Biotech's internally derived Pentarins offer the targeting advantages of antibody-drug conjugates in cancer, but with better affinity, pharmacokinetics and deeper tumor penetration.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a monthly review of emerging In Vitro Diagnostic, Medical Device, and Pharmaceutical companies that have received venture funding. This month’s column covers deals announced January through February 2016.

David Dodd assumed the role of chief executive at the Canadian oncology company in April and has clear plans to create a revenue stream that will help finance its portfolio of oncology candidates.

A new crop of companies deals head-on with Big Pharma's biggest out-licensing problems--transaction cost and the "embarrassment factor." Solving both involves strategies to make the extra work of out-licensing worthwhile for their large partners. In particular, after years of resisting the idea, they're now allowing their Big Pharma partners the right to buy back the compounds, usually after clinical proof of concept.