Novartis is to pay up to $3.1 billion to take full control of Anthos Therapeutics Inc, a Boston, US based company that it helped launch with Blackstone Life Sciences in 2019 to develop an asset for a cardiovascular disease. The company has a product in Phase 3 that was in-licensed from Novartis and is now being developed to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Novartis had a minority stake in Anthos but will now take full control.
The European Commission has proposed to shorten the settlement period for securities such as shares and bonds from two days to one in a move to increase liquidity on its capital markets. If approved, the measure would take effect on 11 October 2027. Member states of the union currently manage securities on national markets in their own jurisdictions. But there is growing pressure from the private sector to consolidate securities trading on a single European market.
A new EU regulation for the conduct of clinical trials in the EU took effect on 31 January after a long period of discussion. A key feature of the new legislation is the introduction of a single authorisation procedure for all trials instead of the earlier multiple procedures. Regulation 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council replaces Directive 2001/20/EC. As a Regulation it will apply directly to all member states of the union.
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