uniQure plans to move to larger labs. © uniQure

Dutch gene therapy specialist uniQure Biopharma BV will be able to rapidly develop its haemophilia B gene therapy AMT-060. Based on data of a Phase I/II safety study, the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for the new way to substitute the heritable lack of blood clotting factor IX. 

Mallinckrodt's headquarters. © Mallinckrodt

Belgian-headquartered IBA Molecular has completed the acquisition of British Mallinckrodt’s nuclear imaging business summing up to approximately US$690m.

German Christian democrats have started the election year underpinning their intention to pump money into life science research and into its translation into products.

Penny Owen

Like every sector of the UK economy, life sciences has been beset with uncertainty since the country voted to leave the European Union. Last week prime minister Theresa May finally gave us some clarity on her plans for Brexit, which will allow us to prepare for the future.

Actelion's business centre in Alschwil, Switzerland. © Actelion

Following a month-long take-over poker, J&J’s and Actelion’s boards have agreed to support an all-cash tender offer from J&J in which shareholders are set to receive US$280.08 per share and one share of NewCo, an R&D spin out to be led by Actelion CEO Paul Clozel. J&J will acquire at least 67% of Actelion’s shares and will hold 16% of NewCo with an option to further 16%.

Staff member of 4SC presenting the epigenetic cancer pill, resminostat. © 4SC

German 4SC AG’s epigenetic cancer drug resminostat is back. What seemed to be a flop after Phase II failure has being transformed into a success story of personalised medicine. By accurate data analysis 4SC’s partner Yakult Honsha identified a subgroup in which the drug significantly improved outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Frédéric Gomez

The surprising election of Donald Trump as the next US President led to a spectacular comeback of biotech shares. The long-term prospects depend on Trump’s healthcare strategy and the (much-desired) return of generalist funds.

Aedes agyptii mosquito. Only blood-sucking female insects transmit viral pathogens when they bite.

Oxford-based Intrexion-subsidiary Oxitec plans to release male GM mosquitoes that produce nonviable offspring in India, in order to limit the spread of dengue and chikungunya fevers transmitted by Aedes aegyptii.

Berliner Klima Schulen 2015

Two biotech CEOs have been selected by the European Commission for the High Level Group. The EU think tank will provide strategic input to Horizon 2020 and a €2.5bn fund to support innovation by 2020 in order to boost disruptive technologies and to address gaps in in the current innovation support landscape. 

Mode of Action of Affimed's immune cell engager platform Tandab, exemplified on the company's lead candidate AFM 13. © Affimed NV

While German Nasdaq company Affimed (AFMD) had an accumulated loss of over €100m, an annual development cost of about €38m for its Tandab pipeline, and an income of only about €8m from collaborations at the end of 2015, the company is trying to bulk up its funds through a public offering of common stock.