Life Sciences stakeholders in Europe and abroad are voicing their concerns about the European Patent Offices’ initiative to shorten the time for the examination of patents from up to 56 months to 12 months.
British life science investor Arix Biosciences is planning an IPO at London Stock Exchange. The London-based investor aims to raise £100m (€116m) to reinvest in innovations in medical science.
In early February, at the 20th edition of the Pharmapack Europe event, outstanding products were honoured with the Pharmapack Award. Organiser UBM EMEA also introduced a new Pharmapack Start-up Hub.
French researchers have identified a regulator which controls blood vessel permeability. Their findings open up the possibility to develop drugs preventing oedema that occur in large indications such as stroke or congestive heart failure.
Major European stakeholders have released statements on how to fight antimicrobial resistance more effectively. Regulatory agencies such as EFSA and EMA call for locally adapted combination strategies while biotech companies advocate for more support in antibiotics R&D.
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.
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.
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%.
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).