The Novo Nordisk Foundation has donated Dkr5.5bn ($850m) to the BioInnovation Institute (BII) to bolster the competitiveness of the European life sciences sector. Through this cash injection, which will be allocated over the next nine years, the enterprise foundation is hoping to expand the BII’s capacity to support start-ups and entrepreneurs across the continental life sciences sector.
Boston Scientific plans to acquire Penumbra for about $14.5 billion, the companies announced Thursday. Penumbra makes heart devices to remove clots from blood vessels, treating conditions including pulmonary embolism, stroke and deep vein thrombosis. It also makes an embolization system, designed to stop blood flow to control bleeding.
Danish dermatology specialist Leo Pharma and its CEO Christophe Bourdon came to San Francisco to attend the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference for a specific reason. “I know the power of addressing unmet needs and rare diseases and how to do this,” the CEO told Fierce Pharma in a Monday interview. “That’s why we’re here at J.P. Morgan. I’m looking to add other assets in the field of rare disease.”
Johnson & Johnson and Genmab both used the festive period to junk therapies that haven’t lived up to their promise in the clinic. “This decision was made as part of Genmab’s strategic focus on the most value‑creating opportunities in its late‑stage portfolio and following a thorough assessment of the evolving competitive landscape,” the company said.
Edwards Lifesciences has claimed an FDA approval for its Sapien M3 transcatheter mitral valve replacement system—marking the agency’s first in this type of implant that takes a potentially safer route through the heart’s chambers and can allow for a swifter patient recovery.
