Drug Discovery

US HHS accelerates development of first Ebola vaccines and drugs

The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has accelerated the development of first Ebola vaccines and drugs.

Novartis, UC Berkeley collaborate to tackle undruggable disease targets

Novartis has joined forces with researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, to develop new technologies for the discovery of next-generation therapeutics, pursuing the vast number of disease targets in cancer and other illnesses that have eluded traditional small-molecule compounds and are considered undruggable.

Autolus secures $80m series C funding

Autolus, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of next-generation engineered T-cell therapies, announced that it closed on a $80m (£59m) series C financing.

Landos Biopharma raises $10m in series A financing

Landos Biopharma, an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on developing improved treatments for autoimmune diseases, announced that it has raised $10m in a series A financing led by life sciences investment management firm Perceptive Advisors, which will serve as its exclusive investor for the Series A round.

MilliporeSigma opens China’s first end-to-end biodevelopment center in Shanghai

MilliporeSigma announced the opening of its first BioReliance end-to-end biodevelopment center in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

GSK, AstraZeneca, Labcyte form alliance to develop acoustic mass spectrometry

Labcyte announced that GSK has joined its consortium with AstraZeneca to combine acoustic liquid dispensing technology from Labcyte with Mass Spectrometry (MS) for use in high throughput small molecule screening and other drug discovery applications.

Ultragenyx proposes to acquire Dimension Therapeutics

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical has made a proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Dimension Therapeutics for $5.50 per share, or approximately $138m, in cash at close to be effectuated via a tender offer.

Mustang Bio announces expansion of CAR T pipeline into CD20-directed immunotherapies

Mustang Bio, a Fortress Biotech company, has announced the expansion of its pipeline of CAR T therapies into CD20-directed immunotherapies.

Inotek Pharmaceuticals announces merger deal with Rocket Pharmaceuticals

Inotek Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with US-based gene therapy company Rocket Pharmaceuticals.