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# Since Our Last Issue ...
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/since-our-last-issue-114/
- Published: 2018-10-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T00:37:58.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5141174

**Novartis** has agreed to buy Bannockburn, Illinois-based **AveXis** for $8.7 billion. As part of the deal, Novartis will gain lead gene therapy candidate AVXS-101 for spinal muscular atrophy. A BLA submission is planned for the second half of this year.

**Ferring Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire Rebiotix,** a late-stage clinical microbiome company. Under the transaction, Ferring acquires Rebiotix’s lead program, RBX2660, a non-antibiotic treatment to prevent recurring *Clostridium difficile* infection, which is currently in a Phase 3 trial.

**Roche** has agreed to acquire **Versant Ventures**’ Inception 5 program, which is focused on regenerative therapies for multiple sclerosis. The acquisition is the latest action under a 2014 alliance between the companies to discover and develop novel small molecules that promote remyelination of nerve fibers damaged during the progression of multiple sclerosis.

**Tekni-Plex** has acquired **Dunn Industries**, a manufacturer of specialty extrusion tubing for medical device applications. Dunn also has expertise in a wide range of thermoplastic materials and offers both standard and custom-engineered tubing solutions. Its product line is also a complementary addition to the microextrusion tubing manufactured by Tekni-Plex's **Natvar** business unit.