Life Science Partners (LSP) of Amsterdam, the Netherlands has announced the closing of a new fund that will invest in companies with marketable products in the areas of medical technology, diagnostics and e-health. The fund has raised €112 million from private investors.
Verona Pharma Plc, which develops medicines for respiratory diseases, has announced a share placement, subscription, and open offer with the intention of raising up to £14 million before expenses. The funds will be used to develop a compound for COPD.
Oxford Gene Technology Ltd, which provides equipment for genetics research, has acquired Cytocell Ltd, a Cambridge, UK-based supplier of probes for detecting DNA sequences called fluorescence in situ hybridisation or FISH. Financial terms were not disclosed.
An experimental medicine for patients with polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer, has met is primary endpoint in a global Phase 3 trial conducted by Novartis. The treatment Jakavi (ruxolitinib) is an inhibitor of the JAK 1 and JAK 2 tyrosine kinases.
Roche has told a scientific meeting in San Diego that its candidate antibody for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and high levels of periostin has shown promising results in two Phase 2b studies. The antibody, lebrikizumab, targets IL-13.
Merck & Co Inc said told a scientific meeting in San Diego that its candidate immunotherapy for house dust mite allergy showed a significant dose-and time-dependent reduction in a nasal symptom score. The therapy is called MK-8237.
Genmab A/S said that its partner, Janssen Biotech Inc, is set to begin a Phase 3 study of its monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Daratumumab has received ‘breakthrough therapy’ designation from the FDA.
Advanced Accelerator Applications SA, a French manufacturer of nuclear medicine products, is set to acquire Imaging Equipment Ltd, a privately-held UK distributor of nuclear medicine supplies, including products made by AAA.
Roche has announced that the data monitoring committee overseeing its Phase 3 study of onartuzumab for patients with MET-positive non-small lung cancer has recommended that the study be stopped due to a lack of “clinically meaningful efficacy.”
Transgene SA, a French company specialising in oncolytic virus therapies, plans to raise €45.5 million with a partially underwritten equity offering on the Euronext Paris stock exchange. The company is offering 4,553,551 new ordinary shares at €10 per share.