Dr. Markus Engelhard and Dr. Dennis Kretschmann. © Boehmert & Boehmert

On 23 June 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU and, thereby, decided for Brexit. As of today, it is still uncertain what the exact implications of this decision will be, including important questions regarding how the political and legal nature of the future relationship between the UK and the EU will be.

Adrezizumab modulates Adrenomedullin
activity and, preclinically, improved vascular integrity and sepsis survival, © Adrenomed AG

Germany is the first country that has granted full approval to Adrenomed to conduct a Phase II study with the monoclonal antibody adrecizumab in patients with early septic shock. Within the ADR-02 study, 300 patients will be enrolled in Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands for proof of safety and efficacy.

Sebia HQ, @ Sebia Group

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is set to acquire a minority stake in diagnostic electrophoresis player Sebia Group from private equity investors Astorg and Montagu.

Serial drug licensee Roivant Sciences GmbH (Basel) has cashed in US$1.1bn (€937m) in an equity financing led by SoftBank Vision Fund and co-financed by existing investor Dexcel Pharma.

© Selvita

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Polish drug developer Selvita SA have entered a partnership to co-fund further preclinical and clinical development of a targeted therapy to treat patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

© LEO Pharma

In a multi-year collaboration with LEO Pharma A/S, Chinese Hitgen is poised to discover novel small molecule leads for multiple therapeutic targets chosen by the Danish skin treatment specialist.

© Patheon

Lab equipment giant Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is growing even bigger. 

© Uniqure NV

Gene therapy specialist Uniqure NV announced new executive appointments to its leadership team and nominations to its Board of Directors. Scott McMillan, for instance, will be responsible for all current Good Manufacturing Process (cGMP) activities and all product development functions.

British biotech company Vernalis has to deal with another Complete Response Letter by US authority FDA – this time regarding the New Drug Application for its cough and cold treatment CCP-08.

© Hansa Medical

Sweden’s Hansa Medical AB presented data showing its experimental drug allowed doctors to perform successful kidney transplants in patients with a particularly high risk of organ rejection.