Slowing the leak of Calcium leak into cardiomyocytes does not improve the pumping malfunction in heart failure, German cardiologists report in Science Translational Medicine.

VSV wild-type virion with P-glykoprotein. © Columbia University

EMBL Ventures has announced that its portfolio company ViraTherapeutics is set to be acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in a €210m million (US$245m) transaction.

Historical photo from the Shire archives. © Shire

Orphan drug leader Shire plc has been granted EU marketing authorization for its recombinant van Willebrand factor (rVWF) vonicog alfa  as second-line treatment for van Willebrand disease, the most common blot clotting disorder..

Drug Developers dealing with PD1-PDL1 checkpoint inhibitors must consider new safety problems associated with the hyped cancer meds. 

EIB

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has issued its first Sustainability Awareness Bond worth €500m to support investments into water projects – health and nutrition to follow.

300 AMR experts met at ESCMID-ASM conference in Lisbon. © BIOCOM AG

Around 300 international AMR experts met at ESCMID-ASM drug development conference in Lisbon to discuss the latest progress in the field. 

Adaptimmune's workflow to make SPEAR cells with optimised TCRs. © Adaptimmune Therapeutics Ltd

Oxford-based Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc has raised US$100m in a registered direct offering of American Depositary Shares (ADS).

© Celgene

The NHS England announces it will reimburse Novartis’ CAR-T cell therapy Kymriah as treatment for children with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that are refractory, in relapse post-transplant or in second or later relapse. 

Functionalised exosome with drug payload. © Evox Therapeutics Ltd

Exosome drug delivery specialist Evox Therapeutics Ltd has closed a €37.1m (£35.5m) Series B financing round led by Redmile Group and significant contributions from GV (Google Ventures) and Cowen Healthcare Investments.

Approved (bold) and experimental therapies for aTTP. © NEJM doi: 10.1056/NEJMe1515876

The EU approved Sanofi’s Cablivi (caplacizumab) as the first antibody therapeutic to treat acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) on Friday.