> Touchstone Innovations and Medicxi co-led a £14 million ($18 million) investment in ApcinteX. The University of Cambridge spinout will use the money to advance an asset with the potential to treat patients with all types of hemophilia, including people who form antibodies to traditional blood clotting factors. Cambridge Enterprise also invested in the Series A round. Release
> Summit Therapeutics outlined the phase 3 program for its antibiotic ridinilazole. Having spoken to the FDA and EMA, Summit plans to pit the antibiotic against standard care in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. The trial will seek to show that ridinilazole is superior to standard of care. Summit is looking to fund the trial through a collaboration or nondilutative cash, such as a grant from a government or charity. Release
> Eli Lilly made a milestone payment to AbCheck. The payday was triggered by the start of patient enrollment in a phase 1 trial of an antibody discovered in the collaboration. Czech antibody shop AbCheck began working with Lilly in 2010. Release
> Galapagos dosed the first patient in a phase 2a trial of CF corrector GLPG2222, triggering a $10 million (€9 million) payment from its partner AbbVie. The study is giving one of two doses of GLPG2222 or a placebo on top of Vertex’s Kalydeco to cystic fibrosis patients who have one F508del CFTR mutation and one gating mutation. Release
> InDex Pharmaceuticals signed a deal with CRO Parexel covering its phase 2b ulcerative colitis trial. The agreement gives InDex the support of a large CRO as it sets out to activate 90 sites in 12 countries. InDex expects to start enrolling patients in the trial in the second quarter, setting it up to post top-line data by the end of next year. Release
> The FDA granted orphan drug designation to GenSight Biologics’ retinitis pigmentosa candidate. The candidate, GS030, is midway through a GLP tox study designed to support its advance into a phase 1/2 trial in the third quarter. Release