Drug Discovery

Neurocrine to acquire Soleno in $2.9bn transaction

Neurocrine Biosciences has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Soleno Therapeutics for $53.00 per share in cash, which represents $2.9bn in total transaction equity value.

Aspect Biosystems receives funding for cellular medicine project

Aspect Biosystems has secured a C$79m($56.6m) investment from the Government of Canada to support a C$280m multi-year project aimed at advancing its pipeline of bioengineered cellular medicines for endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Merck KGaA acquires JSR chromatography business

Germany-based Merck KGaA (Merck) has completed its previously announced acquisition of the chromatography business of JSR Life Sciences.

Biocytogen and Sihuan partner to advance new therapeutics for weight loss

Biocytogen has entered a strategic partnership with Sihuan Pharmaceutical to advance new therapeutics across several disease areas, including weight loss.

Symeres and Ambagon collaborate for colorectal cancer molecules

Symeres has entered a collaboration with Ambagon Therapeutics on molecular glue research in colorectal cancer, aiming to address diseases considered difficult to treat.

Teva receives FDA approval for Prolia biosimilar

Teva Pharmaceutical has announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Ponlimsi (denosumab-adet) as a biosimilar to Prolia, alongside the acceptance of its biosimilar candidate applications for Xolair (omalizumab) by both the agency and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

uBriGene and Cellinfinity BIO collaborate to accelerate in vivo CAR-T therapies

uBriGene Biosciences has signed a strategic partnership with Cellinfinity BIO to advance the clinical development of in vivo chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy programmes for haematologic and solid tumours.

Otsuka agrees to acquire Transcend Therapeutics for $1.22bn

Otsuka Pharmaceutical has signed an agreement to fully acquire Transcend Therapeutics through its subsidiary Otsuka America for a potential consideration of $1.225bn.

Novartis to acquire Excellergy for $2bn upfront

Novartis has signed an agreement to acquire biotech business Excellergy, which specialises in the development of next-generation anti-immunoglobulin e (IgE) therapies for up to $2bn in upfront and milestone payments.