BioPharm International Editors

Vector Laboratories has completed a $124 million cash buyout backed by Thompson Street Capital Partners and will begin an acquisition strategy to expand protein detection capabilities.

Ardena acquires Idifarma, adding spray drying technology and high potency capabilities.

The orphan drug designation for TCR² Therapeutics’ Gavo-cel will facilitate research into a treatment for cholangiocarcinoma.

Moderna’s new single-dose vaccine will be a booster for both COVID-19 and the flu.

Moderna announced a collaboration to develop a new mRNA therapeutic for Crigler-Najjar Syndrome Type 1 at no cost to patients.

AstraZeneca and the European Commission have reached an agreement that ends legal proceedings over the execution of the advance purchase agreement for the delivery of Vaxzevria.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations stated that developing the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines will only be possible if comparator vaccines are available for clinical trials.

FDA placed a clinical hold on the BMN 307 Phearless Phase I/II study, which was evaluating an investigational PAH gene therapy in adults with PKU.

Impel Neuropharma’s Trudhesa, a nasal spray, received FDA approval for treating migraines in adults with and without aura.

Thermo Fisher Scientific plans to expand its Nashville, Tenn., site by establishing a dedicated single-use technology manufacturing facility at the site, doubling capacity.

The US government has granted Thermo Fisher Scientific a $192.5 million contract that the company will use to expand domestic manufacturing for pipette tips.

Element’s acquisition of Impact Analytical expands their life sciences footprint in North America.

FDA clearance of trans sodium crocetinate allows Diffusion to proceed with their latest Phase II oxygenation trial.

Immutep was granted a Chinese patent for LAG525, a LAG-3 antagonist antibody, under evaluation for cancer treatment.

Febles will oversee day-to-day aseptic manufacturing at Pharmaceutics International, Inc.

CDMO ten23 health aims to support companies developing injectable biopharmaceutical drugs.

SK and GSK announce the initiation of a Phase III clinical study of SK’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, GBP510, in combination with GSK’s pandemic adjuvant.

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced the initiation of the Phase III clinical trial to evaluate an investigational oral antiviral therapeutic for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Two of FDA’s vaccine regulators will be leaving in the fall of 2021, which has the potential to impact COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for both children under the age of 12 and booster shots.

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization to Incyte and MorphoSys for Minjuvi (tafasitamab) in combination therapy with lenalidomide to treat relapsed or refractory DLBCL.

Aadi Bioscience has closed its previously announced merger with Aerpio Pharmaceuticals and a concurrent $155-million PIPE investment.

Avantor plans to address rising global demand for biologics with their investment in hydration capabilities.

Quotient Sciences is investing £6.3 million ($8.68 million) into their drug substance manufacturing capabilities.

USAntibiotics will serve as the sole American-based provider of amoxicillin and amoxil clavulanate.

Catalent’s acquisition of Bettera paves the way for growth in the softgel and oral dose formulation and manufacturing market for nutraceuticals.

After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine from a batch of Moderna vaccines that were suspected to have contaminants, two people in Japan died. Meanwhile, another one million doses have been temporarily suspended in Japan.

Insilico Biotechnology has joined the Inno4vac project—an innovative European public-private partnership aimed at accelerating vaccine R&D timelines.

FSD Pharma has entered a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Lucid Psycheceuticals for approximately US$9 million (CAD$11.3 million) in FSD Pharma stock.

FDA has cleared QSAM Biosciences’s IND application for Samarium-153 DOTMP (CycloSam).

Japan has suspended the use of more than 1.63 million potentially contaminated doses of the Moderna vaccine.