EuroBiotech Report—Sanofi, Novartis and Gilead strike deals, Amgen-UCB and Brexit

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. Our top stories this week center on a string of deals involving European drug developers. Sanofi got the series going by paying $50 million (€43 million) for the rights to Revolution Medicines’ small molecule SHP2 inhibitor RMC-4630. Novartis followed up by spending €95 million upfront to take charge of Galapagos and MorphoSys' atopic dermatitis drug, before Gilead's Kite Pharma completed the series by bagging an option to buy Dutch biotech Gadeta. Elsewhere, Amgen and UCB refiled for approval of romosozumab one year after a safety scare sunk their original submission. British politicians voted for the U.K. to "fully participate" in the EMA after Brexit. And more.Nick Taylor  

1. Sanofi bags rights to Revolution’s SHP2 cancer drug

Sanofi has paid $50 million to work with Revolution Medicines on the development of cancer drugs against SHP2. The partners plan to move small molecule SHP2 inhibitor RMC-4630 into the clinic later this year.

2. Novartis pays €95M to bag dermatitis drug from Galapagos, MorphoSys

Novartis is set to pay €95 million ($110 million) up front for the global rights to Galapagos and MorphoSys’ anti-IL-17C antibody MOR106. The deal positions Novartis to take MOR106 forward in atopic dermatitis and other indications, handing over up to €850 million in milestones as it goes.

3. Gilead’s Kite bags option to buy gamma delta startup Gadeta

Gilead’s Kite Pharma has snagged an option to buy gamma delta T-cell receptor (TCR) startup Gadeta. The deal sees Kite take a stake in Gadeta and commit to milestones tied to the progress of oncology candidates.  

4. Amgen, UCB refile for romosozumab approval 1 year after safety scare sunk submission

Amgen and UCB have refiled for FDA approval of osteoporosis drug romosozumab one year after the agency rejected a submission on safety grounds. The revised filing pools all the phase 3 data in a bid to show the sclerostin-targeting antibody has a positive risk-benefit profile.

5. U.K. votes to ‘fully participate’ in EMA after Brexit

British politicians have voted for the U.K. to try to remain close to the EMA after Brexit. The voted-for text tasks the government with seeking to secure the right for the U.K. to “fully participate” in the regional regulatory network after it leaves the European Union.

And more articles of note>>