Dow Jones VentureSource presented more rosy numbers for the European healthcare VC scene. In the fourth quarter, financings at Cell Medica and Ascendis Pharma drove a 64% quarter-on-quarter jump in the amount of money raised by European healthcare businesses. Report
Cytos Biotechnology (SIX:CYTN) sidestepped bankruptcy after the majority of bondholders voted in favor of a plan to convert bonds into shares. The vote lowers Cytos' debt by CHF 2 million ($2.2 million) and clears the way for it to complete its virus like particle deal with OnCore Biopharma. Release
Nordic Nanovector filed the paperwork for an IPO in its hometown of Oslo, Norway. The developer of antibody-radionuclide conjugates--including a lead candidate against non-Hodgkin lymphoma--plans to provide further details about the IPO at an investor meeting later this quarter. Release
NightstaRx raised £5 million ($7.6 million) from its lead investor--the Wellcome Trust's venture arm Syncona--to advance its clinical choroideremia program. Syncona helped get the Oxford University gene therapy spinout started one year ago when it invested £12 million. Release
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute struck a CRISPR deal with AstraZeneca ($AZN). Researchers at the institute will use its genome-wide CRISPR guide-RNA libraries to switch off certain genes in populations of cells. The deal is part of AstraZeneca's multi-front push into genome editing. Release | FierceBiotech
A successful meeting with FDA to discuss the clinical package for AC-170 moved Nicox (EPA:COX) a step closer to approval of its treatment for ocular itching. Nicox will meet FDA again later this quarter to discuss the CMC package. Release
Theravectys bagged €1.9 million ($2.2 million) from Bpifrance in the form of a repayable advance. The French biotech will use the cash to run preclinical tests on its cancer vaccine and scale up its manufacturing. Release
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) awarded orphan drug status to Enlivex Therapeutics' ApoCell in the prevention of Graft-versus-Host Disease. Enlivex--part of Hadasit Bio-Holdings (TASE:HDST) portfolio--plans to start a Phase IIb/III trial of the drug this year. Release
Milan, Italy-based San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET) teamed up with Biogen Idec ($BIIB). The partners will jointly develop gene therapies for hemophilia A and B, with TIGET pocketing $5 million (€4.4 million) upfront and undisclosed milestones for its contribution. FierceBiotech
Novartis ($NVS) began negotiating the sale of its Horsham, U.K. site to the University of Brighton. The university plans to turn the campus into a center for higher education that would create 2,250 jobs and 3,500 places for students. Release
Ascendis Pharma ($ASND) raised $108 million (€95 million) through a U.S. IPO that priced at the upper end of the forecast range. The Danish biotech will use the money to move its once-a-week treatment for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) into late-phase trials. FierceBiotech
Ipsen (EPA:IPN) posted positive Phase III data on Dysport in two new indications: Pediatric cerebral palsy and adult lower limb spasticity. The French biopharma plans to present the data to regulators later this year. Release
Merck KGaA dropped out of its $625 million (€551 million) deal with Symphogen. Copenhagen, Denmark-based Symphogen plans to continue developing the targeted cancer drug that attracted Merck KGaA unpartnered. FierceBiotech