Shionogi invests in Vast, gains first rights to negotiate license for antimicrobial

Vast Therapeutics Inc. (Durham, N.C.) raised a series A round on Dec. 6 from Shionogi & Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4507) and separately granted the Japanese company first right of negotiation to in-license Vast's BIOC51 and subsequent compounds. Vast CFO John Oakley told BioCentury Shionogi invested more than $15 million as the single investor in the round. Shionogi spokesperson Yoko Nishimura declined to disclose details.

Vast also announced on Dec. 13 that it received a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to support development of BIOC51...