The biomanufacturing firm National Resilience has raised more than $2bn in venture capital and millions more in fees from government and industry contracts since 2020. Also, Code Biotherapeutics raised $75m in series A cash, Concert grossed $66.4m and Amarin is cutting US jobs. 

Already owner of about 60% of the troubled antibiotic firm, Innoviva agrees to pay $2.20 per share for all outstanding stock in Entasis. Roche, KaliVir partner on oncolytic virus therapies.

Sophiris Bio will use a transrectal route of administration, rather than the transperineal route, for its lead drug PRX302 for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate). This follows a three-month 40-patient study which showed that a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided injection directly into the prostate was well tolerated. The selection of the route of administration is another step in a substantial refocusing of the company which saw the appointment of a new CEO, Randall Woods, in mid-August, and a halt to other development projects to allow more resources to be put into the PRX302/BPH program. With its singular focus on the BPH drug, Sophiris hopes to take PRX302 into a Phase III trial later in 2012.

Privately-held biopharmaceutical company Sorbent Therapeutics has appointed Dr Howard Dittrich its first chief medical officer and Randall Woods chair of the board of directors. Dr Dittrich has over 20 years' experience having led clinical research and regulatory affairs at biotech companies such as NovaCardia, Alliance Pharmaceuticals and Molecular Biosystems. He was most recently CMO at Sequel Pharmaceuticals, a spin-out from the acquisition of NovaCardia (the company he co-founded) by Merck & Co. Mr Woods, a serial entrepreneur, has over 39 years' experience in the industry and previously served as president and CEO of Sequel Pharmaceuticals and NovaCardia.