Deals, Development and Manufacturing

Takeda expands its global and therapy base with announced acquisition of Shire.

The transaction is part of Merck KGaA’s strategy to actively shape its product portfolio and focus on innovation-driven business.

Global investment firm Advent to acquire and invest in Sanofi’s European generics business, Zentiva, to boost its position in European market.

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen partners with Bristol-Myers Squibb to advance next-generation therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Under an Innovate UK grant for a three-year project, Arcinova and the University of Nottingham will develop a continuous, flexible modular manufacturing technology platform.

The new facility, to be built in Toronto, Canada, will significantly increase capacity for pediatric and booster vaccines.

ReForm Biologics and KBI Biopharma will collaborate to improve biopharmaceutical formulations and development.

The biopharmaceutical firm has chosen Rhode Island as the site of its next-generation biomanufacturing plant, which will offer flexibility, speed, and efficiency.

The acquisition is expected to accelerate progress towards personalized cancer healthcare.

Roche has acquired a program to develop regenerative therapies for multiple sclerosis.

Under this global collaboration, the companies will develop encapsulated cell therapies for treating Type 1 diabetes.

Boehringer Ingelheim and OSE Immunotherapeutics have entered a global immuno-oncology partnership to develop a checkpoint inhibitor for treating advanced solid tumors.

Colorcon Inc. and Applied DNA signed a supply agreement granting Colorcon exclusive right to use Applied DNA’s SigNature molecular tags in film coatings for solid oral dosage forms, and non-exclusive rights to use it in inks and colorants for SOD pharmaceuticals.

The companies have created Syna Therapeutics, a joint venture that will develop biosimilars and new molecules.

Pfizer transfers CAR-T assets to Allogene Therapeutics under a new alliance to further develop immuno-oncology therapeutics.

The acquisition strengthens Celgene’s position in the global cellular immunotherapy space.

The companies will co-develop and co-promote a CAR T cell therapy in the United States.

Takeda is considering approaching Shire with a possible offer.

Hitachi will manufacture regenerative medicines developed by Daiichi Sankyo and SanBio Group.

The agreement gives IncoCell Tianjin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China-based Boyalife Group, access to Cesca’s celluar processing contract development and manufacturing services.

The collaboration between the two companies aims to finish all necessary work needed to file for a first-in-human study by early 2019.

Helsinn will acquire the global rights to Valchlor/Ledaga (mechlorethamine/chlormethine), a topical skin-cancer drug, from Actelion Pharmaceuticals.

Emerson will provide Ireland’s National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training with technologies to help the institute prepare students for the transition to manufacturing digitization in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Biogen will acquire an AMPA receptor potentiator for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia in a deal worth approximately $590 million.

The companies intend to jointly develop and commercialize Lenvima (lenvatinib mesylate) as a monotherapy and an in-combination therapy for treating multiple cancer types.

The $11.6-billion acquisition strengthens Sanofi's position in hematology and specialty medicines.

Under this agreement, the companies will develop in parallel an antibody drug candidate and cell lines for other potential candidates.

The pharma major will spin out six molecules in early stage inflammation and autoimmune programs into a new company called Viela Bio.

The contract development and manufacturing organization has entered it first manufacturing contract worth $148 million for its recently completed Plant 3 facility.

The new training center, the Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing, will prepare engineering students and industry professionals for the field of biologics manufacturing.