Evotec SE and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd have entered a strategic drug discovery collaboration potentially worth $850m.
Under the agreement, Evotec will develop at least five small molecule discovery programmes against targets identified by Takeda in oncology, gastroenterology, neuroscience and rare diseases. Takeda will have the option to assume responsibility at lead series and upon Evotec delivering a pre-clinical candidate.
Under the terms of the collaboration, Takeda will pay Evotec an undiclosed upfront fee to get access to its platforms. Additionally, Evotec is eligible to receive pre-clinical, clinical, and commercial milestones that can total in excess of $170 m per programme as well as tiered royalties on future sales.

At its September meeting, the EMA’s CHMP recommended three innovative medicines for EU market approval.

Dutch and US researchers have re-engineered non-druggable compounds that block the transmission and  metabolism of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Swiss Versantis AG has raised money in order to advance its liver detoxifying candidate VS-01 from ongoing Phase Ia trials to initial Phase IIa efficacy proof.

Danish Lundbeck AS is has secured a stake in the  migraine market by paying US$1.95bn (€1.76bn) to acquire Alder BioPharmaceuticals Inc. 

Prague-based PPF Group has acquired a 19.2% stake in Autolus Therapeutics plc, a developer of T cell cancer therapies.

German and US researchers have found a biomarker that identifies tumours responding to CTLA-4 checkpoint blockers.

French biotech Inotrem SA raised €39m to finance Phase IIb efficacy testing of its TREM1 blocker nangibotide (Motrem) in patients with septic shock.

Paris-based Ermium Therapeutics has completed a Series A financing to develop breakthrough auto-immune therapeutics.
 

Leiden-based Pharvaris BV received a cash injection that will be used to push PHA121, the very first orally administered hereditary angioedema (HAE) drug.