> Medivir (STO:MVIR-B) offloaded the rights to a hepatitis C drug to Trek Therapeutics. The deal gives Trek the rights to the nucleotide polymerase inhibitor, MIV-802, in all countries except China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. In return, Medivir will receive milestones and, if the drug makes it to market, royalties that top out in the mid-teens. Release
> Magdalen College unveiled plans to build a 500-person office at Oxford Science Park. The site would add office space in a part of the United Kingdom that is home to multiple life science companies, including OxSonics and Oxford BioMedica. If the project goes ahead, it will become the first building added to Oxford Science Park since Magdalen College took full control of the site in January. Article
> Oculis wrapped up a Series A round. The financing, the size of which hasn’t been disclosed, is intended to give the Icelandic startup the means to advance a diabetic macular edema (DME) program and earlier-stage pipeline candidates. The DME drug, DexNP, is a topical treatment that has been tested in the clinic. Release
> The founding CEO of Symphogen stepped down. Kirsten Drejer led the Danish drugmaker through its first 16 years, raising €317 million ($359 million) in equity capital and landing deals with Baxalta and Roche’s ($RHHBY) Genentech along the way. Drejer is being replaced by Martin Olin, a former Novo Nordisk ($NVO) executive who has served as CFO of the Symphogen since 2012. Release
> Ascendis Pharma ($ASND) began a Phase III trial in children with growth hormone deficiency. The trial replicates the design of an earlier Phase II study, in which Ascendis showed its once-weekly growth hormone can deliver comparable results to existing daily regimens. Ascendis has set the primary endpoint as height velocity after 12 months. Release
> Acacia Pharma posted positive Phase III data on its treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting. The readout means Acacia is now in possession of a dataset that could enable it to pick up an FDA approval in the near-term. But, with last year’s failed IPO leaving a £150 million ($197 million) hole in its finances, the question of how it will finance itself beyond registration of the drug remains unanswered. Article I Release