> The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded CureVac grants to support development of mRNA vaccines against influenza and malaria. The foundation agreed to support CureVac’s work in the area as part of its equity investment in 2015. Statement
> Affimed laid out a stock offering designed to net it $21.6 million. Release
> Verona Pharma provided more detail on the timing of upcoming clinical trial readouts. The British drug developer expects to have phase 2b COPD data early in the second quarter and top-line phase 2a cystic fibrosis data late in the first quarter. Statement
> Merus filed to raise $55.8 million in a private stock offering. Biotechnology Value Fund, Aquilo, Sofinnova and LSP snapped up the stock at a 9% premium. Release
> The FDA cleared DBV Technologies to file for approval of its peanut allergy drug on the basis of data from its failed phase 3 trial. DBV said the agency agreed it has the data to support a submission. Statement
> Shares in Galmed tanked after the Israeli biotech’s SCD1 modulator missed the mark in a phase 2 NAFLD trial. Release