Sept. 30 Company Quick Takes: Lumos-NewLink, Simcere-JW, Ocugen-CanSino, Chamishi’s launch, and AbbVie-Allergan

Lumos finds public path

Rare disease company Lumos Pharma Inc. plans to go public via a reverse merger with NewLink Genetics Corp. (NASDAQ:NLNK). Set to own about 50% of the combined company are Lumos’ shareholders, which include Deerfield Management, a fund managed by Blackstone Life Sciences, Roche Venture Fund, New Enterprise Associates, Santé Ventures and UCB S.A. (Euronext:UCB). The merged company, which will retain Lumos’ name, plans to start a Phase IIb trial in mid-2020 of Lumos' lead candidate ibutamoren (LUM-201) to treat pediatric growth hormone deficiency...