Xigen's innovative JNK inhibitor, brimapitide, the first peptide to be delivered subconjunctivally for post-surgical ocular inflammation, has met its primary endpoint in a Phase II study – a vital goal in the Swiss firm's long-term plan for the product.

This week's roundup includes executive appointments by Artios Pharma, Tocagen, Enterome Bioscience and Shire, which has named various people to its oncology franchise team, and board appointments by Allergan and Variant Pharmaceuticals, which has appointed a former senior executive from Johnson & Johnson to its board of directors.

Auris Medical AG has completed Europe’s largest biotech investing round so far this year, led by Sofinnova Partners and Sofinnova Ventures, and hopes to advance the development of new otologic drugs for hearing dysfunction.

Swiss inner ear therapeutics developer Auris Medical, which has a US office in Chicago, raised CHF 47.1 million ($50.5 million) in a Series C venture funding round to take its tinnitus and hearing loss drugs into Phase III clinical trials and finance commercial activities.