AzurRz BioPharma Acquires First Wave Bio

AzurRz BioPharma Acquires First Wave Bio

AzurRz BioPharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted, non-systemic therapies for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire First Wave Bio, Inc. in a stock and cash transaction valued at $229 million. H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as advisor to AzurRx in connection with the acquisition. Founded in 2015, First Wave Bio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel, gut-targeted, small molecule therapies for the treatment of auto-immune inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and other serious conditions. AzurRx also announced that it... Read More »
Eli Lilly Acquires Protomer Technologies

Eli Lilly Acquires Protomer Technologies

The pharma giant Eli Lilly and Company announced a new deal last week, taking full ownership of Protomer Technologies for $1 billion. Founded in 2015, Protomer engineers next-generation protein therapeutics that can sense molecular activators in the body. The company’s proprietary chemical biology-based platform enables the development of therapeutic peptides and proteins with a tunable activity that can be controlled using small molecules. Protomer has used this approach toward advancing a portfolio of therapeutic candidates, including glucose-responsive insulins that can sense sugar levels in the blood and automatically activate as needed throughout the day.   Lilly previously led an... Read More »
Pear Therapeutics Goes Public

Pear Therapeutics Goes Public

Another week, another SPAC deal. Pear Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs), has announced it is merging with Thimble Point Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: THMA), a special purpose acquisition company managed by the Pritzker Vlock Family Office.  Pear develops clinically validated software-based therapeutics to provide better outcomes for patients, smarter engagement and tracking tools for clinicians, and cost-effective solutions for payers. The combined business is expected to have a pro forma equity value of approximately $1.6 billion.  The new company, Pear Holding Corp., secured a $125 million PIPE from investors including 5AM Ventures, Arboretum... Read More »
Pfizer Acquires Amplyx Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer Acquires Amplyx Pharmaceuticals

After getting its Covid-19 vaccine to market in record time, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is back on the acquisition trail. The pharmaceutical giant has purchased Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Amplyx Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held company dedicated to the development of therapies for debilitating and life-threatening diseases that affect people with compromised immune systems. Amplyx’s lead compound, Fosmanogepix (APX001), is a novel investigational asset under development for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.  In addition to Fosmanogepix, with this acquisition, Pfizer has secured ownership of Amplyx’s early-stage pipeline that includes potential antiviral... Read More »
Sanofi Buys Tidal Therapeutics

Sanofi Buys Tidal Therapeutics

The global pharmaceutical company Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) has announced the acquisition of Tidal Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sanofi is paying $160 million upfront and up to $310 million upon achievement of certain milestones.  Tidal Therapeutics is focused on developing nanoparticles that deliver mRNA to reprogram immune cells inside the body with applications in oncology and immune diseases. The company was seeded by Mission BioCapital, and joined by RA Capital, New Enterprise Associates, the Myeloma Investment Fund, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s venture philanthropy, MRL Ventures and AbbVie Ventures.  The new technology platform will... Read More »
Takeda Adds Maverick Therapeutics

Takeda Adds Maverick Therapeutics

The pharmaceutical giant Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (NYSE: TAK) is back with a new acquisition. The company has announced the acquisition of Maverick Therapeutics, Inc for a pre-negotiated upfront payment as well as potential development and regulatory milestones totaling up to $525 million. This acquisition follows a multi-year collaboration between Takeda and Maverick, signed in 2017.  Maverick Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company pioneering conditionally active bispecific T-cell targeted immunotherapies. Its lead candidates are MVC-280 (now TAK-280) and MVC-101 (now TAK-186). TAK-186 is currently in a Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of EFGR-expressing solid... Read More »