Drug Discovery

Zealand Pharma expands peptide platform with acquisition of Encycle Therapeutics

Zealand Pharma, a Copenhagen-based biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based medicines, announces the acquisition of Encycle Therapeutics, a private Toronto-based biotech company exploiting a unique platform technology that enables the rapid synthesis of macrocyclic peptides exhibiting enhanced drug-like properties.

Verseau launches with $50m to develop first-in-class macrophage-targeted immunotherapies

Verseau Therapeutics, Inc. (“Verseau”) launched with $50 million in financing from 20/20 HealthCare Partners, 3SBio, Alexandria Venture Investments, Highlight Capital, InHarv Partners Ltd., The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research and Yonghua Capital.

Alexion to buy clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm Achillion for $930m

Alexion Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Achillion Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at around $930m.

CRISPR, KSQ Therapeutics join forces to advance cell therapies in oncology

CRISPR Therapeutics and KSQ Therapeutics have signed license agreement to advance their respective cell therapy programmes in oncology.

Belgium’s UCB to buy Ra Pharmaceuticals for $2.1bn

Belgium-based biopharmaceutical firm UCB has agreed to acquire US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Ra Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at around $2.1bn.

Alexion, Stealth announce agreement for option to co-develop and commercialise late-stage therapy for mitochondrial diseases

Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Stealth BioTherapeutics have announced an agreement for an option to co-develop and commercialize elamipretide for mitochondrial diseases.

Viela Bio, Mitsubishi Tanabe sign licensing deal for inebilizumab

Viela Bio has entered into a licensing deal with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma to develop and commercialize inebilizumab in nine Asian countries for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

NSF International purchases majority stake in Amarex CRO

Global public health organisation NSF International has purchased a majority stake in US-based clinical stage contract research organisation (CRO) called Amarex Clinical Research.

Akcea to license investigative antisense therapy AKCEA-ANGPTL3-LRx to Pfizer

Akcea Therapeutics, a majority-owned affiliate of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, has signed an agreement to license investigative antisense therapy AKCEA-ANGPTL3-LRx to pharmaceutical company Pfizer.