocystinuria (HCU). Read More
Solid Biosciences Inc. already has its own Duchenne muscular dystrophy program, but with some new investment money it is plunging into a collaboration with Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. to co-create another program. The two will collaborate on developing and commercializing new gene therapies for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy as Novato, Calif.-based Ultragenyx is investing $40 million in Solid. Read More
RNAi therapeutics specialist Sirnaomics Inc. has wrapped up a $105 million series D financing that will support ongoing clinical development of its cancer and fibrotic disease programs plus work on early stage programs targeting metabolic disease and viral infections. But with both new and existing investors jumping in, the company is also preparing for something bigger: its next phase of growth, including a near-term IPO. Read More
HONG KONG – Shanghai, China-based Immuneonco Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. bagged $25 million in series B financing in October. The funding will mainly support the companies’ immunotherapies, which include IMM-01 and IMM-0306, both of which target CD47. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Azura Ophthalmics Ltd. raised a $20 million series C round with existing investors, including Brandon Capital’s Medical Research Commercialization Fund (MRCF), Orbimed, TPG Biotech and Ganot Capital. Read More
The pace at which companies are integrating the sophisticated tools of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into their early stage drug discovery and development programs is accelerating, as evidenced by the creation of new dedicated AI-focused biopharma companies and the eagerness of drug developers to partner with AI firms. A panel at the BIO Investment Forum delved into the impact of AI on the sector and its ability to assist scientists in uncovering the intricacies of disease mechanisms and lead them toward novel drug targets. Read More
With more than two months left in 2020, it is imminently clear that the $147.3 billion in biopharma projected deal values will likely rise above last year’s record of $160.3 billion, considering the average value per month more than covers the gap. Mergers and acquisitions are currently tracking in fifth place over the past seven years with projected values at $134.7 billion. Read More
HONG KONG – Even with vaccine administration just around the corner, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned his ministers to not rush the launch of COVID-19 vaccines over mounting public concerns about whether those vaccines would be certified halal, or permissible under Islamic law. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Aldeyra, Akebia, Allakos, Aurinia, Bayer, Biondvax, Boehringer, Goldfinch, Immutep, Innate, Lilly, Phasebio, Phosplatin, Sumitomo. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Allarity, Astrazeneca, Bayer, BMS, Curevac, Entos, Gilead, Immunomedics, Innate, Innocan, KBP, Medicago, Nicox, Orphazyme, Precision Nanosystems. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Ascendis, Astrazeneca, Evgen, Kezar. Read More
