Deals this week: Sanofi, Entasis Therapeutics, Helsinn Therapeutics (US)

Sanofi has entered a research agreement with drug discovery services provider Axxam.

The partnership is aimed at optimising numerous small molecules targeted against a range of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).

Axxam expects the partnership to help strengthen its platform to generate leads for discovering small molecule drugs.

Axxam is based in Italy, whereas Sanofi is a pharmaceutical company based in France.

US-based Entasis Therapeutics has completed a series B-1 extension financing round to raise additional $31.9m from Pivotal bioVenture Partners, Sofinnova Ventures and TPG Biotech.

The proceeds are intended to be used to advance the company’s portfolio of anti-infective programmes to mid and late-stage clinical development.

Helsinn Therapeutics (US) has obtained a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable right from Novartis AG to provide detailing services for the latter’s drug Zykadia in the US, as part of a co-promotion agreement signed between the two companies.

Zykadia is approved as a treatment for patients with ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as detected with an FDA-approved test.

Novartis is a healthcare company based in Switzerland, while Helsinn Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company and subsidiary of Helsinn Holding.

India-based pharmaceutical company Sayre Therapeutics Private has closed a second round of venture financing to raise $8m from Accel Partners and Aarin Asset Advisors.

The company has concurrently raised $1m from InnoVen Capital in venture debt financing.

The proceeds will be used to expand the company’s teams in India, perform clinical trials of its in-licensed assets, and to expand its geographical footprint in other South Asian countries.