Plus, news about GSK, iTeos, Oxolife and SmallCella:
Vanqua Bio reels in $45M: The Chicago neuroscience biotech extended its Series B, a spokesperson confirmed to Endpoints News. The company originally disclosed that it raised $85 million in September 2021. The startup entered the clinic this spring with its experimental oral medicine VQ-101, which it hopes will treat various forms of Parkinson’s disease. — Kyle LaHucik
Aerovate Therapeutics hunts for strategic exit after trial failure: A week after disclosing plans to lay off nearly all employees, the company said it’s looking for strategic alternatives. The Nasdaq-listed biotech has tapped Wedbush PacGrow to help hatch an exit plan, which could include a reverse merger or acquisition, among other transactions. — Max Bayer
GSK pays iTeos $35M: The biotech received a milestone after the first patient was dosed in a Phase 3 trial for certain forms of non-small cell lung cancer. The companies first inked a deal in June 2021. — Kyle LaHucik
Oxolife’s fertility drug succeeds in Phase 2: The Spanish biotech’s non-hormonal treatment achieved a “statistically significant improvement in the biochemical pregnancy rate” versus placebo. The drug candidate, dubbed OXO-001, acts on the uterus lining to encourage the embryo to stop rolling, invade endometrial tissue and complete implantation. — Ayisha Sharma
SmartCella’s €50M raise: The Swedish biotech said the money will support commercialization of its endovascular device and its cell and mRNA therapy work. — Kyle LaHucik