Drug Discovery

Gritstone signs funding deal with CEPI to develop Covid-19 vaccine programme

Gritstone bio and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have signed a funding agreement to advance the development of the former’s second-generation Covid-19 vaccine programme (CORAL) against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

GentiBio raises $157m through Series A funding round

Biotherapeutics company GentiBio has raised $157m through a Series A funding round, which was led by Matrix Capital Management.

Bayer to acquire Vividion Therapeutic for $1.5bn

German pharmaceutical firm Bayer has agreed to acquire Vividion Therapeutic to strengthen its drug discovery capabilities.

Sanofi to acquire mRNA partner Translate Bio for $3.2bn

Sanofi has agreed to acquire a mRNA therapeutics firm Translate Bio to advance the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology across vaccines and therapeutics development.

Ipsen, Exicure to co-develop therapies for neurodegenerative diseases

Biopharmaceutical company Ipsen and Exicure have collaborated to research, develop, and commercialize novel Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) as potential investigational therapies to treat Angelman syndrome and Huntington’s disease.

Takeda, Frazier to launch HilleVax for norovirus vaccine development

Takeda Pharmaceutical has announced collaboration with Frazier Healthcare Partners to launch HilleVax to develop and commercialise the former’s clinical stage norovirus vaccine candidate, HIL-214 (formerly TAK-214).

Deep Genomics raises $180m funding to expand AI platform for RNA therapies

Deep Genomics has raised $180m funding in Series C financing round to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) discovery platform for ‘Programmable’ RNA therapeutics and scale its portfolio into the clinic.

AbbVie, Calico extend collaboration to develop new age-related disease therapies

AbbVie has extended its collaboration with Calico Life Sciences to discover and develop new therapies for patients with age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer.

Amgen to acquire clinical stage biotechnology firm Teneobio

Biotechnology company Amgen has agreed to acquire Teneobio, a privately held clinical stage biotechnology firm, in a deal valued at about $900m.