In today’s wrapup of technology and life science news:

  • GSK strikes investment deal for antibodies
  • INC’s big shareholders sell
  • Bioventus and PowerSecure make acquisitions
  • Dara Biosciences moves ahead with merger.

The details:

  • GSK’s deal with Zymeworks

GlaxoSmithKline is partnering with Canada-based Zymeworks in a deal for antibodies with a potential for $110 million in milestones for each.

“The companies declined to reveal the upfront payment that will be used to kick off the collaboration, which spotlights new Fc-engineered monoclonal and bispecific antibody therapeutics,” according to FierceBiotech.

Read more at:

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/glaxosmithkline-partners-fast-growing-zymeworks-antibody-programs/2015-12-03

  • INC’s big shareholders sell

The big shareholders in Raleigh-based INC Research are selling some 9 million shares, with INC buying 3 million of them.

The deal means involves 30 percent of INC’s shares.

The News and Observer has the details:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article47508410.html#storylink=cpy

  • Bioventus acquires BioStructures

​Durham-based Bioventus is acquiring BioStructures, a provider of bioresorbable bone graft products.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

​”The agreement includes the entire portfolio of products as well as its research and development pipeline. In addition, employees of BioStructures will be given offers to join Bioventus,” Bioventus said.

“The acquisition of BioStructures aligns with our strategy to be a leader in orthobiologics, building on the launch of the Bioventus Surgical business with the OsteoAMP acquisition in 2014, and our longer term development of the next generation BMP,” said Tony Bihl, CEO of Bioventus. “This now gives Bioventus a broad offering of bone grafting solutions backed by clinical and technical data to benefit patients, surgeons, and hospitals.”

Read more at:

http://www.bioventusglobal.com/news/press-releases/bioventus-acquires-biostructures-expands-surgical-orthobiologics-offering#sthash.Kh0WuQPm.dpuf

  • PowerSecure buys energy services firm

Wake Forest-b ased PowerSecure says it is expanding its portfolio of energy efficiency capabilities with the acquisition of Massachusetts-based ESCO Energy Services Company

PowerSecure is paying $1.8 million in cash and promissory notes for the firm.

“The company provides full turnkey energy efficiency services including energy audits, engineering and design, materials procurement, project management, implementation and verification. Since its inception in 1992, ESCO has delivered more than 300 million square feet of lighting upgrades,” PowerSecure said.

  • Dara BioSciences merger advances

Raleigh-based Dara BioSciences is moving ahead with its merger with Midatech Pharma, which is based in the U.K.

Dara shareholders approved the deal this week.

Read more at The Triangle Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2015/12/03/dara-biosciences-approves-merger-midatech-cancer.html