News

Flamel Technologies SA reported higher revenue for the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2009 as higher licence and research income more than offset lower product sales.

TiGenix NV of Belgium is set to acquire Orthomimetics, a privately-held UK medical technology company, for shares valued at €16 million in order to extend its regenerative medicines franchise. 

PanGenetics BV, a Dutch company that in-licenses antibodies at the late research stage and subsequently out-licenses them after they have been further developed, has successfully turned around an antibody for pain.

Astex Therapeutics Ltd of Cambridge, UK, has concluded a drug discovery deal with GlaxoSmithKline giving GSK access to its fragment chemistry platform. The deal includes upfront and equity investments valued at £20 million.

After refocusing its business on discovery, and closing down a US subsidiary, Evotec AG has reported a rise in revenue for the first nine months of 2009. The company said that recent restructuring measures had put in on the ‘path to sustainability.’

Crucell NV, the Dutch antibody and vaccine developer, produced strong results for the 2009 third quarter and first nine months because of a high rate of growth of its vaccine products.

Sanofi-Aventis said that it has expanded its monoclonal antibody collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc with a view to bringing four to five new antibody candidates into the clinic per year. It will spend $160 million annually on the project.

Qiagen NV, a Netherlands-based provider of sample and assay technologies, is to acquire the privately-held SABiosciences Corp of the US for $90 million in cash. The deal will give the Dutch company access to assay panels to analyse new drug targets.

Intercell AG said that the uptake of its new vaccine against Japanese encephalitis has been slower than expected resulting in only a moderate increase in product sales in the 2009 third quarter.

Neuropharm Group Plc said that it is in discussions that may or may not lead to an offer for the company. It further confirmed that it is seeking a sale or merger in order to realise the value of its pipeline.