Janssen speeds up US approval of psoriasis antibody guselkumab and targets further indications.

British Abzena plc has announced that True North Therapeutics (TNT) will be taken over by Bioverativ Inc. Bioverativ will further develop TNT’s complement factor C1-blocking antibody TNT009, developed using technology, which was licenced from Abzenawhich was licenced from Abzena.

Following the EMA’s recommendation for EU approval of sarilumab as second-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, French drug giant Sanofi and partner Regeneron have also been given the green light from the US FDA.

Top-Line Phase 3 data of Amgen’s/UCB’s osteoporosis antibody romosozumab in postmenopausal women suggest efficacy but uncover a new safety signal.

Luxembourg-based venture capital specialist Vesalius Biocapital has closed the first round of Biocapital III fund that aims to invest into later-stage European life sciences companies.

German Merck KGaA has developed a new genome editing tool dubbed “proxy-CRISPR” providing access to previously inaccessible microenviroments of the genome by modification of chromatin modifications. 

Antibody developer Kymab Ltd has instated Sonia Quaratino as its first Chief Medical Officer. She will manage the clinical development of the Group’s expanding therapeutic antibody portfolio.

Biopharmaceutical company Oryzon Genomics has named Roger Bullock its Chief Medical Officer. He will be responsible for executing the clinical development plan of the epigenetic drugs developed by the company.

Astellas Pharma Inc. has completed the acquisition of Ogeda SA (previously Euroscreen SA, Gosselies, Belgium).

Swiss Vifor Pharma has agreed to acquire shares of Cambridge-based distributor Adebia worth US$50m in order exclusivly distribute its hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabiliser vadadustat to 40% of US dialysis clinics.