EuroPharma Today

Euro Deals of the Week

Last week saw a couple of interesting deals by European-based Big Pharma--including Sanofi Aventis' very nationally-focused academic tie-up--small dollars, but high symbolism, perhaps--and AstraZeneca's latest upfront-cash-heavy in-licensing deal with Rigel for a Phase II oral RA candidate.

Novartis Boosts HCV Portfolio With First-in-Class Debiopharm Compound

Novartis has strengthened its hand in products for treating hepatitis C by licensing exclusive worldwide rights (excluding Japan) to a potential first-in-class antiviral, Debio 025 (alisporivir), from fellow Swiss firm Debiopharm.

Novo Nordisk Licenses ZymoGenetics' IP, Antibody

Denmark's Novo Nordisk is paying ZymoGenetics $24 million in up-front cash for rights to a fully-human, pre-clinical anti-IL 21 monoclonal antibody in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, and for broad intellectual property rights in a related area, Novo Nordisk announced Dec. 8.

Glaxo Taps Astex for Fragment-Based Discovery Deal Worth At Least $33 Mil.

British biotech Astex Therapeutics landed a sizeable discovery deal with GlaxoSmithKline that comes as a surprise on two fronts: the big drug maker is guaranteeing $33 million, and the deal doesn't include options, which recently has been Glaxo's preferred method of discovery-stage deal-making.

Roche Taps Russian HIV Opportunity With Viriom Deal

In a first-of-its kind deal, Roche recently licensed a handful of pre-clinical HIV assets to Russian biotech Viriom, a start-up created specifically to develop and commercialize the compounds in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

GlaxoSmithKline in a Rare-Disease Pact with Prosensa for RNA-modulation Drugs

In another sure sign of Big Pharma's recent embrace of specialist diseases, GlaxoSmithKline on Oct. 13 announced a deal for four compounds with Holland's Prosensa, which is focused on RNA-modulating therapeutics for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Oncology Target Option Deal With GSK Helps Vernalis Hit Comeback Trail

The resurrection of UK biotech Vernalis continues as the company inked an option deal with GlaxoSmithKline on Aug. 6 to pursue an undisclosed target in oncology using the biotech's Structure Based Drug Design platform. Vernalis receives $6 million upfront in the transaction, which eventually could bring it more than $200 million in milestones plus double-digit royalties on any products from the tie-up that reach market.

MSM Protein Technologies Deals to Seize Russian Antibody Opportunity

Benefiting from pharma’s ongoing love-affair with antibodies, Boston-based start-up MSM Protein Technologies signed two validating drug discovery deals in late July. The asset-focused alliance with Debiopharm sees MSM keeping Russian and Ukrainian commercial rights—a small but potentially valuable carve-out that reflects the start-ups roots and the growing significance of Europe’s emerging markets.

UK's Chroma and GlaxoSmithKline Target Macrophages For Anti-Inflammatory Use

Chroma Therapeutics announced an option-based drug discovery and development deal on June 23 with GlaxoSmithKline, in conjunction with a £15 million ($24.5 million) Series D financing. Glaxo also participated in the fundraising, but its shareholding remains "well below 10 percent," according to Chroma chief executive Ian Nicholson.

GSK’s Vallance Teams Up With Ex-University College London Colleagues In Pentraxin Deal

After several years of talks, Professor Mark Pepys' University College London spin-out, Pentraxin, has just signed up GlaxoSmithKline to help it develop a novel treatment for amyloidosis that combines a small molecule and an antibody.