BioPharma Updates, July 7th, 2025.
SciLeads’ BioPharma is updated daily, giving our clients the most current insights on biopharma organizations including Funding, Initial Public Offerings, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnerships, and more. This week’s updates are below, with links to the organizations in the platform. If you don’t have BioPharma yet, start your free trial today.
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Funding
- Kardium (Vancouver, Canada) raised $250M in funding to support the commercial launch of its Globe Pulsed Field System for atrial fibrillation, expand manufacturing, and build out its clinical and commercial teams.
- AvenCell Japan (Tokyo, Japan) received a $40M AMED grant to advance the global development of AVC203, its dual-antigen allogeneic CAR-T therapy for B-cell lymphomas.
- Field Medical (CA, USA) raised $35M in Series B funding to initiate a pivotal trial and advance the development of its FieldForce Ablation System, a next-generation pulsed field ablation platform for treating ventricular tachycardia.
- Syntis Bio (MA, USA) raised $33M in Series A funding and secured up to $5M in NIH grants to advance its SYNT platform and support clinical development of oral therapies for obesity and homocystinuria.
- Adagene (Suzhou, China) raised up to $25M in funding to support clinical development of its anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody, muzastotug, including a Phase 2 trial in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer and combination studies in advanced solid tumors.
- Laverock Therapeutics (London, United Kingdom) raised $25M in Seed funding to advance its programmable gene control therapies and support partnership and out-licensing activities across oncology and genetic medicine.
- Gallant (CA, USA) raised $18M in Series B funding to advance the development and commercial rollout of its off-the-shelf stem cell therapy for Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis and expand its pipeline targeting osteoarthritis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic kidney disease in pets.
- FELIQS (Fukuoka, Japan) raised $9M in Series A funding to advance clinical development of FLQ-101, its lead oral and IV therapy for preventing retinopathy of prematurity in neonates, ahead of a Phase 1b/2 trial launch in the U.S.
- Primo Biotechnology (Taipei, Taiwan) raised $6.8M in Series A funding to advance its radioligand theranostics pipeline and expand the development of precision radiodiagnostics and therapeutics for cancer.
- Escala Medical (Misgav, Israel) raised $4.5M in funding to expand U.S. commercial operations for its FDA-approved pelvic organ prolapse device and prepare for market entry in Europe and Southeast Asia.
- Adiposs (Geneva, Switzerland) raised $4.5M in Series A funding to advance clinical development of ImageBAT®, a novel imaging agent for non-invasive CT detection of brown fat in cancer patients to help identify early non-responders to therapy.
- Quiver Bioscience (MA, USA) received a $2.15M NIH grant to advance the development of its platform for predicting neurotoxicity in CNS-targeted antisense oligonucleotide therapies.
- Stalicla (Geneva, Switzerland) raised $2M in funding to support operations and advance its precision neurodevelopmental disorder programs as it prepares for a Series C round and strategic partnering efforts.
- Lamark Biotech (Ahmedabad, India) raised $780K in pre-Series A funding to advance the development of its thermostable insulin formulation and expand its pipeline of temperature-resilient biologics.
- Loto Biotech (L’Aquila, Italy) raised $650K in funding to advance the development of its AI-driven platform for designing siRNA-based pro-drugs targeting rare autosomal dominant genetic disorders.
Emerging
- Portal Biotech (London, United Kingdom) emerged from stealth with $35M in Series A funding to accelerate the development and commercialization of its AI-powered platform for full-length single-molecule protein sequencing, aiming to transform drug discovery, diagnostics, and biosecurity.
- Circulate Health (CA, USA) emerged from stealth with $12M in seed funding to expand access to therapeutic plasma exchange treatments aimed at extending health span and reducing biological age.
- Juniper Genomics (Toronto, Canada) launched with $4.6M in seed funding to introduce a new standard for IVF genetic testing through the world’s first whole-genome and transcriptome embryo screening platform.
- Dionysus Health (CA, USA) emerged from stealth to tackle postpartum depression with their molecular diagnostics platform, myLuma™, the first clinically validated prenatal blood test designed to predict a woman’s risk of postpartum depression as early as 28 weeks into pregnancy.
Post IPO Equity
- Dyne Therapeutics (MA, USA) raised $200M through a public offering of common stock to support the advancement of its clinical programs for neuromuscular diseases including DM1 and DMD.
- ArriVent BioPharma (PA, USA) raised $75M through an underwritten public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants to support firmonertinib development, pipeline programs, and general corporate purposes.
- Atai Life Sciences (Berlin, Germany) raised $50M through a private placement of ordinary shares and pre-funded warrants to advance its mental health treatment pipeline and support general corporate operations.
- INOVIO Pharmaceuticals (PA, USA)raised $25M through a public offering of common stock and accompanying warrants to support the company’s development and commercialization of DNA medicines for HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases.
- Oragenics (FL, USA) raised $16.5M to fund ONP-2 concussion trials, repay a bridge note, and support general corporate purposes.
- Cellectar Biosciences (NJ, USA) raised $6.9M through an underwritten public offering of common stock, pre-funded warrants, and common warrants to fund general corporate purposes and initiate a Phase 1b trial of CLR 125 in triple-negative breast cancer.
- Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. (CA, USA) raised $5M through a private placement to support general corporate purposes and working capital.
- Reborna Biosciences, Inc. (Fujisawa, Japan) raised ~$4.8M through a third-party equity allotment to advance preclinical trials of its RNA-targeting small molecule pipeline and strengthen its proprietary drug discovery platform.
- NLS Pharmaceutics AG (Zürich, Switzerland) raised $1M through the private placement of preferred shares and warrants in two tranches to support its pending merger with Kadimastem and fund working capital and general corporate activities.
- Nektar Therapeutics (CA, USA) announced a proposed public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants to support the advancement of its immunotherapy pipeline, including rezpegaldesleukin and other candidates.
Post IPO debt
- Dyne Therapeutics (MA, USA) raised $275M through a non-dilutive senior secured term loan facility with Hercules Capital to support clinical and regulatory milestones for DYNE-101 and DYNE-251, with $100M funded upfront and additional tranches tied to future progress.
- Indaptus Therapeutics, Inc. (NY, USA) raised $5.7M through a private placement of convertible promissory notes and warrants to support a Phase 1b/2 trial, R&D activities, and general corporate operations.
- Celadon Pharmaceuticals (London, United Kingdom) raised ~$1.9M through a secured credit facility from a European high-net-worth lender to support working capital, capital expenditures, and general corporate purposes over a two-year term.
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Merck Group (Darmstadt, Germany) to acquire SpringWorks Therapeutics (CT, USA) for $1.4B to accelerate the sustainable growth of its healthcare business.
- CB Biotechnology (United States) to acquire Theratechnologies (Montreal, Canada) for $254M to expand its pharmaceutical portfolio and enhance patient access.
- AbbVie (IL, USA) to acquire Capstan Therapeutics (CA, USA) for $250M to strengthen the commitment to advancing genetic medicine in immunology.
- Channel Therapeutics (NJ, USA) to acquire Pelthos Therapeutics (NC, USA) for $50.1M to commercialize ZELSUVMI™, the first FDA-approved at-home treatment for molluscum contagiosum.
- Biofrontera (MA, USA) to acquire rights from Biofrontera AG (Leverkusen, Germany) for $11M to restructure the partnership and gain greater control over U.S. operations.
- Concentra Biosciences (MA, USA) to acquire IGM Biosciences (CA, USA) for $1.247 per share plus a contingent value right for strategic expansion in biotechnology.
- BerGenBio (Bergen, Norway) to acquire Oncoinvent (Oslo, Norway) to advance radiopharmaceutical cancer therapies and strengthen the oncology pipeline.
- HealthpointCapital (NY, USA) to acquire ImmersiveTouch (IL, USA) to expand capabilities in extended reality surgical technology.
- Verge Medical (CA, USA) to acquire ROVO System from Incept LLC (CA, USA) to advance peripheral embolic protection technology.
- Esteve (Barcelona, Spain) to acquire medicine for the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer from Radius Health (MA, USA) to expand its oncology portfolio and strengthen its presence in rare diseases.
- Medicus Pharma (Toronto, Canada) to acquire Antev Limited (London, United Kingdom) to expand its clinical pipeline in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms.
- LicorBio (NE, USA) to acquire Serva Electrophoresis (Heidelberg, Germany) to expand its portfolio in proteomics and life science tools.
- Innovia Medical (MN, USA) to acquire Grace Medical (TN, USA) to expand specialty surgical solutions in ENT.
- Innovia Medical (MN, USA) to acquire Hurricane Medical (FL, USA) to expand specialty surgical solutions in Ophthalmology.
- Alembic Pharmaceuticals (Vadodara, India) to acquire Utility Therapeutics (Altrincham, United Kingdom) to expand its infectious disease pipeline and gain access to FDA-approved antibiotics.
Partnerships
- Unnatural Products (CA, USA) and Argenx (MA, USA) announced a ~$1.5B strategic research collaboration to discover and develop oral macrocyclic peptide drugs against historically undruggable targets using UNP’s AI-enhanced macrocycle platform.
- BioVersys AG (Basel, Switzerland) and Shionogi (Osaka, Japan) announced a ~$540.6M research and exclusive license option agreement to jointly develop novel ansamycin antibiotics for non-tuberculous mycobacteria infections from BioVersys’ BV500 program.
- Apellis Pharmaceuticals (MA, USA) to receive ~$300M from Sobi – Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Stockholm, Sweden) through a royalty purchase agreement as part of their ex-U.S. partnership for Aspaveli®, supporting commercialization efforts in rare kidney diseases including C3G and IC-MPGN.
- HanchorBio (Taipei, Taiwan) and Henlius (Shanghai, China) announced a $202M exclusive licensing agreement for HCB101, a next-generation SIRPα-IgG4 Fc fusion protein designed to block CD47 signaling and activate anti-tumor immunity, covering Greater China, Southeast Asia, and MENA regions.
- Neurizon (Melbourne, Australia) and Elanco (IN, USA) announced a ~$79.95M exclusive global licensing agreement to develop and commercialize NUZ-001 for neurodegenerative diseases using Elanco’s Monepantel data package.
- MaaT Pharma (Lyon, France) and Clinigen (London, United Kingdom) announced a ~$30.6M exclusive European licensing and commercial supply agreement for Xervyteg® (MaaT013), aimed at accelerating access to this microbiome therapy for steroid-resistant acute Graft-versus-Host Disease ahead of potential EMA approval by mid-2026.
- Verrica Pharmaceuticals (PA, USA) and Torii Pharmaceutical (Japan) announced an expanded collaboration worth up to $18M in milestone payments to initiate a global Phase 3 trial of YCANTH® for common warts and support its regulatory approval in Japan for molluscum contagiosum.
- Nxera Pharma (Tokyo, Japan) to receive $4.8M in milestone payments from Centessa Pharmaceuticals (MA, USA) under their orexin agonist collaboration, following FDA clearance of the IND and initiation of a Phase 1 trial for Centessa’s OX2R agonist ORX142.
- Alpha Fusion (Tokyo, Japan) and Curadh MTR (PA, USA) announced a strategic joint venture to globally develop Astatine-211 radiopharmaceuticals, combining Alpha Fusion’s discovery and clinical progress in Japan with Curadh’s expertise in radiopharmaceutical development and U.S. market expansion.
- Revolution Medicines (CA, USA) and Summit Therapeutics, Inc. (FL, USA) announced a clinical collaboration to evaluate combinations of Revolution’s RAS(ON) inhibitors with Summit’s PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab in solid tumors, including NSCLC, PDAC, and CRC.
- Alvotech (Reykjavík, Iceland) and Advanz Pharma (London, United Kingdom) announced a commercialization agreement for AVT10, a biosimilar to Cimzia®, covering European markets and expanding their partnership across more than ten biologic products.
- Brii Biosciences (NC, USA) and Joincare Pharmaceutical Group Industry Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, China) announced a licensing agreement to develop and commercialize BRII-693, a novel synthetic lipopeptide for drug-resistant gram-negative infections in Greater China.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
- CapsoVision (CA, USA) raised $27.5M through its initial public offering to support the commercialization of its capsule endoscopy solutions and advance the development of its AI-enabled imaging pipeline, including CapsoCam Colon.
Registered Direct Offering (RDO)
- Curis (MA, USA) raised $7M through a registered direct offering and concurrent private placement to support research, development, and general corporate purposes.
Closures and Layoffs
- 4D Molecular Therapeutics (CA, USA) to lay off approximately 25% of employees to streamline operations and offset costs associated with accelerated Phase 3 development of 4D-150 for wet AMD.
- Oncternal Therapeutics (CA, USA) has announced it will close for strategic wind-down and asset sale.
- Sage Therapeutics (MA, USA) to lay off 338 employees for workforce reduction following acquisition by Supernus Pharmaceuticals.
- Bristol Myers Squibb (NJ, USA) to lay off 68 employees for cost-cutting as part of a $3.5B reorganization plan.
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