The Business Cocktail

Cell Medica receives funds for its cell therapy

A USD 8.7 million grant to Cell Medica has been given by Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to speed up the clinical development of CMD-502 off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer T cell (CAR-NKT) cell therapy. The program, supported by Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), aims to offer a simplified manufacturing way to be able to treat a large number of patients.

Blackstone Life Sciences invests USD 250 million along with Novartis forms a new Biotech Anthos

Anthos Therapeutics, a new leaf in the branch, backed up with USD 250 million to extend the advancement of MAA868, a NOVARTIS antibody drug meant to target blood clots. Blackstone Life Science aims to fund more of such drugs being left behind due to monetary factors.

Ultragenyx lists USD 304.3 million Public Offering

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, which focuses on the development of novel products for serious rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering 5,072,464 shares at USD 60.00 per share to the public. The offerings will be open for a period of 30 days. Latham & Watkins LLP here will be the underwriters.

Spark Therapeutics merges with ROCHE, both financially and medically

For approximately USD 4.8 billion, Roche is going to acquire all the outstanding shares of Spark Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction. Based in Philadelphia, Spark Therapeutics is fully committed to discover and deliver gene therapies for genetic diseases.

Sarepta buys Myonexus for USD 165 Million

Sarepta in the run to fulfill its mission of developing gene therapies to defeat rare genetic diseases has gone ahead to buy Myonexus Therapeutics. Together they share a mutual goal to find solutions for Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) patients.