Drug Discovery

Biogen to acquire RayThera for up to $1bn

Biogen has entered a definitive agreement to acquire RayThera, a biotechnology company specialising in small-molecule therapies for immunology, for up to $1bn.

Jazz and AbCellera sign deal for T-cell engagers in solid tumours

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and AbCellera have signed a preclinical research, option, and licence agreement for the discovery and development of T-cell-engaging multispecific antibodies, or T-cell engagers (TCEs), for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and other solid tumours.

LG AI Research and D&D Pharmatech sign agreement for oral peptide drugs

LG AI Research and D&D Pharmatech have entered an agreement to collaborate on the development of next-generation oral peptide drugs, the companies announced following a signing ceremony held at the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea.

AviadoBio broadens vMiX gene silencing licence with King’s College London

AviadoBio has extended its exclusive licence agreement with King’s College London to apply the vMiX ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) gene-silencing platform across all human therapeutic areas.

Altaris to acquire Simulations Plus in $375m all-cash deal

Simulations Plus has entered a definitive agreement to be purchased by affiliates of Altaris in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $375m.

Alkermes’ alixorexton secures FDA and EC orphan designations

Alkermes has received orphan drug designations (ODD) from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission (EC) for alixorexton, its investigational oral orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) agonist to treat idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) and narcolepsy.

Simcere and Stanford partner to develop IPF therapies

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group has entered a research collaboration agreement with Stanford Medicine to develop new therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

FDA clears MSD’s Keytruda combo plus Welireg for ccRCC treatment

Merck & Co (MSD) has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for both Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Keytruda Qlex (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph), in combination with Welireg (belzutifan), as adjuvant treatment for adults with renal cell carcinoma with a clear cell component (ccRCC).

China’s NMPA approves Akeso’s gumokimab for plaque psoriasis

Akeso has received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for gumokimab (AK111), an anti-Interleukin-17 (IL-17) monoclonal antibody, to treat adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.