tranScrip, a fast-growing contract drug development organisation which supports the development and lifecycle of medicines, and a portfolio company of UK mid-market private equity investor Palatine, has acquired Dublin-based Real Regulatory, a highly respected business specialising in European regulatory affairs, quality systems and compliance for medical products. The strategic acquisition expands tranScrip’s regulatory affairs capabilities, strengthening its ability to provide comprehensive support to its customers. The deal is the first acquisition made by tranScrip since it secured the backing of Palatine in 2021 via its dedicated Impact Fund.

Grünenthal and NovaQuest, a life science investment firm with a focus on biopharmaceuticals, are to advance the global clinical Phase III programme of Grünenthal’s asset resiniferatoxin (RTX). The investigational medicine is being developed with the aim of providing patients suffering from pain associated with osteoarthritis with a well-tolerated, non-opioid therapy option that is intended to provide long-lasting pain relief and functional improvement of the affected joints. Under the terms of the agreement, NovaQuest will reimburse Grünenthal’s investments into the clinical phase III programme of RTX and share the clinical development and approval risks with Grünenthal. In case of successful development

Blackfinch Ventures, part of Blackfinch Group and one of the fastest growing VCs in the UK, has exited its investment in Candidate.ID, a specialist in marketing automation technology for recruitment. The move follows the acquisition of Candidate.ID by iCIMS, the US-based talent cloud company, resulting in a strong return for Blackfinch investors over a two-year period.    This is the first exit for Blackfinch Ventures, which has invested a total of GBP28.8 million across 45 deals since it was established three years ago.   Founded in 2015 and based in Glasgow, Candidate.ID is marketing automation software built for talent acquisition,

Caterpillar, a digital rewards app for health promotion, education and behavioural change, has secured GBP450,000 in funding from investors including VC firm Jenson Funding Partners. The healthtech company will use the funds to add new features to the app, expand the range of loyalty schemes it offers, and for other areas of business development.   The app was founded by ex-NHS Digital Director of Strategic Communications, Paul Baverstock, and draws on behavioural science, the academic study of human behaviour change. The app rewards users for physical activity and improved dietary habits, with loyalty points redeemable at popular chains such as

Private medial chain In Medica, a portfolio company of INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund has completed a merger with MediCA Group in what is the largest combination in the Lithuanian healthcare clinic market to date. The newly combined company will have a turnover in the region of EUR90 million, with more than 250 thousand patients. The merged group will now be led by a joint management team, comprising both MediCA Group and InMedica professionals. Post-transaction, INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund (through its special purpose vehicle “BSGF Sanus”) remains the largest shareholder with an ownership stake of 45 per cent of

Swedish market intelligence and search startup My Telescope has raised EUR2.5 million in seed funding led by Vendep Capital and Trind VC to help marketers and brands measure and predict long-term trends in demand creation following their strategic marketing investments. My Telescope will use the funding to accelerate its growth and entry into the US market. My Telescope uses Share of Search analytics to measure and predict the long-term impact of market trends, brand strength, and campaign effectiveness in almost real-time. B To date, My Telescope has raised EUR3.1 million in total funding.

Endless-backed educational resources supplier Findel has secured what is believed to be the UK education supplies sector’s first sustainability-linked loan facility from lender Santander UK.

Limak Investment and Actis, a global sustainable infrastructure investor, have completed a share transfer of Uluğ Energy Distribution and Retail Services Co (Uluğ). The Share Purchase Agreement, which was first signed in September 2021, has met the necessary requirements of the Turkish Competition Authority, the Republic of Turkey Energy Market Regulatory Authority and other necessary authorisations. As a result, 100 per cent of shares in Uluğ have been transferred from Limak Investments to Actis.   Uluğ provides electricity distribution and retail services to the South Marmara Region of Turkey, which includes the provinces of Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and Yalova.  

Swedish cybersecurity specialist Pointsharp, backed by Main Capital Partners (Main), has made its second add-on deal with the acquisition of German-based secure communication specialist Cryptshare AG. Pointsharp enables companies to build a better, modern and more secure workplace. Main first invested in Pointsharp in 2020 to support the company in its next phase of growth, with a keen focus on international expansion. In 2021, Swedish company Secmaker was added to the Pointsharp portfolio, which created a leading Nordic player in the Identity and Access Management market (IAM). This acquisition of Cryptshare further strengthens Pointsharp’s position as a leading security software

Invizius Limited (Invizius), a VC-backed biotechnology company developing treatments to suppress unwanted innate immune responses, has been awarded a GBP1 million grant to bring H-Guard, its proprietary priming solution, designed to reduce the life-threatening inflammatory effects of haemodialysis, to the clinic. The funds will be used towards H-Guard’s First-in-Man safety study commencing in 2022.   Invizius is supported by a strong syndicate of investors including Mercia, Downing Ventures, Old College Capital, Scottish Enterprise, Solvay Ventures, Calculus Capital and experienced life science entrepreneur and investor, Dr Jonathan Milner. The Company has established the regulatory pathway for H-Guard in North America and