Drug Discovery

Gilead Sciences to acquire Cell Design Labs in $567m deal

Gilead Sciences and its cell therapy subsidiary Kite have agreed to acquire Cell Design Labs, a biotherapeutics company that discovers and develops cell-based therapies, for about $567m.

Fate Therapeutics, University of California San Diego launch CAR NK Cancer immunotherapy collaboration

Fate Therapeutics has partnered with the University of California San Diego to develop off-the-shelf, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-targeted natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapies.

Researchers show aspirin added to cancer drug improves effectiveness

Adding aspirin to some existing cancer drugs could increase their effectiveness against a group of tumours resistant to treatment, new research has shown.

Blue Oak, PsychoGenics enter into drug discovery partnership

Blue Oak Pharmaceuticals and PGI Drug Discovery (PsychoGenics) have entered into a partnership to discover and optimize novel treatments for brain disorders and psychiatric conditions.

Astellas Pharma acquires Mitobridge for $225m

Astellas Pharma has exercised its exclusive option right to acquire Mitobridge under the amended terms of the October 2013 partnership agreement governing their research and development (R&D) collaboration focused on discovering and developing novel drugs that target mitochondrial function.

I-Mab Biopharma partners with MorphoSys on cancer investigational medicine

I-Mab Biopharma and MorphoSys have entered into an exclusive regional licensing agreement to develop and commercialize MOR202 in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.

resTORbio raises $40m from biotech and institutional investors

resTORbio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of aging-related diseases, has raised $40m in a Series B financing round.

Biogen, Alkermes to develop and commercialize ALKS 8700 to treat multiple sclerosis

Biogen and Alkermes have entered into a global license and collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize ALKS 8700, a novel, oral, monomethyl fumarate (MMF) small drug molecule in phase 3 development for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Research finds gastric acid suppressant lansoprazole could target tuberculosis

A new research in the UK suggests that a cheap and commonly used drug to treat heartburn, gastritis and ulcers has the potential to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB).