Drug Discovery

Alnylam, Vir to jointly advance RNAi therapeutics for infectious diseases

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Vir Biotechnology for the development and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics for infectious diseases, including chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

UK’s NICE makes Nivolumab available for head and neck cancer patients

UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has made nivolumab (Opdivo) made by Bristol-Myers Squibb available for patients with head and neck cancer who did not respond to chemotherapy within six months, and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Moffitt researchers discover new targets for approved cancer drug

A team of researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center used cellular drug screening, functional proteomics and computer-based modeling to determine whether drugs with well-known targets may be repurposed for use against other biological targets.

PanOptica secures $11m to advance clinical development novel topical anti-VEGF eye drop

PanOptica a private biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative ophthalmology therapies, announced that it has secured $11m in a series B financing.

Visterra closes $46.7m series C financing to advance pipeline of precision antibody-based biological medicines

Visterra has completed a series C financing round raising a total of $46.7m, including a new extension totaling $23.6m.

Ligand to acquire Crystal Bioscience

Ligand Pharmaceuticals has announced the signing of a merger agreement whereby Ligand will acquire Crystal, a leader in avian genetics and the generation of fully-human therapeutic antibodies.

Recursion Pharmaceuticals raises $60m to industrialize drug discovery using artificial intelligence

Recursion Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company that combines innovative biological science with artificial intelligence to discover new therapeutics at scale, is announcing its $60m series B financing led by Data Collective (DCVC).

X-Chem further expands collaboration with Bayer to discover novel medicines

X-Chem and Bayer have further expanded their drug discovery collaboration across multiple therapeutic areas and target classes.

Gilead Sciences completes acquisition of Kite Pharma

Gilead Sciences has announced the completion of the previously announced transaction for Dodgers Merger Sub a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead (purchaser), to acquire Kite Pharma, for $180 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, or approximately $11.9bn in the aggregate.