German Christian democrats have started the election year underpinning their intention to pump money into life science research and into its translation into products.
Following a month-long take-over poker, J&Js and Actelions 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 Actelions shares and will hold 16% of NewCo with an option to further 16%.
German 4SC AGs 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 4SCs partner Yakult Honsha identified a subgroup in which the drug significantly improved outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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.
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.
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.
Belgian start-up company Octimet Oncology NV has secured €11.3m in a series A financing round. The funds will be used to develop two MET kinase blockers to treat solid tumours.
Drug screening expert Evotec AG and Ontario-based MaRS Innovation have launched the joint venture company Fibrocor Therapeutics LP to tackle fibrosis, an unmet medical need and multi-billion US dollars market.
Scientists at EPFL have developed a technique that can be a game-changer for genetics by making the characterisation of DNA-binding proteins much faster, more accurate, and efficient.
German Wilex has licensed its clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) antibody Redectane to Australian biopharma company Telix Pharmaceuticals. Redectane is a radiolabeled version of Wilex Phase III therapeutic antibody girentuximab.