Drug Discovery

OBI Pharma to acquire Threshold’s TH-3424 small-molecule prodrug

Taiwan-based OBI Pharma has agreed to acquire Threshold Pharmaceuticals' TH-3424, a novel small-molecule prodrug that selectively targets cancers overexpressing the enzyme aldo-keto reductase 1c3 (AKR1C3).

Eisai and Charles River Laboratories extend drug discovery collaboration

Eisai and Charles River Laboratories International have agreed to extend their two-year collaboration in integrated drug discovery for another year.

AstraZeneca recalls physician sample bottles of BRILINTA heart drug

AstraZeneca said that it is voluntarily recalling one lot of professional (physician) sample bottles containing eight tablets of BRILINTA (ticagrelor) 90mg tablets as a precautionary measure.

Harpoon Therapeutics raises $45m in new funding round

Harpoon Therapeutics has secured $45m in Series B financing, which included new investors Arix Bioscience, New Leaf Venture Partners and Taiho Ventures along with existing investor MPM Capital.

Nektar, Takeda to explore combination cancer therapy approaches

Nektar Therapeutics and Takeda Pharmaceutical have entered into a research collaboration to explore the combination of the former’s lead immuno-oncology candidate, the CD122-biased agonist NKTR-214, with five oncology compounds from the cancer portfolio of Takeda.

Iterum Therapeutics raises $65m in new financing round

Ireland-based Iterum Therapeutics, which is focused on the development and commercialization of anti-infectives for patients with infectious diseases and other acute illnesses, has raised $65m in a Series B investment round.

Biogen acquires Remedy Pharmaceuticals’ stroke drug

Biogen has acquired Remedy Pharmaceuticals' Cirara, a Phase 3 candidate in development for large hemispheric infarction (LHI).

IBM researchers find new method to simulate body’s immune response

IBM’s researchers have discovered how they can trigger the body’s immune response by using polymer-coated graphene sheets.

INC Research, inVentiv agree to merge in $4.6bn deal

INC Research has agreed to acquire US-based contract research organization (CRO) inVentiv Health in all stock deal worth nearly $4.6bn.