In line with its aim to create a competitive pipeline in oncology, Astellas Pharma has signed a deal worth up to US$1.4 B to acquire German biotech Ganymed Pharmaceuticals. The acquisition will diversify Astellas’ growing oncology portfolio with the addition of Ganymed’s lead clinical programme claudiximab (IMAB362), a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting the tight junction protein Claudin-18.2, as well as a number of earlier stage programmes. The deal follows the publication of promising efficacy and safety data from a Phase IIb study of IMAB362 in first-line gastric cancer.