Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with Biogen, which struck an $877 million meal to buy University of Oxford spinout Nightstar Therapeutics and move deeper into gene therapies. Elsewhere, Seventure raised more than €100 million for its second microbiome fund on route to an anticipated €200 million-plus final close in the summer, and Gilde Healthcare raised a €200 million fund of its own. DBV Technologies revealed it is set to lose two more members of its C-suite, depriving it of regulatory leaders at a time when it is working to prepare its Viaskin Peanut filing for resubmission. And more. — Nick Taylor
1. Biogen strikes $877M Nightstar gene therapy buyout
Biogen is set to pay $877 million (€772 million) to buy Nightstar Therapeutics for its pipeline of gene therapies. The takeover will give Biogen control of clinical-phase ophthalmology assets that could get to market ahead of drugs in development at rival gene therapy shops.
2. Seventure holds first close of €200M microbiome fund
Seventure Partners has held the first close of its second microbiome fund. The Novartis-backed fund is more than halfway to its €200 million ($227 million)-plus fundraising target, setting up Seventure to invest in around 20 microbiome startups.
3. Gilde raises €200M European healthcare investment fund
Gilde Healthcare has raised €200 million ($226 million) to invest in suppliers of medical products and other health businesses. The fund moves the amount raised by Gilde’s healthcare investment vehicles past the €1 billion mark.
4. DBV loses regulatory, R&D executives ahead of peanut drug refile
Two of the leaders responsible for regulatory and product development at DBV Technologies are set to leave the company this month. The departures deprive DBV of senior members of its regulatory team as it gears up to refile for FDA approval of its peanut allergy drug.
And more articles of note>>