After weeks of speculation, Pfizer has agreed to acquire antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developer Seagen for $43 billion.  The potential acquisition of Seagen (previously Seattle Genetics) has been circulating news outlets since June last year when the Wall Street Journal reported Merck & Co. was eyeing the Bothell, Washington based firm to increase its oncology offering.   Most recently, the same outlet reported Pfizer was considering purchasing the ADC manufacturer, to which Mike Vandiver, executive director at Seagen, told BPI West delegates the rumored deal “is just noise,…

CDMO GTP Bioways and CRO Texcell have partnered to provide a “one stop shop” for biopharma customers outsourcing their molecules. The two French players have partnered , combining clinical research organization (CRO) TexCells’ biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing  together with contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) GTP’s knowledge of viral testing, viral clearance, and bioassays. “Their complementary services of testing and development and manufacturing provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for biopharmaceutical clients that are outsourcing the development of their molecules,” a spokesperson for…

The US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has approved Sino Biopharm’s $161 million acquisition of UK-based bispecific antibody developer F-Star. Sino Biopharm was approved to close the all-cash acquisition last week after the purchase was held up for nine months by CFIUS. The US government agency had been concerned about China’s acquisition of advanced US technologies. The deal has become a major focus in the global competition between China and the US. Cambridge, UK-headquartered F-Star –…

Novartis has extended an AAV capsid licensing agreement with Voyager Therapeutics, a week after AbbVie doubled down on its partnership with Capsida Biotherapeutics.  Novartis has exercised its option to expand an agreement with Voyager Therapeutics, granting it additional access to Voyager’s TRACER platform which engineers’ in vivo adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids with enhanced properties. The original agreement, announced last year, saw Novartis license AAV capsids for up to three central nervous system (CNS) targets. With an additional payment of $25…