A team at the Dutch Erasmus Medical Center has identified the critical mutations it would take for the highly lethal H5N1 strain of avian influenza to become airborne, which would make it much more easily transmissible between people. Read More
Mylan Inc., of Pittsburgh, confirmed that federal district court granted its request to enforce a settlement agreement between Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Malvern, Pa., and Mylan settling patent litigation in connection with Mylan's filing of an abbreviated new drug application for a generic version of Frova (frovatriptan succinate) for use in acute migraine. Read More
Dendreon Corp., of Seattle, reported that preliminary data from a long-term analysis of the phase II STAND study suggested tumor-specific T-cell responses appear to be enhanced and sustained when Provenge (sipuleucel-T) is given following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer at high risk for metastases. Read More
Polytherics Ltd., of London, said its Thiobridge antibody drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration with Macrogenics Inc., of Rockville, Md., has been extended following the successful outcome of a research program undertaken in 2013 in which Thiobridge was used to conjugate a cytotoxic payload to a range of DART antibodies. Read More
As the tag line for the upcoming Allicense meeting in San Francisco suggests, this year's focus is on the "next generation" of dealmaking. But that isn't just an industry buzzword. Read More
Regado Biosciences Inc. aims to fuel with $60 million in fresh funding the phase III trial begun last year, testing the anticoagulant REG1 in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Called Regulate PCI, the study is comparing REG1 to Angiomax (bivalirudin, The Medicines Co.) with a primary endpoint based on a composite of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke and urgent target lesion revascularization through day three following the procedure. Read More
The wear and tear of time leaves millions of people struggling with painful, grating osteoarthritis each year. But repairing the cartilage damage at the root of the problem can be a tricky business. Real cartilage does not regenerate naturally, nor do any approved drugs promote its regeneration. Orthotrophix Inc. is working to change that with a new targeted peptide that stimulates cartilage production. Read More
When investors think about funding investigative treatments for sleep apnea, the last thing they're likely to consider is a pill. But that's exactly what Galleon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is pursuing for the indication, which is estimated to affect up to 40 million individuals in the U.S. and 100 million worldwide. Read More
HONG KONG – Asia led the global market for initial public offerings (IPO) last year as the number of new offerings around the world powered upward and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies took up a leading role. Read More