Jan. 14 Quick Takes: Verana raises $150M for real-world data
Plus Everest signs licensing deal with Singapore’s EDDC and updates from Vir, AZ, BenevolentAI and more
Verana Health Inc. will advance its life sciences product and service strategy, enhance its value proposition to its real-world data network of healthcare providers, and expand its data footprint having raised a $150 million series E. The financing was led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Novo Growth, the growth-stage investment arm of Novo Holdings, with participation from existing investors GV, Casdin Capital and Brook Byers; and new investors including the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, THVC, and Breyer Capital. Led by CEO Sujay Jadhav, Verana’s data partners include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Urological Association and the American Academy of Neurology, in addition to pharmas and biotechs.
Everest Medicines Ltd. (HKEX:1952) licensed a series of 3CL protease inhibitors from Singapore’s Experimental Drug Development Center to develop COVID-19 oral antivirals. Everest will obtain rights to 3CL protease inhibitors that have demonstrated potent in vitro activity against SAR-CoV-2 and its variants, and other coronaviruses such as MERS. It also has full rights to sublicense the drug and will receive a full technology transfer. Clinical trials for EDDC-2214, the lead compound, are expected to start this year. EDDC will receive an undisclosed upfront amount, milestone payments and royalties...