Drug Discovery

Cancer frim Repare Therapeutics announces $68m Series A financing

Repare Therapeutics has secured $68m in a Series A financing round which it will use to advance its platform and pipeline of novel medicines that target genetically defined weaknesses of cancers.

Rubius Therapeutics raises $120m to advance red blood cell technology

Rubius Therapeutics, which is developing red-cell therapeutics (RCTs) as a new class of medicines to address a range of indications, has raised $120m in a highly oversubscribed private financing.

eFFECTOR partners with Pfizer, Merck to evaluate combination of two immuno-oncology agents

eFFECTOR Therapeutics has entered into a clinical collaboration and supply agreement with Pfizer and Merck to evaluate the combination of two immuno-oncology agents in patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (CRC).

EIB supports development of BiondVax’s universal flu vaccine candidate

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a universal vaccine for all strains of influenza, has signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a €20m loan.

Pfizer to commercialize Basilea’s Cresemba drug in Europe

Basilea Pharmaceutica International has signed a license agreement with Pfizer for its marketed antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazole) to treat life-threatening invasive mold infections.

Accenture, 1QBit work with Biogen to apply quantum computing to speed up drug discovery

Accenture and 1QBit have partnered with Biogen to develop a quantum-enabled molecular comparison application that could considerably improve advanced molecular design to accelerate drug discovery for complex neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and Parkinson’s.

GL Capital-led consortium to buy SciClone Pharmaceuticals

A consortium featuring entities affiliated with GL Capital Management GP, Bank of China Group Investment (BOCGI), CDH Investments, Ascendent Capital Partners and Boying will acquire all the outstanding shares of SciClone Pharmaceuticals for $11.18 per share in cash.

Eleven Biotherapeutics to collaborate with Astrazeneca, National Cancer Institute

Eleven Biotherapeutics signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to assess its late-clinical-stage fusion protein Vicinium (VB4-845) combined with AstraZeneca’s immune checkpoint inhibitor Imfinzi (durvalumab) to treat nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Sevion to acquire Eloxx Pharmaceuticals

Sevion Therapeutics has agreed to acquire Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, which is focused on developing therapeutics for genetic diseases caused by non-sense mutations.