Vaccine production in Sanofi's sole production site in France started in 1973. © Sanofi Pasteur

Sanofi is investing €170m to expand its vaccine manufacturing site in Val de Reuil, France, which produces 900 million vaccine doses worldwide each year.

British researchers have identified interleukin 36 (IL-36) as a druggable proinflammatory driver of psoriasis. Because of its very targeted effects of antibodies directed against the cytokine they want to start clinical tests in man. 

German-Israeli Neurim Pharmaceuticals announced top line efficacy results of its insomnia drug PedPRM in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Drug encapsulated in erythrocytes. @ Erytech Pharma SA

French cancer drug encapsulation specialist Erytech Pharma SA wants to raise US$100m (€85m) in an IPO at NASDAQ and a subsequent private placement outside Northern America to finance pivotal trials of eryaspase in ALL and pancreatic cancer. 

Gene therapy with Adeno-associated viruses. © NIH

As first gene therapy ever, AMT-130 has been granted FDA Orphan Drug status in Huntington’s Disease.

© Sartorius

Microsart ® @media Advanced System for Touch-free Membrane Transfer.

Robotic cell culture system CellPROi. © Shibuya Corp.

Promethera Biosciences and Shibuya collaborate to establish a breakthrough cell therapy manufacturing platform.

Immatics headquarters in Tuebingen. © Immatics Biotechnologies

Cancer immunotherapy specialist Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH (Tuebingen, Germany) raised US$58m in a Series E financing round led by German investors dievini Hopp BioTech Holding and AT Impf as well as Wellington Partners and new investor Amgen.

Kathryn J. Gregory

Late-stage pharmaceuticals financing and co-development specialist Avillion LLP has named Kathryn J. Gregory Chief Business Officer.

Mode of action of NuCana's ProTides compared to those of gemcitabine (above). © NuCana plc

Scotch cancer corp NuCana plc was up 3% (to US$18.61) after closing an initial public offering on Friday led by Citigroup, Jefferies and Cowen and co-managed by William Blair.