> Bial, the Portuguese drug developer involved in the French clinical trial deaths, published data on the once-daily formulation of Zebinix it is developing with Eisai. In a Phase III trial, patients newly diagnosed with partial-onset seizures responded as well to Zebinix as to a twice-daily, controlled-release formulation of carbamazepine. “With a similar efficacy and safety profile to controlled-release carbamazepine we hope that eslicarbazepine acetate may be another potential treatment option for patients in the future,” Paracelsus Medical University’s Eugen Trinka said in a statement. Release
> Pieris Pharmaceuticals ($PIRS) entered into a licensing agreement with Enumeral Biomedical. The deal sees Pieris, a German-originated biotech that has shifted its center of gravity to Boston, MA over the past year, pay $250,000 (€220,000) for sequence and associated information regarding Enumeral’s class of anti-PD1 antibodies. An additional payment of $750,000 is due if Pieris wants to maintain the license beyond May 31. “Gaining access to Enumeral's valuable PD-1 antibody IP ... enables Pieris to leverage its antibody-Anticalin multispecifics capabilities with a cornerstone immune checkpoint inhibitor,” Pieris CEO Stephen Yoder said in a statement. Release
> GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) started a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial of a monoclonal antibody it licensed from MorphoSys (ETR:MOR). The study will compare the antibody, GSK3196165, to a placebo in 40 people with inflammatory hand osteoarthritis. Specifically, GSK is looking to see whether subcutaneous injections of GSK3196165 can lessen the pain felt by participants. The start of the study follows on from the commencement of a Phase II trial of the drug in rheumatoid arthritis. GSK is yet to release data from the trial. Statement
> Heptares and Kymab entered into an immuno-oncology collaboration. The alliance pairs Heptares’ StaR platform, which has underpinned a string of deals including its $3.3 billion (€2.9 billion) hook up with Allergan ($AGN), to Kymab’s Kymouse antibody discovery platform. Heptares will use its platform to create antigens based on jointly-selected G protein-coupled receptor targets, after which Kymab will use the fruits of its partner’s work and Kymouse to generate antibodies. The companies are splitting the cost of discovery and development. Release
> Promethera Biosciences acquired assets from Dietmar Hopp-backed cellular therapy firm Cytonet. The deal gives Promethera, which is developing stem cell therapies against liver diseases, a footprint in the U.S., plus a human hepatocyte program that the company is tipping to come to market in 2017. Promethera is ponying up stock to make the deal, which will result in the family of billionaire Dietmar Hopp owning 13% of the combined company. Release
> Basilea Pharmaceutica (SWX:BSLN) secured a contract worth up to $100 million (€88 million) from the U.S. government. The contract will funnel an initial $20 million into Basilea over the coming 18 months, in which period it will work to agree a development program for its late-phase antibiotic with FDA. As the program advances, the U.S. agency on the other side of the deal, BARDA, could exercise options that would boost the value of the contract up to $100 million. Statement