Drug Discovery

Sage, Shionogi to collaborate on MDD drug in three Asian countries

Sage Therapeutics and Shionogi & Co. have agreed to collaborate for the clinical development and commercialization of the former’s SAGE-217 for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other indications in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

BridgeBio Pharma to acquire late stage therapy for ultra-rare disorder from Alexion

BridgeBio Pharma has entered into an agreement with Alexion Pharmaceuticals to acquire cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP; ALXN1101), a synthetic enzyme co-factor therapy for patients with the ultra-rare disease caused by molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) Type A.

Sanofi Pasteur to buy license of Translate’s mRNA technology in $805m deal

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines business of French pharma firm Sanofi, has agreed to acquire exclusive license of Translate Bio’s mRNA technology to develop messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in a deal that could be worth up to $805m.

Oncologie commences operations in Boston and Shanghai

Oncologie is launching operations in both Boston and Shanghai with $16.5m seed financing led by Pivotal bioVenture Partners China.

Sirnaomics secures $25m to expand clinical programs of anti-fibrosis and anti-cancer RNAi therapeutics

Sirnaomics, a biopharmaceutical company in development of RNAi therapeutics, has closed Series C1 financing of $25m.

Pfizer to invest $600m in biotechnology and other growth companies

Pfizer said that it will invest $600m in biotechnology and other emerging growth firms through its venture capital arm Pfizer Ventures for the development of life-changing therapies to patients in need.

Nimbus Therapeutics raises $65m in new capital to expand discovery efforts

Nimbus Therapeutics has raised $65m in new capital to accelerate its pipeline progress and fuel its expansion into new high-value targets aimed at overlapping biological mechanisms in immunology, oncology and metabolic disease.

ENYO Pharma raises €40m to pursue phase II clinical development of HBV and NASH drug

Privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical firm ENYO Pharma has completed a €40m series B round of financing from US and European investors.

Cara out-licenses Korsuva injection ex-US rights to Vifor Fresenius for $520m

Cara Therapeutics has granted licensing worldwide rights with the exception of the US, Japan and South Korea to commercialize its Korsuva (CR845/difelikefalin) injection to Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (VFMCRP).