February 6, 2020 - Outsourcing Pharma
Acquisition of Clindata’s human health biometrics division is expected to increase Synteract’s geographical footprint along with the adaptability of its biometrics services solutions.
February 5, 2020 - BioPharma Dive
Merck & Co. is riding high on the success of its cancer drug Keytruda, post-surgery drug Bridion and portfolio of vaccines. But certain parts of the business may be distracting from that growth story.
That's why on Wednesday, along with a full-year earnings report, Merck announced it is spinning out biosimilar, women's health and legacy drugs into a new, yet-to-be-named company. Merck estimates the spinout drugs, which include the off-patent cholesterol pill Zetia and the Remicade copycat Renflexis, will fetch about $6.5 billion in revenue this year.
February 5, 2020 - BioPharma Dive
Nestlé Health Sciences paid Aimmune Therapeutics $200 million to expand its investment in the allergy-drug specialist, buying another 1 million shares to take its stake to nearly 20%. The investment comes as the company launches peanut allergy treatment Palforzia, which the Food and Drug Administration approved last week. The drug will cost patients about $11,000 a year.
Separately, Aimmune also spent $10 million to in-license an experimental anti-allergenic biological drug from Xencor. That company has been focusing its pipeline on cancer-fighting treatments.
February 4, 2020 - Fierce Biotech
Bristol-Myers Squibb has created a fibrotic and inflammatory disease biotech through its partnership with BioMotiv. The biotech, Anteros Pharmaceuticals, starts life with materials from Bristol-Myers to support development of small molecules and the potential to land a takeover by the Big Pharma.
BioMotiv, an accelerator linked to the $340 million Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, teamed up with Bristol-Myers in September. The partnership positioned Bristol-Myers to help found and fund biotechs with a view to acquiring them following the identification of a preclinical prospect. The creation of Anteros follows that blueprint.