Asia Deal Watch: Takeda Licenses Curadev STING Agonist To Further Its IO Ambitions

The Japanese pharma, continuing to bolster its pipeline after buying Shire, is partnering with Skyhawk in neurodegenerative diseases under another new deal. Also, Purdue cites shifting business priorities for a decision to end Eisai collaboration on sleep disorder drug.

asian man in bed suffering insomnia and sleep disorder thinking about his problem at night - Image
Eisai now owns all rights to insomnia candidate lemborexant

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Lupin’s Cimzia Biosimilar Candidate Reflects Strategy To Separate Wheat From Chaff

 
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Lupin's choice of a Cimzia biosimilar candidate and partnering with Zentiva reflect a strategy to sort the wheat from the chaff. Of 118 biologics to lose patent protection between 2025 and 2034 as per IQVIA, it’s going for a biosimilar with a single competitor though there could be other spoilers

Finance Watch: Two New Venture Capital Funds Provide $600m For Biopharma

 
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Private Company Edition: Catalio raised more than $400m for its fourth health care-focused VC fund, while AN Venture Partners raised $200m for Japan and beyond. In VC financings, among a dearth of mega rounds, Neuron23’s $96.5m series D is the largest round in recent weeks.

Merck & Co.’s Verona Acquisition Marks A Return To Respiratory

 

With the $10bn acquisition of Verona, Merck gains the marketed COPD drug Ohtuvayre, reentering respiratory, where it was once a leader with Singulair.