Pharmaceuticals Acquisitions in New York

Cycle Group Holdings Limited (Cycle Pharmaceuticals) has completed the acquisition of NASDAQ-listed Applied Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel CNS-penetrant therapies for rare metabolic diseases. The transaction was funded from Cycle's cash on hand and brings Applied's lead candidate govorestat and rare-disease pipeline into Cycle's rare metabolic disease platform.

Axsome Therapeutics acquired a 100% equity interest in Baergic Bio (a subsidiary of Avenue Therapeutics) and amended Baergic Bio's license with AstraZeneca to obtain exclusive global rights to AZD7325, an early‑stage selective GABAA α2,3 receptor modulator for epilepsy. The deal includes a $0.3 million upfront payment to Baergic Bio shareholders and potential development, regulatory, sales‑based milestones and tiered royalties to Avenue Therapeutics and AstraZeneca as described in the purchase and amended license agreements.

PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. increased its equity stake in TNF Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by $3.0 million to support TNF's recent license agreement with LightSolver for a light-based compute accelerator intended for cryptocurrency and blockchain applications. The investment is positioned to help TNF execute a strategic pivot tied to the new license; PharmaCyte said it remains well-capitalized and may pursue further portfolio opportunities.

RF Investment Partners announced a platform investment in Long Island-based sister companies Altro and Amici Pharmaceuticals, partnering with Aquimont Capital and Miramar Equity Partners to support growth in the companion animal/veterinary pharmaceutical market. The investment provides flexible debt and equity capital to expand sourcing, manufacturing and distribution capabilities for generic pharmaceuticals that serve both veterinary and human end markets.

French pharmaceutical group Biocodex has acquired a majority stake in Hilma, a U.S.-based natural remedies start-up founded by Hilary Quartner, Nina Mullen and Lily Galef. The deal gives Biocodex a stronger foothold in the U.S. digestive-health and women’s-health segments and will help scale Hilma’s omnichannel retail strategy (DTC plus 750+ stores including Target).

Funds advised by SK Capital Partners have made a strategic investment in VanDeMark Chemical, a Comvest Partners portfolio company headquartered in Lockport, New York. Comvest remains a co-owner; the investment will accelerate VanDeMark's growth and deepen its focus on life-science specialty chemistries, with SK Capital supporting organic and inorganic expansion.

An investor group led by NewSpring Mezzanine, alongside Tecum Capital, Leedon Park Capital and PNC Bank provided a growth capital injection into Spirit Pharmaceuticals LLC, backing CEO and founder Ajoy Joshi. The funding will support the Long Island-based private-label developer, packager and distributor of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products as it expands capacity (two additional facilities, 11 packaging lines) and deepens relationships with big-box retailers, medical distributors and e-commerce customers.

Geritrex, a BelHealth Investment Partners portfolio company, has acquired the business and assets of PurinePharma, a private-label manufacturer and distributor of OTC liquid nasal, allergy, and cough & cold products based in Massena, New York. The add-on expands Geritrex's manufacturing capabilities into liquid dosage forms, provides access to the retail private-label channel and export markets, and adds a CGMP-approved manufacturing facility in upstate New York.