Akari Therapeutics is looking to ticks to provide a new therapy that it hopes will offer a safer and cheaper alternative to Alexion Pharmaceuticals' Soliris for some rare orphan diseases.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in August 2015.

The criticism of gene therapy has been continual and consistent. But in fact, at least some delivery systems do work. It is true, however, that not all vectors work in all diseases, and the challenge for gene delivery start-ups is figuring out which ones work where.

NewBiotics Inc. is harnessing the power of the thymidylate synthase (TS) enzyme. TS, which is involved in DNA synthesis, normally is overexpressed in tumor cells, leading to resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. NewBiotics is designing prodrugs that are activated by TS inside the cell, leading to programmed cell death instead of chemoprotection.