Plus deals involving Incyte/CMS, Biocytogen/ABL, Bharat/Biofabri/Bilthoven, Dr. Reddy’s/Pharmazz, Veeda/Heads, Sosei Heptares/GSK, BioGeometry/Sanyou, Ono/Sibylla and Teijin/BioProjet

The Swedish biotech is stepping up its business development plans ahead of a mid-stage readout in the summer for ACD440, its TRPV1 antagonist for neuropathic pain.

Two new projects have begun, one on standardizing the assessment of immune responses in individuals vaccinated in clinical trials, the other to improve understanding of potential immunity in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

H.I.G. Capital, a global private equity firm with more than $8.5 billion under management, has closed its second life sciences-focused venture fund - H.I.G. BioVentures II – at $268 million, exceeding its $250 million target. Like its first life sciences fund, HIG BioVentures, the new fund will invest in North American companies across a broad range of sectors and development stages, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostics.