Synthetic Biologics, a late-stage biotechnology company, agreed to acquire VCN Biosciences, a developer of pharmaceuticals, for $77m. "We are excited to announce this transformative acquisition, as VCN's platform represents a potentially breakthrough approach to cancer treatment with oncolytic viruses by allowing for systemic delivery, high selectivity and enhanced tumor access. In addition to triggering tumor cell death, these therapies have been shown to elicit a strong anti-tumor immune response. The results of the Phase 1 clinical trial in PDAC, a highly aggressive and lethal malignancy, are very encouraging with respect to tumor response and survival. Significantly, biopsies in these patients confirmed up regulation of tumor immune markers and induction of a robust antitumor immune response, including increased tumor infiltration by cytotoxic T-cells," Steven A. Shallcross, Synthetic Biologics CEO.