Deals and M&As this week: Tolero Pharmaceuticals, BioNTech, Novo Nordisk

Tolero Pharmaceuticals has entered a clinical research collaboration with AbbVie for the development of a therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

The alliance will carry out a new clinical trial to investigate the primary benefits of combining venetoclax and alvocidib for relapsed or refractory AML treatment.

Venetoclax is a small molecule inhibitor of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein, while Alvocidib is a small molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9)

The two companies will share all development expenses equally, as per the collaboration.

Based in the US, Tolero Pharmaceuticals is a developer of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases, while AbbVie, also based in the US, is a developer of pharmaceuticals for urology, endocrinology, and other infectious diseases.

BioNTech has signed a research agreement with Pfizer for the development of new generation of influenza vaccines.

Both companies will carry out research and development activities to advance the development of Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based flu vaccines.

BioNTech will receive $120m in upfront payment and $305m in potential and milestone payments from Pfizer, as part of the agreement. In addition, BioNTech will receive royalty payments, post-commercialisation of the programme.

"BioNTech has signed a research agreement with Pfizer for the development of new generation of influenza vaccines."

Based in Germany, BioNTech is a developer of next-generation immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, while Pfizer is a US-based developer and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare products.

The partnership will enable the two companies to create immunotherapy treatments and improve knowledge on the immune system to provide patients with better protection against seasonal flu.

Novo Nordisk has completed the acquisition of Ziylo for $800m.

Novo Nordisk made the acquisition through an upfront cash payment, as well as contingent milestone payments.

The acquisition provides Novo Nordisk with all rights to Ziylo’s glucose binding molecule platform for the development of glucose responsive insulins.

Ziylo has spun off some of its research activities into a new company named Carbometrics prior to the acquisition. The new company entered a research partnership with Novo Nordisk for the optimisation of glucose-binding molecules.

Based in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company focused on developing medicines for diabetes care, while Ziylo is a biotechnology firm based in the UK.

The transaction enables the acquirer company to develop glucose responsive insulin.

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