On April 16, 2021 Synlogic (Nasdaq: SYBX) a clinical stage company bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine, reported the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $3.00 per share (Press release, Synlogic, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578118]). The gross proceeds to Synlogic from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Synlogic, are expected to be $30.0 million. All shares of common stock to be sold in the offering are being sold by Synlogic. In addition, Synlogic has granted to the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is expected to close on or about April 20, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

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SVB Leerink is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

The securities described above are being offered by Synlogic pursuant to its shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-226730) filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 9, 2018 and declared effective by the SEC on August 30, 2018. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering was filed with the SEC and a final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering will be filed with the SEC. When available, copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from SVB Leerink LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, by telephone at (800) 808-7525, ext. 6105, or by email at [email protected]. The preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus is also available, and the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will be available, on the SEC’s website at View Source

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Any offer, if at all, will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus forming a part of the effective registration statement.

On April 16, 2021 Axial Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of gut-targeted, small molecule therapeutics for neurological conditions and oncology, reported that A. Stewart Campbell, Ph.D., chief executive officer, will present an overview of the company and take part in one-on-one meetings with institutional investors at the Jefferies Microbiome-based Therapeutics Summit on April 22, 2021 (Press release, Axial Biotherapeutics, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578115]). The summit is a virtual event and the presentation will be accessible to conference registrants for 30 days.

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On April 16, 2021 Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported that it has successfully completed its previously announced tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Five Prime Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FPRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing immuno-oncology and targeted cancer therapies, for $38.00 per share in cash (Press release, Amgen, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578114]). The aggregate consideration to be paid by Amgen to complete the tender offer and the subsequent merger is approximately $1.9 billion without giving effect to related transaction fees and expenses.

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"Five Prime fits squarely within Amgen’s leading oncology portfolio and includes bemarituzumab, a Phase 3 trial-ready, first-in-class program for gastric cancer, the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen. "Working with the dedicated professionals joining us from Five Prime, we plan to quickly move bemarituzumab into a Phase 3 study, bringing it one step closer to helping patients suffering from gastric cancer."

Amgen’s existing and complementary development capabilities in metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers together with its biologics manufacturing expertise and global commercial footprint will help bemarituzumab reach patients in markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Latin America, where the prevalence of gastric cancer is high. Amgen will continue to review additional Five Prime oncology assets for the Amgen pipeline.

As of the expiration of the tender offer, approximately 40,392,569 shares were validly tendered and not properly withdrawn in the tender offer, representing approximately 87.8% of Five Prime’s outstanding shares, according to the depositary of the tender offer. The condition to the tender offer that at least one share more than 50% of Five Prime’s issued and outstanding shares be validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the tender offer has been satisfied. As a result, Amgen has accepted for payment all such validly tendered shares and will promptly (and in any event within two business days) pay for all such validly tendered shares.

Following the completion of the tender offer, Franklin Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen, merged with and into Five Prime, with Five Prime surviving the merger. As a result of the merger effected today, all remaining eligible Five Prime shares have been converted into the right to receive $38.00 per share in cash, minus any applicable withholding taxes and without interest, the same price that was paid in the tender offer (eligible shares exclude those for which holders properly demanded and perfected appraisal rights under Delaware law and those held by Amgen or its wholly owned subsidiaries or Five Prime). Following completion of the merger, Five Prime shares have ceased trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

On April 15, 2021 Juniper Biologics, a science-led healthcare company focused on researching, developing & commercialising novel therapies, reported the appointment of celebrated pharmaceutical executive Raman Singh to the role of Chief Executive (Press release, Juniper Biologics, APR 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234615018]).

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Juniper Biologics will be focused on researching, developing and commercialising innovative medications in the areas of Oncology, Rare/Orphan Diseases and Gene Therapy. The company is headquartered in Singapore.

Juniper Biologics was founded on a vision to provide the next generation of life-changing treatments for unmet needs focused on specialist therapy areas in which it can make the most difference. The company has the goal of bringing in cutting edge innovation and improving the quality of life of the human race and especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Singh’s plan is to do this by focusing exclusively on much neglected therapy areas, specific biological targets and unique formulations with strong value proposition.

‘’The opportunity to lead Juniper Biologics is one I could not pass up. There is a tremendous global need for effective therapies and preventions for Oncology, Rare/Orphan Diseases and Gene Therapy. Success would mean alleviation of a lot of human suffering,’’ said Raman Singh, CEO, Juniper Biologics.

Mr Singh brings over 25 years of experience from the pharmaceutical industry, most recently as CEO of Mundipharma for its Pharmaceutical & Consumer Business where he grew the emerging markets operations from USD$45 million to close to USD$1billion in eight years. Under Mr Singh’s leadership, Mundipharma signed over 60 in-licensing/acquisition deals across multiple therapy areas, covering pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medicines and fast- moving consumer products.

Prior to joining Mundipharma, Mr. Singh served as Vice-President of commercial operations for emerging markets at GSK. In his role, he oversaw all aspects of the brand’s commercial operations across its emerging markets. Mr. Singh previously held positions at Abbott as the regional director in Australia and New Zealand, and General Manager for Korea, as well as various sales, marketing and strategy positions at Bayer.

More recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Singh spearheaded R&D efforts to investigate how Mundipharma’ s consumer products could help the developing and developed world impacted by the pandemic, manage the spread of the virus. Laboratory tests with Duke-NUS and other labs worldwide

were initiated to determine the efficacy of certain Betadine products against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Mr Singh’s support of Singapore as a strong global business hub has been highlighted across international print and broadcast media. He was also featured as a brand ambassador in the Singapore Tourism Board and Economic Development Board’s POSSIBLE global brand campaign in 2017.

Mr Singh’s many accolades include being named among the Most Powerful People in Healthcare from 2015-2019 by Medicine Maker, Executive of the Year 2017-2019 by SBR Management Excellence Awards and Executive of the Year 2018 at the Scrip Awards.

Mr Singh also sits on the board for Liquidia, a late-stage clinical bio pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of novel products. He is the only non-US based Board Member. During his term, he successfully oversaw the IPO in NASDAQ in 2016 as well as the acquisition of RareGen LLC, a portfolio company of PBM Capital Group. A champion of digital healthcare, Mr Singh also sits on the boards of Biofourmis Healthcare and Neuroglee Therapeutics.

On his appointment at Juniper Biologics, Mr Singh added "There is a great unmet need in the treatment of Oncology, Rare/Orphan Diseases and Gene Therapy and it is our responsibility as a company to provide patients with easier access to therapeutic strategies to improve the quality of their lives. Our mission at Juniper Biologics reinforces the drive to deliver new possibilities in treatments, focusing on the best interest of patients and those who care for them.’’

On April 15, 2021 Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc. ("Biosplice"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering therapeutics based on alternative pre-mRNA splicing for major diseases, reported it has closed $120 million in equity financing from a new biotechnology investment syndicate (Press release, Biosplice Therapeutics, APR 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234607835]). Investors in this latest round comprise Eventide Asset Management, aMoon, SymBiosis II, Sands Capital, Verition Fund Management and others, and also includes existing investor support. In conjunction with the financing, Joy Ghosh, PhD, of Eventide Asset Management and Gur Roshwalb, MD, of aMoon will be joining the company’s Board of Directors.

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"We are delighted to align with our new investors and board behind the immense therapeutic potential of Biosplice," said Cevdet Samikoglu, Chief Executive Officer of Biosplice. "This investment round positions us to accelerate the development and launch of lorecivivint, our groundbreaking Phase 3 program in osteoarthritis. In addition, we expect to realize the tremendous potential of our oncology program, as well as neurology and other areas of significant unmet need."

Joy Ghosh, PhD, of Eventide Asset Management, added, "Biosplice’s alternative splicing platform has enormous potential to address critical needs in osteoarthritis, oncology and neurology, among others. We are particularly excited by lorecivivint, which has the potential to be a first-in-class medicine that could confer both symptomatic and disease-modifying benefits to hundreds of millions of osteoarthritis sufferers worldwide."