Drug Companies Update October 2008
Mergers, acquisitions & Joint Ventures
- Ipsen has acquired Tercia, which will remain a subsidiary.
- Ranbaxy has become a subsdiary of Daiichi Sankyo.
- ViroPharma has acquired Lev Pharmaceuticals.
- OrthoLogic changed its name to Capstone Therapeutics.
- Kirin Pharma and Kyowa Hakko merged to form Kyowa Hakko Kirin.
- Shionogi has acquired Sciele.
- Forma Therapeutics has acquired Solmap.
New Companies
- Andromeda Biotech a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clal Biotechnology Industries, is developing treatments for autoimmune diabetes.
- Archer Pharmaceuticals focuses on targeted drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease.
- Arisyn is a privately-held biotech company developing novel inhibitors of infectious diseases and cancer.
- Atani is developing and commercializing novel anticancers in Japan.
- Calabar AB is a privately-owned company that aims to develop xerostomia therapeutics.
- Celonic is engaged in the development of protein therapeutics for cancer and immune diseases.
- Circadian Technologies is an Australian biotechnology company focused on the development of biologic for the treatment of cancer and other serious human illnesses.
- Cocrystal Discovery is developing antivirals.
- EndGenitor develops stem cell therapies.
- FirstPoint BioTech licenses or purchases underdeveloped technologies in pharma and medical devices.
- Forma Therapeutics is using its chemistry and biology platforms to unlock targets and pathways revealed by genomic medicine.
- Funxional Therapeutics is a UK-based early-stage biopharmaceutical outfit focused on developing small-molecule pharmaceuticals.
- Haemostatix focuses on the development of novel therapies for uncontrolled bleeding.
- Immunocore focuses on the development of monoclonal T-cell receptors.
- Spanish company ISDIN develops compounds for skin pathologies.
- Kylin Therapeutics uses its RNAi technology for the treatment of a number of diseases including cancer.
- LEAD Therapeutics is a small molecule drug discovery company focused on the development of treatments for cancer and infectious diseases.
- NellOne Therapeutics is developing Nell1 protein therapeutics for the restoration of heart myocytes following cardiac arrest.
- NeoBiocon develops biopharmaceuticals for diabetes, oncology, autoimmune disorders and cardiology.
- Neurok Pharma focuses on the development of virus-like particles for the treatment and prophylaxis of infectious diseases.
- Neumedicines is engaged in the research and development of prophylactics and therapeutics based on IL-12.
- Korean company Newgex is the technology transfer company for Seoul National University, with a current focus on drug repositioning.
- Hollywood-based OncoMune is developing therapeutic vaccines, nucleic acids and small molecules targeting transcription factors.
- Pharmaleads is investigating small molecules.
- Phoenix Biotechnology focuses on products from botanical extracts to treat cancer as a chronic illness.
- ProCell Therapeutics develops protein-based therapeutics capable of entering cells using intracellular transduction technologies.
- Recro Pharma develops and commercializes drugs for unmet medical needs, including pain and gastrointestinal disorders.
- SmartCells is developing SmartInsulin, a once-daily injectable insulin for the treatment of diabetes.
- Tetralogic is focused on the discovery and development of cancer therapeutics.
- Therosteon is a start-up developing compounds for bone diseases.
- Transport Pharmaceuticals is focused on dermal diseases.
- Vaxin is developing vaccines and biologicals for non-invasive delivery to the nasal passages or via the epidermis.
- Verva Pharmaceuticals is developing therapies for metabolic disorders.
- Viamet Pharmaceuticals is developing small molecule inhibitors of metalloenzymes, using its Metallophile technology.
- X2 Pharma is geared to fighting inflammatory diseases.
