Drug Discovery

Ligand licenses VER250840 to Cumulus Oncology

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) today announced the signing of a license agreement granting Cumulus Oncology exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize VER250840, a novel, oral, selective, preclinical Chk1 Kinase Inhibitor discovered using Ligand’s Vernalis Design Platform (VDP).

ESSA Pharma to acquire Realm Therapeutics

ESSA Pharma announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Realm Therapeutics setting forth the terms of an acquisition whereby ESSA will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Realm in an all-stock transaction.

Takeda, Frazier Healthcare collaborate to launch Phathom Pharmaceuticals

Takeda Pharmaceutical and Frazier Healthcare Partners have announced a collaboration to launch Phathom Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and disorders.

New biotechnology holding company ElevateBio launches in Cambridge, US

A new biotechnology holding company in the form of ElevateBio has been launched in Cambridge, Massachusetts with an objective to develop a portfolio of cell and gene therapy companies.

Zymeworks enters its first ZymeLink antibody-drug conjugate platform licensing agreement with Iconic Therapeutics

Zymeworks has entered into a licensing agreement that grants Iconic Therapeutics non-exclusive rights to Zymeworks’ proprietary ZymeLink antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform for the development of its ICON-2 Tissue Factor ADC for cancer.

Spectrum announces asset purchase and license for immuno-oncology platform

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on novel and targeted oncology therapies, announced today the closure of an asset purchase and license agreement with ImmunGene, a privately held biotechnology company.

Magenta Therapeutics presents updated Phase 2 clinical data on MGTA-456 cell therapy

Magenta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced that the company presented Phase 2 clinical data on its cell therapy, MGTA-456, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pfizer acquires clinical-stage biotech Therachon

Pfizer announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all the shares of Therachon Holding AG, a privately-held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on rare diseases, with assets in development for the treatment of achondroplasia and short bowel syndrome (SBS).

Ligand acquires milestone and royalty rights to SB206 from Novan

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) announces the acquisition of economic rights to SB206 from Novan, Inc. SB206 is a Phase 3 topical antiviral gel for the treatment of skin infections, including molluscum contagiosum.