Synairgen plc (SNG) has announced the successful completion of a £18m funding round, primarily supported by TFG Asset Management. The funding will advance the Phase 2 INVENT trial, assessing SNG001, an inhaled formulation of the antiviral protein interferon beta, in mechanically ventilated patients with severe viral lung infections.

Johnson & Johnson has announced the acquisition of biopharmaceutical company Intra-Cellular Therapies, strengthening its position in the market for central nervous system disorder treatments. The $14.6 billion deal involves J&J paying $132 per share, representing a 39% premium over Intra-Cellular’s last closing price.

Leyden Labs has raised $70 million in a funding round led by ClavystBio and Polaris Partners, boosting its efforts to develop intranasal antibody therapies targeting respiratory viruses, including influenza and coronaviruses.

The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) has approved expansion of the global INVISE Phase 1 clinical trial to Europe. The study aims to evaluate first-in-class gene therapy for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.

Angelini Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Angelini Industries, focused on investing in early-stage companies in BioTech and Digital Health, co-leads €20m Series A funding round in Neumirna Therapeutics, accelerating next-generation RNA therapeutics for epilepsy and neurological diseases.

Inverna Therapeutics, a Danish biotech company, has officially launched to develop innovative RNA-based therapies targeting severe genetic diseases. Co-founded by the University of Southern Denmark and Argobio, Inverna will focus on its lead programme addressing Huntington’s disease.

Verdiva Bio, a London-based biotech, has raised an extraordinary US$410m in its oversubscribed Series A round, making it potentially the largest Series A ever raised by a U.K.-based biotech company, according to CEO Khurem Farooq.

A US$67.5m Series B financing in XyloCor Therapeutics led by French Jeito Capital will fund two double-blind Phase 2 trials for XC001, a pioneering gene therapy for severe cardiovascular disease.

The aim of this unique initiative, part of the so-called Generation Study, is to sequence the genomes of 100,000 newborns in England to enable the early detection of over 200 selected conditions and to accelerate the treatment of rare diseases.

WuXi Biologics has agreed to sell its Dundalk vaccine manufacturing facility to Merck, a move that will enhance asset efficiencies and allow the company to focus on CDMO services at its other global sites.