Monday Deal Review: January 21, 2013

Welcome to your Monday Biotech Deal Review for January 21, 2013!  Medicago made news last week with a $15 million loan agreement with an unnamed pharmaceutical company. The funds are being used for Medicago’s plant-based VLP vaccine pipeline. As the agreement provides for potential licensing options with that partner, we will be watching closely to see any further announcements.

YM Biosciences, as it continues with its plan of arrangement transaction with Gilead, has received the endorsement of two proxy firms who have recommended to shareholders that they vote in favour of the transaction. This will likely allow YM Biosciences to obtain the shareholder approval required by statute to be able to continue with the arrangement.

Paladin labs, meanwhile, has closed their acquisition of a controlling stake in Ativa Pharma of Mexicom, and has also in-licensed a new biologic from Apeiron Biologics. Also, last week we saw Theratechnologies conclude their recent issues with the NASDAQ exchange by voluntarily delisting. They remain on the TSX, however.

As always, click through to see more on these deals as well as the rest of last week’s major biotech activity.