Novartis teamed up with Cadent Therapeutics on treatment-resistant depression back when the neuro-focused biotech was working under the radar. Five years later, the Swiss pharma is helping itself to the rest of Cadent’s pipeline in a deal worth $210 million upfront but that could net the latter up to $770 million in total.
December 17, 2020 | In the News
Novartis snaps up neuro partner Cadent for $210M upfront with promise of up to $560M more
December 17, 2020 | In the News
GlaxoSmithKline plumbs the discovery field (again), betting up to $815M for the latest add-on to its oncology pipeline
Five years after Novartis stepped up with a sizable deal that gave them worldwide rights to Surface Oncology’s lead cancer drug, GlaxoSmithKline is coming in at the other end of the pipeline, snagging a preclinical natural killer drug designed to whip up a more effective attack on cancer cells.
December 16, 2020 | From the Trenches
Beyond The Balance Sheet: Thinking Broadly About Dilution In Building A Transformative Biotech
Over the course of my career in healthcare, I’ve been fortunate to serve in a leadership role through four IPOs and even more financing rounds. All told, I’ve raised well over $1.5 billion in capital. That means I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about dilution.
By Joshua Brumm, CEO of Dyne Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC
December 10, 2020 | From the Trenches
The Elephant in the Room
One of the biggest elephants in the room regarding starting and scaling young companies is the tension, often healthy but sometimes detrimental, that exist between CEOs and venture capital firms.
By Philip Astley-Sparke, CEO of Replimune, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.
December 8, 2020 | From the Trenches
It’s a Matter of Aligning on the Priorities
Prioritization is a concept that we have become intimately aware of, given the continually blurred lines of personal and professional obligations in a 24/7 world. The good news is we all know we need to prioritize; the bad news is we need to find time and courage to do it. In the fast-paced reality of drug development, that time needs to be sooner rather than later. Time can mean life and death for the patients we serve. Many biopharmaceutical companies face an abundance of riches in the scientific opportunities to explore but must contend with constraints in resources, both people and dollars. Given these constraints, a critical part of the development planning process needs to include prioritization of opportunities, whether they be diseases, targets, indications, or trials. But the real question is how do we manage this prioritization in a practical, collaborative, yet disciplined manner?
By Rene Russo, CEO of Xilio Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC