Drug Discovery

EIB supports development of BiondVax’s universal flu vaccine candidate

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a universal vaccine for all strains of influenza, has signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a €20m loan.

Pfizer to commercialize Basilea’s Cresemba drug in Europe

Basilea Pharmaceutica International has signed a license agreement with Pfizer for its marketed antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazole) to treat life-threatening invasive mold infections.

Accenture, 1QBit work with Biogen to apply quantum computing to speed up drug discovery

Accenture and 1QBit have partnered with Biogen to develop a quantum-enabled molecular comparison application that could considerably improve advanced molecular design to accelerate drug discovery for complex neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and Parkinson’s.

GL Capital-led consortium to buy SciClone Pharmaceuticals

A consortium featuring entities affiliated with GL Capital Management GP, Bank of China Group Investment (BOCGI), CDH Investments, Ascendent Capital Partners and Boying will acquire all the outstanding shares of SciClone Pharmaceuticals for $11.18 per share in cash.

Eleven Biotherapeutics to collaborate with Astrazeneca, National Cancer Institute

Eleven Biotherapeutics signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to assess its late-clinical-stage fusion protein Vicinium (VB4-845) combined with AstraZeneca’s immune checkpoint inhibitor Imfinzi (durvalumab) to treat nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Sevion to acquire Eloxx Pharmaceuticals

Sevion Therapeutics has agreed to acquire Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, which is focused on developing therapeutics for genetic diseases caused by non-sense mutations.

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute make Lassa virus vaccine breakthrough

Scientists at Florida’s The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have succeeded in modeling a key part of a virus that sickens several people in West Africa.

OBI Pharma to acquire Threshold’s TH-3424 small-molecule prodrug

Taiwan-based OBI Pharma has agreed to acquire Threshold Pharmaceuticals' TH-3424, a novel small-molecule prodrug that selectively targets cancers overexpressing the enzyme aldo-keto reductase 1c3 (AKR1C3).

Eisai and Charles River Laboratories extend drug discovery collaboration

Eisai and Charles River Laboratories International have agreed to extend their two-year collaboration in integrated drug discovery for another year.