LONDON – Regulators around the world led by the FDA and the EMA have pledged to work together in supporting accelerated evaluation of potential new drugs to treat Ebola virus infections and say they will encourage submission of regulatory dossiers. Read More
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Jerusalem, successfully completed a phase III program for Reslizumab, an anti-IL5 monoclonal antibody, in patients with uncontrolled moderate to severe asthma with elevated eosinophils. Read More
Cipla Ltd., of Mumbai, India, formed a commercial collaboration with UK-based S&D Pharma in the Czech Republic and Slovakia that will enable Cipla to focus on its core respiratory therapy areas, while S&D will be the generics partner. Read More
Biocryst Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., disclosed trial results related to Rapivab (peramivir injection), a neuraminidase inhibitor for influenza. Read More
With its stock recovering nicely from a low-ball initial public offering (IPO) in April, Vital Therapies Inc. said its phase III trial with VTI-208 in alcohol-induced liver decompensation (AILD) is progressing on schedule and has enrolled 150 of the planned 200 patients. Read More
HONG KONG – A study by British and University of Hong Kong (HKU) researchers has provided the first direct evidence that reduced genetic diversity is associated with a reduction in virulence of the influenza A virus (IAV) in mice, providing a target for development of new antiviral drugs and a means to improve live attenuated vaccines. Read More
SHANGHAI – Eddingpharm Co. Ltd. began in 2001 by working with global companies in the spirit of partnership, by capitalizing on its knowledge of the China market for both its own and its partner's advantage. A second deal with nanobody developer Ablynx NV in less than a year shows it's continuing in this vein, making forays into the hairier terrain of biologics. Read More
Alim Louis Benabid and Mahlon R. DeLong are the recipients of the 2014 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award "for Development of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus," a treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease who no longer respond to treatment with the drug L-dopa. Read More
SHANGHAI – GC-Rise Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has received $15 million in series B financing from Orbimed Asia to pursue a strategy of in-licensing and commercializing products from the West to meet the growing health needs of women and children in China. Read More
Replicel Life Sciences Inc. is ramping up its pipeline of autologous cell therapies with intentions to file within the next several weeks its plans to initiate early stage trials of its therapies for chronic Achilles tendinosis and aging and sun-damaged skin ahead of pre-trial meetings with Shiseido Co. Ltd., the world's fourth largest cosmetics company and its partner on a developing hair regeneration therapy. Read More
Intrexon Corp., of Germantown, Md., said that following the terms of its recent acquisition of Trans Ova Genetics LC, it has filed a registration statement and prospectus supplement covering the possible resale, from time to time, of shares of the common stock received by former shareholders of Trans Ova. Read More
Matinas Biopharma Holdings Inc., a Bedminster, N.J.-based company developing an omega-3 fatty acid-based therapy for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions called MAT9001, gained approval to move from the OTC Pink market to the OTC venture stage market, OTCQB. Read More
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., of Haifa, Israel, said its licensee, United Therapeutics Corp., of Silver Spring, Md., has completed the dosing of the first cohort of patients in its phase I study using Pluristem's placental expanded cells in patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Read More
Sosei Group Corp., of Tokyo, said the LANTERN study demonstrated that once-daily Ultibro Breezhaler was superior in reducing exacerbations (by 31 percent) and improving lung function (p < 0.001) compared to twice-daily Seretide Accuhaler (salmeterol/fluticasone). Read More