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Biotechnology Jobs & Careers Search

Find your next job in Biotechnology. Search Biotechnology jobs from thousands of job and career search sites. A search engine for jobs with a different approach to job and career searches. In one simple search, job seekers get free access to millions of employment opportunities from thousands of websites. Find your next job in Biotechnology today.

Dako: New diagnostic tests provide hope for patients with stomach cancer
Dako announced that two of its products have obtained a CE-mark as diagnostic tests for selecting patients with metastatic stomach (gastric) cancer who may benefit from Herceptin(TM) treatment. ...

Biologics Sales 2009: Antibodies are the growth drivers
La Merie S.L. released the new compilation of biologics sales in 2009. In its fourth edition, the report showed again that cancer antibodies and anti-TNF antibodies were leading the field. Sales of ...

Desmoteplase enters clinical phase II in Japan in ischaemic stroke representing Lundbeck's first clinical programme in Japan
H. Lundbeck A/S announced the initiation of the first Japanese clinical phase II trial with desmoteplase (DIAS-J) in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. This study is required for the approval ...

Viron reports positive proof of concept results in arthritis for its VT-346 anti-TNF therapeutic
Viron Therapeutics Inc. announced that VT-346, an anti-TNF protein therapeutic, demonstrated positive results in a pivotal proof of concept study in the gold standard transgenic mouse model for ...

Study evaluates costs and benefits of new chemotherapy drugs
New chemotherapy agents appear associated with improvements in survival time for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer but at substantial cost. David H. Howard, PhD, and colleagues at Emory ...

Novartis: Exploratory trial shows no incremental benefit of aliskiren add-on therapy in improving changes to cardiac shape
The addition of the cardiovascular medicine aliskiren to standard therapy for patients recovering from a heart attack showed some positive effects in helping limit changes in the heart's shape and ...

Biogemma Licenses Yield and Drought Tolerance Genes from Evogene for Commercialization in Corn
Evogene Ltd. and Biogemma SAS announced the signing of a licensing agreement for the development and commercialization by Biogemma of hybrid corn lines, displaying improved yield and drought ...

UF researcher maps how age, gender can affect risk to radiation exposure
Doctors have a clearer picture than ever before of how much radiation reaches sensitive tissues during routine X-rays and similar imaging, thanks to sophisticated models of the human body being ...

Olink Genomics expands: New location and recruitment of CTO
Olink Genomics AB has recruited Fredrik Dahl as company CTO. Dr. Fredrik Dahl will lead the company R&D efforts, with focus on developing the Selector Technology™ and related products.Fredrik Dahl ...

Flanders and The Netherlands cooperate on biofuels from genetically modified poplars
Bio Base Europe is making progress in the development of sustainable biofuels. The recent first crop of genetically modified poplars of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) will be modified ...

Lactic bacteria fermentation for reducing the need for additives
VTT has developed a method whereby the use of additives in bread can be reduced significantly. At the same time, the taste and lightness of wheat bread made using sourdough, and keeping it soft ...

Novartis: NAVIGATOR shows valsartan delayed progression to type 2 diabetes in at-risk cardiovascular patients
Results from a landmark study involving more than 9,000 people showed that the high blood pressure medicine valsartan delayed progression to type 2 diabetes in patients with cardiovascular disease or ...

Nutri Pharma's Vacc-C5 to be prepared for phase I/II clinical trial
Based on encouraging results from pre-clinical research, Nutri Pharma ASA's wholly owned subsidiary Bionor Immuno AS, has announced that it will take the therapeutic and potentially preventative ...

Merck strengthens biorefineries of the future
In early March, the EU research project known as EuroBioRef was launched. Over the next four years, 28 partners from 14 countries will jointly develop future-oriented solutions for the ...

Crucell's Supervisory Board Nominates Mr. W. Burns, Mr. J. Shannon and Mr. G. Siber as New Board Members
Crucell N.V. announced the nomination of Mr. William (Bill) Burns, Mr. James Shannon and Mr. George Siber to join its Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board of Crucell has nominated Mr. Burns, Mr. ...

How muscle cells control fatty acid uptake
A new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet shows that the blood vessels and muscles of the heart can regulate the uptake of fatty acids that we ingest through meat, milk ...

Light activated 'warhead' turns modest molecules into super protein killers
Using a novel light activation technique, Scripps Research Institute scientists have been able to turn molecules with only a modest ability to fight specific proteins into virtual protein destroyers. ...

New microscopy technique offers close-up, real-time view of cellular phenomena
For two decades, scientists have been pursuing a potential new way to treat bacterial infections, using naturally occurring proteins known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Now, MIT scientists have ...

MorphoSys Granted Further Patent on its Core Antibody Technology in Japan
MorphoSys AG announced that the Japanese Patent Office has granted a new patent providing extended protection for the Company's core technology HuCAL. The new patent (JP 4436457) covers the ...

A golden bullet for cancer
In a lecture he delivered in 1906, the German physician Paul Ehrlich coined the term Zauberkugel, or "magic bullet," as shorthand for a highly targeted medical treatment. Magic bullets, also called ...

Bionity.COM News
The latest news about trends and developments in the biotech, pharma and life science industries

 

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Lung Cancer Drug, Mapatumumab in Combination with Chemotherapy Agents Fails to Improve Survival
ROCKVILLE, Md., Mar 17, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!hgsi/quotes/nls/hgsi (HGSI 31.25, -0.46, -1.45%) today announced the results of its randomized Phase 2 trial of mapatumumab (HGS-ETR1) in combination with the chemotherapy agents paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The results showed...

Pfizer Inc. to Make Bid for Ratiopharm Today
Reuters -- Pfizer (PFE.N) will on Wednesday place an offer in the final round of bids for German generic drug maker Ratiopharm, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Women More Likely To Die After Heart Attack, Study
ATLANTA, March 16 (Reuters) - When it comes to matters of the heart, women should be treated more like men.

The Medicines Company Expands a Nationwide Recall for Certain Lots of Cleviprex(R) That May Contain Particulate Matter
PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwire - 03/17/10) - The Medicines Company (NASDAQ:MDCO - News) announced today that it is voluntarily expanding the recall of Cleviprex (clevidipine butyrate) injectable emulsion due to the potential presence of visible particulate matter which has been observed in some vials. Four (4) additional lots of Cleviprex are being recalled. The four additional Cleviprex lots are ...

Abraxis BioScience, Inc.: ABRAXANE Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 Trial for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABII - News) today announced that its randomized registrational Phase 3 clinical trial comparing ABRAXANE (protein-bound paclitaxel) with Taxol (paclitaxel) injection, both in combination with carboplatin, met the studys primary endpoint by demonstrating that ABRAXANE showed a significant improvement in overall response rate as compared...

Antidepressants Can Help People With Physical Ills, King's College London Study
LONDON (Reuters) - Antidepressants such as Eli Lilly's Prozac or GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil can help depressed patients with physical illness, and doctors should consider them more often, researchers said on Wednesday.

New Radiation Therapy Shows Promise In Lung Cancer, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Aiming powerful beams of radiation precisely at tumors helped control their growth and helped people with early stage but inoperable lung cancer live longer, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Hint of Chemoprevention Potential for Lynch Syndrome, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Study
MedPage Today -- SAN FRANCISCO -- Oral contraceptives and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, DepoProvera) may have potential as chemopreventive agents for endometrial cancer in women with Lynch syndrome, biomarker data from a small randomized trial suggest.

Trials Show Effectiveness Of Ablation Over Drugs In AF, Mayo Clinic Study
MedPage Today -- ATLANTA -- Catheter ablation appears better than drug therapy for more complex, symptomatic atrial fibrillation, according to initial results of the CABANA pilot trial.

Potential New Drug for Type 2 Diabetes, Ohio State University Study
Ohio State University -- COLUMBUS, Ohio An experimental oral drug has lowered blood sugar levels and inflammation in mice with Type 2 diabetes, suggesting that the medication could someday be added to the arsenal of drugs used by millions of Americans with this disease, according to new research.

Could Cancer Win The War?
MedPage Today -- Almost 40 years and 100 billion federal dollars have been invested in the "War on Cancer" since President Richard M. Nixon declared it, but the campaign is far from over, two researchers concluded this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

U.S. FDA Warns Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Unapproved Drug
Reuters -- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GLEN.BO) sold nitroglycerin tablets without approval from U.S. regulators, the Food and Drug Administration said in a letter released on Tuesday.

Acetaminophen Alone Works Well for Postpartum Pain, Study in Study
Newswise For many mothers of newborns, lingering pain from the delivery can interfere with their first days with their infant. A recent review examined whether over-the-counter medications containing acetaminophen Tylenol for example - provided adequate relief for such pain and concluded that they are effective.

Level of Gene Alters Risk of Alzheimer's Disease, Mayo Clinic Researchers Find
Mayo Clinic -- JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Using sophisticated techniques that scan the genomes of patients, researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have found that a gene appears to either help protect against development of Alzheimer's disease, or promote the disorder depending on the level of gene in the brain.

Novartis Pharma AG Reports Positive Results From Phase II LCZ696 Trial
Novartis Pharma has reported that its investigational product LCZ696, an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has successfully completed its first large-scale clinical trial, highlighting the potential of the compound in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

LCZ696 is a novel-acting compound with distinctive chemical and biological properties; upon...

Prometheus Laboratories Inc. and Bayer Schering Pharma to Apply Novel Diagnostic Platform to Oncology Therapeutic Candidates; Eligible for Upfront and Milestone Payments up to $160 Million
SAN DIEGO, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, today announced the execution of a research collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, a worldwide leading specialty pharmaceutical company. The collaboration partners Prometheus' proprietary oncology diagnostic platform with Bayer's broad oncology pipeline...

University of Michigan Scientists Identify Chemical In Bananas As Potent Inhibitor Of HIV Infection
Newswise A potent new inhibitor of HIV, derived from bananas, may open the door to new treatments to prevent sexual transmission of HIV, according to a University of Michigan Medical School study published this week.

Novel Stroke Treatment Passes Safety Stage of Clinical Trial At University of California, Irvine Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010) A clinical research trial of a new treatment to restore brain cells damaged by stroke has passed an important safety stage, according to the UC Irvine neurologist who led the effort.

Movement Disorder Symptoms Are Lessened by an Antibiotic, University of Alabama at Birmingham Study
EurekAlert! -- TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Discovery of an antibiotic's capacity to improve cell function in laboratory tests is providing movement disorder researchers with leads to more desirable molecules with potentially similar traits, according to University of Alabama scientists co-authoring a paper publishing March 10 in the journal Disease Models & Mechanisms.

Unigene Laboratories, Inc. Receives Additional Capital in Debt Restructuring; Begins to Revamp Management Team
BOONTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unigene Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB: UGNE, http://www.unigene.com) today announced that it has entered into an amended and restated financing agreement for $33 million three-year convertible senior secured term notes. At the closing, which is scheduled to occur today, Unigene will issue $33,000,000 of new convertible senior secured notes due in 2013, in exchange for approximately...

Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Says Gets Going Concern Warning from Auditors
Reuters -- Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, but said its auditors have expressed doubts on its ability to continue as a going concern, partly due to recurring losses from its operations.

King Pharmaceuticals??, Inc. Unit, Alpharma Inc. to Pay $42.5 Million Over Kadian Claims
Reuters -- Alpharma Inc, a unit of King Pharmaceuticals (KG.N), has agreed to pay $42.5 million to resolve allegations that it gave kickbacks to doctors to prescribe the pain drug Kadian and misrepresented its safety and effectiveness, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Sanofi-Aventis (France) Says World Health Organization Suspension of Shan5 Is Precautionary Measure
Bloomberg -- Sanofi-Aventis SA said the World Health Organizations temporary suspension of its Shan5 vaccine is a precautionary measure pending outcome of an investigation of vaccine quality.

Baldness 'Could Be Good For Your Health' Say University of Washington Scientists
BBC News -- A receding hairline can be a good thing, according to US scientists, who say men who go bald by 30 appear to be less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Eli Lilly and Company Gets Rights to Sell Testosterone Drug from Acrux Limited in Deal Worth up to $335 Million

INDIANAPOLIS and MELBOURNE, Australia, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company and Acrux announced today that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the potential commercialization of Acrux's experimental underarm testosterone solution (proposed tradename AXIRON(TM)). The new drug application for AXIRON is currently under regulatory...

Some Antidepressants May Raise Cataract Risk, University of British Columbia Study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who take certain drugs for depression known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have a higher-than-average risk of developing cataracts, a study from Canada hints.

Dynavax Technologies Corporation Gets Going-Concern Warning; Auditors Express Doubts on Company's Financial Position
Reuters -- Dynavax Technologies Corp (DVAX.O) said its auditors have expressed doubts on the company's ability to continue as a going concern as a result of the company's current financial position.

New Anticoagulants Signal Start of Post-Warfarin Era, American College of Cardiology President Says
MedPage Today -- ATLANTA -- Atrial fibrillation is both a major stroke risk and a looming public health problem since the risk of afib increases with age, and the standard treatment, warfarin, is often a clinical management challenge. But a number of investigational therapies suggest that a post-warfarin era is beginning.

Proton-Pump Inhibitor Plus Clopidogrel Is Less Likely to Cause Bleeding Ulcers, Vanderbilt University Study
Newswise Heart patients who took a stomach acid-suppressing proton-pump inhibitor along with clopidogrel a drug that prevents blood clots were only half as likely to be hospitalized for upper digestive tract bleeding than those who used clopidogrel alone, according to a new study supported by HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at...

Medivation, Inc. Loses $54.8 Million in 2009

SAN FRANCISCO, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Medivation, Inc. today provided a corporate update and reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

"We are disappointed by the results of the Phase 3 CONNECTION trial in Alzheimer's patients, and it is our highest priority to work with our colleagues at Pfizer to further analyze the data and determine next steps...

AstraZeneca PLC Says Will be Picky in Emerging Markets
Reuters -- AstraZeneca (AZN.L) expects double-digit growth in emerging markets, the new battleground for Big Pharma as sales in Western markets stall, but said on Tuesday it would be much more selective than some of its rivals.

Women Seek Neck Muscle Lip Implants For Plumper Pouts, Says
BBC News -- Forget the collagen, for the perfect pout plump for a lip graft using muscle from your neck, according to US cosmetic surgeons.

University of Essex Scientists Make Important Discovery in Gene Regulation
ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010) Scientists at the University of Essex have a greater understanding of how our genes are controlled following a major research project.

Genetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Secures $35 Million in Series B Funding
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genetix Pharmaceuticals, a leading gene therapy company developing breakthrough treatments for severe genetic disorders, announced today that it has completed a $35 million Series B financing with new investors Third Rock Ventures and Genzyme Ventures joining TVM Capital, Forbion and Easton Capital. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance current clinical...

University of Iowa Research Points to Way to Improve Heart Treatment
University of Iowa -- Current drugs used to treat heart failure and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) have limited effectiveness and have side effects. New basic science findings from a University of Iowa study suggest a way that treatments could potentially be refined so that they work better and target only key heart-related mechanisms.

Calcium May Help You Live Longer, Karolinska Institute Study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Getting a bit more calcium in your diet could help you live longer, new research suggests.

4-Antibody AG Announces a Long-Term Collaboration With Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation for Therapeutic Antibodies; will Receive Payments of up to EUR 177.5 Million
BASEL, Switzerland, March 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- 4-Antibody AG today announces a major long-term collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover and to develop fully human therapeutic antibodies for a number of targets in various disease indications. 4-Antibody will use its proprietary and unencumbered Hu-PAC(R) and Retrocyte Display(R) technologies for the discovery and development of fully...

US FDA Warns ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on Claims in Xibrom Eye Drug Promotion
Reuters -- Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc (ISTA.O) made misleading claims about Xibrom eye solution in sales material, U.S. regulators said in a letter released on Tuesday.

Erectile Dysfunction Is Strong Predictor Of Fatal Heart Ailments, University of Saarland Study Finds
LA Times -- Men treated for ED should routinely be checked for cardiovascular problems, experts say. For the first time, researchers have shown that erectile dysfunction is a strong predictor of the likelihood that men will die of heart disease.

Heist Nets $75 Million in Eli Lilly and Company Drugs
WTNH -- Police are investigating an over-the-weekend drug heist at a Connecticut warehouse filled with prescription drugs. Investigators say it appears a group of people broke into the building and stole up to $75 million worth of prescription drugs.

Stem Cells Build New Blood Vessels To Treat Peripheral Arterial Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Study
EurekAlert! -- TAMPA, Fla. (March 16, 2010)Bone marrow stem cells suspended in X-ray-visible microbubbles dramatically improve the body's ability to build new blood vessels in the upper legproviding a potential future treatment for those with peripheral arterial disease or PAD, say researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Fla.

One Gene Lost = One Limb Regained? The Wistar Institute Scientists Demonstrate Mammalian Regeneration Through a Single Gene Deletion
The Wistar Institute -- PHILADELPHIA (March 15, 2010) A quest that began over a decade ago with a chance observation has reached a milestone: the identification of a gene that may regulate regeneration in mammals. The absence of this single gene, called p21, confers a healing potential in mice long thought to have been lost through evolution and reserved for creatures like flatworms, sponges, and...

New Avenue for Developing Treatments for Genetic Muscle-Wasting Disease, Ottawa Health Research Institute Study
Ottawa Health Research Institute -- Scientists from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and the University of Ottawa have identified a promising new approach for developing drugs to treat Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading inherited cause of death in infants and toddlers. Dr. Rashmi Kothary and his doctoral student Melissa Bowerman have found that an enzyme called RhoA is overly active...

Novartis Corporation's Drug Tekturna Fails to Help After Heart Attack According to Study
Reuters -- The addition of the Novartis (NOVN.VX) blood pressure medicine Tekturna to current standard drugs in patients who had a heart attack failed to help prevent changes in the heart's shape and worsening of its blood pumping ability, according to data from a study.

Bt Protein Found Effective Against Parasitic Roundworm Infections, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 16, 2010) Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered that a protein from a soil bacterium used to kill insects naturally on organic crops is a highly effective treatment for intestinal parasitic roundworms. These parasites, which include hookworms and whipworms, infect about two billion people in underdeveloped tropical regions and are cumulatively one of the leading causes of...

Promedior Closes $12 Million Series C Financing
MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, today announced that it has raised $12 million in a Series C financing round. Forbion Capital Partners led the round, with participation from existing investors Morgenthaler Ventures, HealthCare Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, and Easton...

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Pfizer Inc. Initiate New Research Collaboration
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - 03/16/10) - Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (TSX:TKM - News), a leading developer of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, announced today the initiation of a new research collaboration with Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - News).

Tekmira and Pfizer will collaborate on evaluating Tekmira's stable nucleic acid-lipid particle (SNALP) technology to deliver small...

FDA Delays Approval of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Diabetes Drug; Requests Finalization of Product Labeling
SAN DIEGO, INDIANAPOLIS, and WALTHAM, Mass., March 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMLN - News), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - News) and Alkermes, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALKS - News) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for BYDUREON (exenatide for extended-release...

Novartis Corporation Drugs Fail to Help High-Risk Patients
Reuters -- The Novartis (NOVN.VX) diabetes drug Starlix failed to reduce progression to the disease or cut down on serious heart problems in patients at high risk for both diabetes and heart disease, according to a large study released on Sunday.

SSRI, Naltrexone, Talk Therapy Keep Depressed Alcoholics Dry, University of Pennsylvania Study
MedPage Today -- Combining sertraline (Zoloft) and the opioid antagonist naltrexone better than either drug alone or placebo in keeping depressed alcoholics sober, researchers said.

Tumor Surgery Impairs Sexuality, Study in Deutsches ??rzteblatt International
EurekAlert! -- Sexual problems are frequent after operations for carcinoma of the rectum. Christian Schmidt et al. describe the consequences for quality of life in the current issue of Deutsches rzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[8]: 123-30).

FDA Requests Additional Information Regarding AFREZZA in Complete Response Letter to MannKind Corporation
VALENCIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq:MNKD - News) today announced that it has received a Complete Response letter from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for AFREZZA (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder for the treatment of adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus for the control of hyperglycemia...

Rosuvastatin Plus Fenofibric Acid Treatment Maintains Potency; Improves Lipid Profile, Baylor College of Medicine Study At American College of Cardiology Conference
MedPage Today -- ATLANTA -- Two years after beginning lipid-lowering therapy with an investigative treatment combining rosuvastatin (Crestor) with fenofibric acid (Trilipix), patients maintained an improved lipid profile without new adverse effects, researchers said.

No Heart Benefit Seen With Fibrates In Diabetics, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adding a triglyceride-lowering drug to cholesterol-fighting statins provided no additional protection from heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to data from a large study.

Effort Aims to Spike Breast Cancer With New Approach, And Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) Study
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - March 11, 2010 - Many women live with breast cancer that does not respond to standard medical treatment, a condition that researchers at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare want to change by aggressively targeting specific genes.

NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Raises $51 Million in Series B Financing and Appoints New Board Member
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- NGM Biopharmaceuticals today announced it has closed the first tranche of a $51 million Series B round of financing. The Series B round included The Column Group, Tichenor Ventures, LLC, Prospect Venture Partners, Rho Ventures and other new and Series A investors. With this financing, NGM also announced the appointment of McHenry (Mac) T. Tichenor...

New Clues About the Basis of Muscle Wasting Disease, Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2010) New findings that shed light on how genetic damage to muscle cell proteins can lead to the development of the rare muscle-wasting disease, nemaline myopathy, are reported March 15 in the Biochemical Journal.

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Board Rejects Astellas Pharma Inc. $3.5 Billion Bid
MELVILLE, N.Y., Mar 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Board Recommends Stockholders Not Tender Shares at $52.00 per Share

--Company, With Assistance of Financial Advisors, to Contact Third Parties

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!osip/quotes/nls/osip (OSIP 58.34, 0.66, 1.14%) today announced that its Board of Directors, after careful review and consideration with the...

Ablynx Successfully Raises E 50 Million With Secondary Public Offering
GHENT, BELGIUM--(Marketwire - 03/15/10) - This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the prospectus published by Ablynx NV (the "Company") on 26 February 2010 (which is supplemented by an addendum approved by the CBFA on 7 March 2010) in connection with...

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Announces $21 Million Series A
BOSTON, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (Rhythm), a biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics for metabolic diseases, announced today that it has completed the first close on its Series A equity financing of $21 million. The financing was led by MPM Capital (MPM) and New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The funds will be used to develop products licensed from Ipsen (Euronext...

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company , Sanofi-Aventis (France)'s Plavix Gets New U.S. FDA Warning
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. & PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sanofi-aventis U.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY - News) today announced revisions to the U.S. prescribing information for PLAVIX (clopidogrel bisulfate), which include a boxed warning. The boxed warning concerns the diminished effectiveness of PLAVIX in patients who have a genetic variation leading to reduced formation of the active...

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Eye Drug, Azasite Fails in Mid-Stage Study
Reuters -- Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc (ISPH.O) said its experimental eye drug, Azasite, failed to meet the main goals of two mid-stage trials.

Ex-Schering-Plough Corporation Executives Take Reins at Bausch & Lomb; New CEO
ROCHESTER, NY--(Marketwire - 03/15/10) - Bausch Lomb has named Fred Hassan as chairman of the Board of Directors and has named Brent Saunders as chief executive officer and appointed him to the Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Current Chairman and CEO Gerald M. Ostrov is retiring, and will serve as a consultant to the new leaders.

Mr. Hassan is one of the leading figures...

Merck & Co., Inc., Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Blood Thinner Appears Safe, Effective-Study
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Portola Pharmaceuticals and Merck today announced the results of EXPLORE-Xa, a Phase 2 exploratory, dose finding study of betrixaban, an investigational oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor. Results showed that a once-daily dose of oral betrixaban, given to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter and at least one risk factor for stroke, reduced the incidence...

Mylan Inc. Pulls EU Application for Generic Taxotere
Reuters -- Mylan (MYL.O) has withdrawn its application to market a generic version of Sanofi-Aventis's (SASY.PA) cancer drug in Europe, after adverse feedback from regulators.

MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Plans Massive Layoffs, CEO Resigns
Reuters -- MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals Inc (MBRK.O) said its auditors have expressed doubts on the company's ability to continue as a going concern and that it was evaluating strategic options, which may include selling itself.

Stem Cell Research Shows Promise for Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts, Northwestern University Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2010) The promise of stem cells lies in their unique ability to differentiate into a multitude of different types of cells. But in order to determine how to use stem cells for new therapeutics, scientists and engineers need to answer a fundamental question: if a stem cell changes to look like a certain type of cell, how do we know if it will behave like a certain type of cell...

Genome Institute of Singapore Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery Of Genes That Increase The Likelihood Of Causing A Form Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Researchers at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Associate Director for Infectious Diseases Dr Martin Hibberd and Assoc Prof Mark Seielstad; and the Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm, Sweden, Assoc Prof Leif Trkvist, Assoc Professor Mauro DAmato and Prof Sven Pettersson, have collaborated with research teams from the USA, the Netherlands, and Italy to identify genes increasing the likelihood...

Pfizer Inc. Discontinues A Phase 3 Study Of Figitumumab In Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. announced today the discontinuation of A4021018 (also known as ADVIGO 1018), a Phase 3 trial examining the effects of investigational compound figitumumab (CP-751,871) in combination with erlotinib as a second/third-line treatment in patients with previously treated advanced non-adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). An independent Data Safety Monitoring...

Pfizer Inc. Says Sutent Breast Cancer Trials Fail
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. announced today that two Phase 3 studies of Sutent (sunitinib malate) in advanced breast cancer did not meet their primary endpoints. The SUN 1064 Phase 3 study of sunitinib in combination with docetaxel for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced HER-2 negative breast cancer did not show a statistically significant improvement in progression-free...

Roche Holding AG, Genentech (South SF)'s Avastin Fails in Prostate Cancer Study
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today the topline results of a Phase III trial led by the U.S. Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) investigating the use of Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy and prednisone...

Breast Cancer Drug Fulvestrant Appears More Effective in the Presence of CK8 and CK18, Indiana University Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 12, 2010) Women's responsiveness to the second-line breast cancer drug fulvestrant may depend on whether the cancer cells are expressing two key proteins, Indiana University Bloomington scientists report in this month's Cancer Biology & Therapy.

Ipsen Grants Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Obesity Treatment Licence; will Receive up to $80 Million
PARIS & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Ipsen (Paris:IPN - News) (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), a global biotechnology specialty care group, and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (Rhythm), a biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics for metabolic diseases, announced today that they have concluded a license agreement for Ipsens proprietary peptide therapeutics targeting obesity, metabolic...

AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Pricing of Its Initial Public Offering
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVEO - News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing cancer therapeutics, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 9,000,000 shares of its common stock at $9.00 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the common stock is being offered by AVEO...

FDA Approves Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s TRELSTAR(R) 22.5 mg, the First and Only 6-Month Intramuscular GnRH Agonist for the Palliative Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer
MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:WPI - News), today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of TRELSTAR 22.5 mg (triptorelin pamoate for injectable suspension), a new twice-yearly formulation of TRELSTAR, a proven, simple and effective palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. With an anticipated May launch, TRELSTAR...

TaiGen Biotechnology Announces Nemonoxacin (TG-873870) Once-A-Day Oral Dosing in Diabetic Foot Infection Met Primary Endpoints

TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 12 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- TaiGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced today the Phase II trial of nemonoxacin (TG-873870) in Diabetic Foot Infection (DFI) with once-a-day dosing met the primary endpoints and showed promising clinical efficacy and good tolerability. Nemonoxacin is a novel non-fluorinated quinolone that has a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and...

Sanofi-Aventis K.K. And Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Announce Important Updates to PLAVIX U.S. Prescribing Information; FDA Announces New Boxed Warning on Plavix
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. & PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sanofi-aventis U.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced revisions to the U.S. prescribing information for PLAVIX (clopidogrel bisulfate), which include a boxed warning. The boxed warning concerns the diminished effectiveness of PLAVIX in patients who have a genetic variation leading to reduced formation of the active metabolite...

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Advance Oral Methylnaltrexone into Late Stage Clinical Development
TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNX - News) today announced that it plans to advance oral methylnaltrexone for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) into late stage clinical development and will commence a phase 2b/3 clinical trial of a methylnaltrexone tablet in chronic-pain patients in the second half of 2010. Progenics also announced data...

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announces Approval for GlaxoSmithKline's Revolade(R) in Europe
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) today announced that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) was granted marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC) for Revolade (eltrombopag) for the oral treatment of thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count) in adults with the blood disorder chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Eltrombopag is...

Azur Pharma Inc. to Acquire Elan Corporation PLC's Painkiller Prialt
Reuters -- Privately held Azur Pharma Limited entered into a definitive agreement with Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc, a unit of Elan Corp (ELN.N), to buy its painkiller Prialt.

FDA Approves Eisai Inc.'s Five-Day Dosing Regimen for Dacogen(R) (decitabine) for Injection, Offering a New Outpatient Dosing Option for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eisai Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a five-day dosing regimen for Dacogen (decitabine) for Injection to treat patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of bone marrow diseases that alter the production of functional blood cells.

The new outpatient dosing option provides...

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will Launch Lorcaserin with Partner or Alone
Reuters -- Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc expects to launch sales of its weight loss drug -- alone or with a partner -- within 12 weeks of U.S. regulatory approval, according to the company.

Women On Pill 'May Live Longer', Aberdeen University Study
LONDON (Reuters) - One of the world's largest studies of the contraceptive pill has found that women who have taken it can expect longer lives and are less likely to die from any cause, including cancer and heart disease.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix Shows No Impact On Clinical Outcomes, Study At American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Conference Finds
Orthosupersite -- NEW ORLEANS One of the first prospective, randomized studies to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin matrix in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair shows that the product has no significant impact on clinical results and perioperative pain control.

AstraZeneca PLC Boosts Generic Exposure with Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Deal
The Sun News -- AstraZeneca PLC announced a supply partnership with India's Torrent Pharmaceuticals on Thursday, its first such link with a generic drugmaker as it seeks to boost its presence in emerging markets and counter patent losses on blockbuster medicines.

Despite Law, Drug Safety Still A Concern At FDA
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Recent new powers have helped the U.S. Food and Drug Administration combat contaminated medications, counterfeit pills and other safety woes, but more work is needed to address lingering concerns about drug risks, FDA officials said on Wednesday.

Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Announces CEO, M.D. to Retire
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Charles Homcy, M.D., president and chief executive officer, will retire from his current position and assume the role of co-chairman of the board of directors, effective May 1, 2010. Dr. Homcy has served as president and CEO since 2003, when he co-founded the company. Chief Operating Officer William...

Patient Safety Reporting and Drug Label Accuracy Missing Vital Information, Expert From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Says
ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010) A Perspective piece in the New England Journal of Medicine calls for change in the way researchers and pharmaceutical companies collect and report adverse symptom information in clinical trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and how the FDA represents this information on drug labels.

200 Manchester Jobs Under Threat in AstraZeneca PLC Cuts
Crains Manchester Business -- More than 200 Manchester-based jobs are under threat at AstraZeneca after the pharmaceutical giant said previously announced plans to outsource some back office functions will affect its office in Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

Drug-Resistant Lice Respond Better to Ivermectin, Study in The New England Journal of Medicine
MedPage Today -- The antiparasitic drug ivermectin (Stromectol) is more effective than malathion lotion for treating infections of drug-resistant lice, a new industry-sponsored study found.

Local Pharma Can And Should Step Up Outsourcing Play
DNA -- In the late nineties, when big pharmaceutical companies starting feeling the burden of over-sized research units in the face of a dwindling pipeline of molecules, they started looking at ways to source manufacturing at lower costs and to farm out semi-skilled chemistry work to Indian companies.

Disease Cause Is Pinpointed With Genome, Baylor College of Medicine Study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two studies published on Wednesday show it is possible to sequence the entire gene maps of families with inherited diseases and pinpoint the offending bit of DNA.

Experimental Drug That Mimics Thryoid Hormone Safely Lowers 'Bad' Cholesterol, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010) People whose "bad" cholesterol and risk of future heart disease stay too high despite cholesterol-lowering statin therapy can safely lower it by adding a drug that mimics the action of thyroid hormone. In a report published in the Mar. 11, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Johns Hopkins and Swedish researchers say an experimental drug called eprotirome lowered...

FDA Rules Out Thigh Fracture Link with Bisphosphonate, Including Medications such as Merck & Co., Inc.'s Fosamax
Reuters -- U.S. regulators said on Wednesday they have found no link between oral bisphosphonate osteoporosis medications such as Merck & Co Inc's (MRK.N) Fosamax and certain thigh bone fractures.

Hormone Thought to Slow Aging Associated With Increased Risk of Cancer Death, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 10, 2010) According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), older men with high levels of the hormone IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor 1) are at increased risk of cancer death, independent of age, lifestyle and cancer history.

Clark Johnson Appointed Neurologix, Inc. President and CEO
FORT LEE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Neurologix, Inc. (OTCBB:NRGX - News), a biotechnology company engaged in the development of innovative therapies for the brain and central nervous system, today announced that Clark A. Johnson, the Vice Chairman of Neurologix (the Company), has been appointed as the Companys President and Chief Executive Officer to replace John E. Mordock, who resigned.

Discovery of 'Fat' Taste Could Hold the Key to Reducing Obesity, Deakin University Study
Deakin University -- A newly discovered ability for people to taste fat could hold the key to reducing obesity, Deakin University health researchers believe.

Turning Tables On Prostate Cancer's Drug Resistance, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Study
New Scientist -- DRUGS that keep prostate cancer at bay often stop working after a few years. That now appears to be because they prompt the growth of the very tumour cells they are meant to kill. It's not all bad news, though: blocking this growth pathway could buy time for men with drug-resistant tumours.

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Says Leukemia Vaccine Shows Promise in Study
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPAX - News) today announced positive results of a human clinical study that show that its GVAX Leukemia vaccine may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients taking the drug Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). All patients enrolled in the trial used Gleevec for...

Senetek PLC Embarks on New Strategic Direction; Company Completes $3.0 Million Financing; CEO and CFO Terminated in Connection with Financing

NAPA, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Senetek PLC today announced the closing of a Security Purchase Agreement, a Note and a Warrant Purchase Agreement DMRJ Group, LLC on March 4, 2010. DMRJ Group, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company affiliated with Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund L.P., an accredited institutional investor with its investment manager headquartered in New...

Basilea Pharmaceutica: Johnson & Johnson Seeks Europe Rehearing on Skin Drug
MarketWatch -- Basilea Pharmaceutica AG, the Basel drugmaker, said on Thursday that a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary asked the European Committee For Medicinal Products for Human Use to re-examine its rejection of ceftobiprole to treat complicated skin and soft-tissue infections.

OXiGENE Announces $7.5 Million Financing
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 11, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXiGENE, Inc. (Nasdaq:OXGN - News) (Stockholm:OXGN - News), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with certain institutional investors to sell 6,578,945 shares of its Common Stock and separate series of warrants...

Beijing to Build Asia's Largest Pharmaceutical Base
Alibaba -- There are plans to build the largest global contract bio-pharmaceutical base in Asia in Beijing, with a total investment of about $120 million, Xinhua website reported on March 9.

Seaweed Extract May Hold Promise for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment, The Hashemite University Study
Newswise Seaweed extract may eventually emerge as a lymphoma treatment, according to laboratory research presented at the second AACR Dead Sea International Conference on Advances in Cancer Research: From the Laboratory to the Clinic, held here March 7-10, 2010.

UCB Group: Newly-Published Study Reinforces Role of Antiepileptic Drug Vimpat(R) (lacosamide) (C-V) as an Add-on Treatment that Significantly Reduces Partial-onset Seizures in Adults with Epilepsy
ATLANTA, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- UCB today announced that the antiepileptic drug (AED) Vimpat (lacosamide) (C-V) demonstrated significantly fewer partial-onset seizures versus placebo in adults living with epilepsy, according to a Phase III clinical study published online in Epilepsia.

This study was one of three that supported the approval of Vimpat by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Gets New Partners in Plan for Vaccine Factory
Pittsburgh Business Times -- An ambitious plan to build a vaccine factory in the Pittsburgh area is gaining momentum with the announcement Thursday of three new partners in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center project.

Merck & Co., Inc.'s Stromectol Wipes Out Hard-to-Treat Lice, Study Finds
Bloomberg -- Merck & Co.s Stromectol tablet worked better than lotion at clearing up hard-to-treat head lice, a study found, as the infestations become increasingly resistant to current medicines.

Abbott Laboratories to Buy Facet Biotech for $722 Million
Provides Promising Biologic Intended to Treat Multiple Sclerosis and Compounds that Complement Abbott's Existing Diverse Oncology Program

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott (NYSE:ABT - News) and Facet Biotech Corporation (Nasdaq:FACT - News) announced today a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Facet, enhancing Abbott's early- and mid...

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Diabetes Drug Faces Crucial FDA Decision
Dow Jones -- After years of anticipation, a long-acting version of diabetes drug Byetta, sold by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMLN) and Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY), faces a crucial Food and Drug Administration approval decision this week.

Novartis Corporation Takes Option on TRANSGENE Cancer Vaccine; Gets $10 Million, Milestones Could Reach $950 Million
Reuters -- Novartis has taken an exclusive option to develop Transgene's (TRNG.PA) cancer vaccine TG4010, but the deal fell short of investors' hopes, pulling the shares in the French biotechnology company down 12 percent.

Lacosamide Validated as Promising Therapy for Uncontrolled Partial-Onset Seizures, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital, And Thomas Jefferson University Study
ScienceDaily (Mar. 9, 2010) A recent multi-center study has confirmed earlier study results that 400 mg/day of lacosamide provides a good balance of efficacy and tolerability for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures (POS), and doses of 600mg/day may provide additional benefit for some patients.

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of InterMune, Inc.'s Esbriet(R) (pirfenidone) for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
BRISBANE, Calif., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq:ITMN - News) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee (PADAC) voted 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet (pirfenidone) for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to reduce decline in lung function.

IPF is a rare and...

Exelixis, Inc. Announces Restructuring; Reduces Workforce by Approximately 40%, or 270 Employees
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXEL) today announced a restructuring as a consequence of its continued strategy to focus resources on the development of its key late-stage compounds. As its first priority, the company will aggressively advance XL184, XL147 and XL765, each of which is the subject of a large clinical development program. Additionally, Exelixis retains...

Skin Transplant Offers New Hope to Vitiligo Patients, Henry Ford Hospital Study
Henry Ford Hospital -- DETROIT - In the first study of its kind in the United States, Henry Ford Hospital showed that skin transplant surgery is safe and effective for treating vitiligo.

Cytokinetics, Inc.'s Lou Gehrig's Drug Gets Orphan Status
Reuters -- Cytokinetics Inc (CYTK.O) said its experimental drug for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disease received orphan drug status from U.S. health regulators, sending its shares up 5 percent in premarket trade.

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Study Shows Potential for Using Algae to Produce Human Therapeutic Proteins
UCSD -- Pharmaceutical companies could substantially reduce the expense of costly treatments for cancer and other diseases produced from mammalian or bacterial cells by growing these human therapeutic proteins in algaerapidly growing aquatic plant cells that have recently gained attention for their ability to produce biofuels.

Merck & Co., Inc.'s Fosamax: Is Long Term Use of Bone Strengthening Drug Linked to Fractures?
Examiner -- Fosamax, a popular osteoporosis medication for which nearly 40 million prescriptions have been written, may be putting some at risk for spontaneous femur fractures. Fosamax is part of a group of drugs called bisphosphonates designed to make bones stronger.

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Resolve Actos Patent Litigation
MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:WPI - News), today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America resolving outstanding patent litigation related to Watson's generic equivalent version of Actos (Pioglitazone Hydrochloride) 15mg, 30mg and 45mg tablets. Under...

University of Missouri Researcher Presents Risk-free Treatment for Low Female Sexual Desire
University of Missouri -- COLUMBIA, Mo. According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, people who engage in regular sexual activity gain several health benefits, such as longer lives, healthier hearts, lower blood pressure, and lower risk of breast cancer. However, approximately 33 percent of women may not receive these benefits due to low sexual desire. Also, the marriages of women with low sexual...

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company CEO's 2009 Compensation Down 22%
AP -- The chief executive of drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., James Cornelius, received a 2009 compensation package valued by The Associated Press at $17 million, down 22 percent from 2008, due to the much lower value of his stock awards.

Affymax, Inc. Receives $5 Million Milestone Payment from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. on Initiation of Phase 3 Clinical Trials for Hematide in Japan
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Affymax, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFFY - News) today announced that it has received a $5 million development milestone payment from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company as part of the companies exclusive global agreement to develop and commercialize Hematide, Affymaxs investigational drug for the treatment of anemia in chronic renal failure patients. The milestone was achieved...

University of Southern California Research Finds Shortcomings in Comparative Effectiveness Drug Research
Newswise An analysis by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) has found that only 32 percent of medication studies published in top medical journals compare the effectiveness of existing treatments. These studies, known as comparative effectiveness studies, help doctors know which therapies work best and under what circumstances they are most effective...

Neuropharm Group plc to Mull Voluntary Liquidation to Return Cash
Neuropharm Group plc (AIM: NPH), a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, today provides an update to shareholders on developments in relation to the proposed sale or merger of the Company.

Neuropharm has been in discussions with a number of parties since it entered an offer period on 3 November 2009 and announced that it was pursuing a proposed sale or...

Transplant Drug Preserves Kidneys, Avoids Toxicity, Emory University Studies Suggest
Emory University -- The experimental drug belatacept can prevent graft rejection in kidney transplant recipients while better preserving kidney function when compared with standard immunosuppressive drugs, data from two international phase III clinical trials show.

Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. Receives First FDA Clearance for Microcyn(R)-Based HydroGel for Dermatology Market
PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLS - News), a commercial medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets a family of products based upon the Microcyn Technology platform, today announced that it has received new 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for new dermatology indications for Microcyn Skin and Wound...

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Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Lung Cancer Drug, Mapatumumab in Combination with Chemotherapy Agents Fails to Improve Survival
ROCKVILLE, Md., Mar 17, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!hgsi/quotes/nls/hgsi (HGSI 31.25, -0.46, -1.45%) today announced the results of its randomized Phase 2 trial of mapatumumab (HGS-ETR1) in combination with the chemotherapy agents paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The results showed...

Pfizer Inc. to Make Bid for Ratiopharm Today
Reuters -- Pfizer (PFE.N) will on Wednesday place an offer in the final round of bids for German generic drug maker Ratiopharm, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Medicines Company Expands a Nationwide Recall for Certain Lots of Cleviprex(R) That May Contain Particulate Matter
PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwire - 03/17/10) - The Medicines Company (NASDAQ:MDCO - News) announced today that it is voluntarily expanding the recall of Cleviprex (clevidipine butyrate) injectable emulsion due to the potential presence of visible particulate matter which has been observed in some vials. Four (4) additional lots of Cleviprex are being recalled. The four additional Cleviprex lots are ...

Abraxis BioScience, Inc.: ABRAXANE Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 Trial for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABII - News) today announced that its randomized registrational Phase 3 clinical trial comparing ABRAXANE (protein-bound paclitaxel) with Taxol (paclitaxel) injection, both in combination with carboplatin, met the studys primary endpoint by demonstrating that ABRAXANE showed a significant improvement in overall response rate as compared...

U.S. FDA Warns Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Unapproved Drug
Reuters -- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GLEN.BO) sold nitroglycerin tablets without approval from U.S. regulators, the Food and Drug Administration said in a letter released on Tuesday.

Novartis Pharma AG Reports Positive Results From Phase II LCZ696 Trial
Novartis Pharma has reported that its investigational product LCZ696, an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has successfully completed its first large-scale clinical trial, highlighting the potential of the compound in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

LCZ696 is a novel-acting compound with distinctive chemical and biological properties; upon...

Prometheus Laboratories Inc. and Bayer Schering Pharma to Apply Novel Diagnostic Platform to Oncology Therapeutic Candidates; Eligible for Upfront and Milestone Payments up to $160 Million
SAN DIEGO, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, today announced the execution of a research collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, a worldwide leading specialty pharmaceutical company. The collaboration partners Prometheus' proprietary oncology diagnostic platform with Bayer's broad oncology pipeline...

Unigene Laboratories, Inc. Receives Additional Capital in Debt Restructuring; Begins to Revamp Management Team
BOONTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unigene Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB: UGNE, http://www.unigene.com) today announced that it has entered into an amended and restated financing agreement for $33 million three-year convertible senior secured term notes. At the closing, which is scheduled to occur today, Unigene will issue $33,000,000 of new convertible senior secured notes due in 2013, in exchange for approximately...

Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Says Gets Going Concern Warning from Auditors
Reuters -- Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, but said its auditors have expressed doubts on its ability to continue as a going concern, partly due to recurring losses from its operations.

King Pharmaceuticals??, Inc. Unit, Alpharma Inc. to Pay $42.5 Million Over Kadian Claims
Reuters -- Alpharma Inc, a unit of King Pharmaceuticals (KG.N), has agreed to pay $42.5 million to resolve allegations that it gave kickbacks to doctors to prescribe the pain drug Kadian and misrepresented its safety and effectiveness, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Sanofi-Aventis (France) Says World Health Organization Suspension of Shan5 Is Precautionary Measure
Bloomberg -- Sanofi-Aventis SA said the World Health Organizations temporary suspension of its Shan5 vaccine is a precautionary measure pending outcome of an investigation of vaccine quality.

U.S. FDA Accepts New Drug Application For Once-Daily Fixed Dose Combination Of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company And AstraZeneca PLC's Onglyza(TM) (Saxagliptin) And Extended Release Metformin For The Treatment Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Adults
PRINCETON, N.J. & WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a New Drug Application (NDA) for an investigational fixed dose combination of ONGLYZA (saxagliptin), a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, and metformin HCl extended-release tablets as...

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals??, Inc. Release: FDA Schedules Joint Advisory Committee Meeting for Acurox(R)
PALATINE, Ill. and BRISTOL, Tenn., March 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACUR) and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:KG) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has publically announced the scheduling of an April 22, 2010 Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the New Drug Application ("NDA") for Acurox (oxycodone HCl and niacin) Tablets and...

Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc. Reports Findings From Northera 24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Study
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:CHTP) reported findings from Study 305, a study evaluating the effect of Northera (Droxidopa), an investigational agent being studied for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH), on patients' 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile.

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals Initiates Second Phase III Study for NicVAX as an Aid to Smoking Cessation and Long-term Abstinence
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:NABI) announced that it has initiated the second of two pivotal Phase III clinical trials for NicVAX (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine), the company's innovative and proprietary vaccine to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse. The FDA has agreed with Nabi on the study design, protocol and end points through...

Zogenix, Inc. Initiates Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Novel Formulation of Oral Controlled-Release Hydrocodone

SAN DIEGO, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Zogenix, Inc. ("Zogenix"), a privately held pharmaceutical company, announced that it has initiated a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial with ZX002, a novel, oral, controlled-release formulation of hydrocodone without acetaminophen. ZX002 is being developed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain in individuals who require around-the-clock opioid therapy...

Pfizer Inc. Release: Phase III Study Shows Prevenar 13* Is Immunogenic In Young Children Previously Vaccinated With Prevenar*
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to results from a Phase III safety and immunogenicity study presented today, Prevenar 13* (Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, [13-valent, adsorbed]) was shown to be immunogenic and generally well tolerated in healthy young children who had received at least three prior doses of Prevenar* (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed). These data...

Trophos Completes Patient Enrolment in Pivotal Phase 3 Efficacy Study of Olesoxime in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
Marseille, France, March 17, 2010 - Trophos SA, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics from discovery to clinical validation for indications with under-served needs in neurology and cardiology, announced today the completion of patient enrolment with over 500 patients recruited into the pivotal phase 3 efficacy study of olesoxime in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis...

Acucela Inc. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Receive FDA Fast Track Designation for ACU-4429 in Patients with Dry AMD
BOTHELL, Wash. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acucela Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new treatments for blinding eye diseases, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., today announced that they have received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ACU-4429, an investigational oral treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (dry...

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Announces Results of Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Mapatumumab in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced the results of its randomized Phase 2 trial of mapatumumab (HGS-ETR1) in combination with the chemotherapy agents paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Agendia BV to Play Pivotal Role in ISPY-2 Trial for Breast Cancer

12 Cancer Drugs Tested, 20 Leading U.S. Cancer Centers Involved

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California and AMSTERDAM, March 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, announced today it will participate in the highly anticipated I-SPY 2 TRIAL for breast cancer, set to launch at the first of nearly twenty research sites. I-SPY 2 is an exciting and groundbreaking...

Allon Therapeutics, Inc. Receives European Orphan Drug Status for Davunetide

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) - Allon Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: NPC) announced today that its lead neuroprotective drug candidate, davunetide, has been granted Orphan Drug Status in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of...

Protalix Biotherapeutics Initiates a Phase I Clinical Trial of Acetylcholinesterase for Biodefense Indications

CARMIEL, Israel, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE-Amex: PLX) announced today that it has initiated a phase I clinical trial of PRX-105, the Company's plant cell expressed pegylated recombinant human acetylcholinesterase product candidate in development for biodefense indications. The trial is designed to study the safety of PRX-105 by administering...

PAREXEL International Completes Early Phase Study Requiring Genotyping of More Than 10,000 Potential Participants

BOSTON, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PAREXEL International Corporation , a leading global biopharmaceutical services provider, today announced that it has completed a large and complex pharmacogenetics-based early phase study. The study was conducted in a healthy volunteer population of poor metabolizers of Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), an important enzyme involved in the metabolism...

Alkermes Announces Initiation of Multidose Phase 1 Clinical Study of ALKS 37 for the Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALKS) today announced the initiation of a multidose phase 1 clinical study of ALKS 37, an orally active, peripherally-restricted opioid antagonist with potential to block the effects of opioid agonists on gastrointestinal motility, commonly referred to as opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeat...

CorMatrix Cardiovascular Announces Publication of Pre-Clinical Data in

ATLANTA, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc., a medical device company dedicated to developing and delivering unique extracellular matrix (ECM) biomaterial devices that harness the body's innate ability to repair damaged cardiovascular tissue, announced today that investigators from the Mercer University School of Medicine, Emory University and CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc...

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Acceptance of IMO-2125 Abstracts for Presentation at EASL Annual Meeting
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA) today announced that two abstracts related to its Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, IMO-2125, were accepted for presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Austria, April 14-18, 2010. IMO-2125 is being evaluated for potential applications in chronic hepatitis...

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (MA) Announces Acceptance of Telaprevir and VX-222 Abstracts for Presentation at Annual Meeting
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that multiple abstracts related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor telaprevir and the HCV polymerase inhibitor VX-222 were accepted for presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Austria, April 14-18, 2010. The accepted...

Bionor Immuno Release: New Path to Therapeutic HIV Vaccine Discovered by Studying Immunologic Profile of Rare HIV Controllers

OSLO, NORWAY--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) -

Highlighted Links

 

Bionor Immuno Corporate Website

 

Neovasc Inc. Presents Positive Long Term Results from Initial Clinical Study of Its Reducer(TM) Product for Refractory Angina at the American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting
VANCOUVER and ATLANTA, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Neovasc Inc. (TSXV: NVC), a developer of novel technologies used to treat vascular disease, today presented results from the follow-up phase of the initial clinical trial of its Neovasc Reducer(TM) product at the American College of Cardiology 2010 annual meeting. The Neovasc Reducer is a novel implantable product designed to treat heart disease...

The Biomarkers Consortium Launches I-SPY 2 Breast Cancer Clinical Trial
BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biomarkers Consortium, a unique public-private partnership that includes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and major pharmaceutical companies, led by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), today announced the launch of a highly anticipated clinical trial to help screen promising new drugs being...

Vicor Technologies, Inc. Submits Analysis of MUSIC Trial Dataset to University of Rochester for Final Determination of Results

BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) -

Highlighted Links

 

http://www.vicortech.com
David H. Fater, CEO of Vicor Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:

SCOLR Pharma, Inc. Acquires the Rights to Nuprin(R) from CVS
BOTHELL, Wash., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SCOLR Pharma, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: DDD) today announced that it had acquired rights to the Nuprin name in connection with sales of ibuprofen. SCOLR paid $180,000 to purchase all right, title and interest of Advanced Healthcare Distributors, LLC to the Nuprin name, including its portfolio of global registrations (exclusive of Canada). Advanced Healthcare...

ThermoGenesis Signs Asia Distribution Agreement With Fenwal for BioArchive and AXP Systems

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ThermoGenesis Corp. , a leading supplier of innovative products for processing and storing adult stem cells, announced today it has signed a new distribution agreement with Fenwal, Inc., a global medical technology company focused on improving blood collection, separation, safety and availability. Under the exclusive five-year agreement...

Enzo Biochem Announces Supply and Distribution Agreement with Cancer Genetics, Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), a vertically integrated biotechnology company engaged in the research, development, manufacture, licensing and marketing of innovative health care products, platforms and services based on molecular and cellular technologies, announced today a supply and distribution agreement between Enzo Life Sciences and privately-owned Cancer Genetics Inc...

APCER Pharma Signs Six Global Pharmaceutical Customers for Outsourced Pharmacovigilance Services; Expands U.S., Asia and European Operations
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--APCER Pharma announced that in the past three months it has further expanded its customer base and operations. APCER is a leading global provider of comprehensive drug safety, regulatory services and risk management programs for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and consumer products companies. Key events during this time period included:

Commercialization Pathway Expands as Caleco Pharma Corp. Licenses From Natac Biotech S.L. Five Compounds for Development

BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) - Caleco Pharma Corp. (the "Company" or "Caleco") (OTCBB: CAEH)(FRANKFURT: T3R)(WKN: A0N9Y0) (www.calecopharmacorp.com), a biopharmaceutical and consumer health products company that identifies and develops...

Paladin Labs Inc. Makes First Step Into Emerging Markets Through Strategic Investment in

MONTREAL, CANADA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX: PLB), a leading Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has completed a strategic investment in Pharmaplan (Pty) Ltd. of South Africa. The deal marks Paladin's most significant corporate development initiative...

Agilent Technologies Inc.and the University of Texas at Dallas Collaborate on Millimeter and Sub-Millimeter Wave Characterization Facility in Texas Analog Center of Excellence
SANTA CLARA, Calif. & RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) and the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) today announced they will establish a leading millimeter- and sub-millimeter-wave electronics characterization facility at the Texas Analog Center of Excellence (TxACE). The facility will be available to industrial and government institutions using an open...

Almac Group and Queen???s University Belfast showcase Northern Irish 'Oncology Hub' to Senior Washington DC Delegates
16 March 2010: Almac, an international drug development organisation, today opens a high-level, invitation only, Washington DC event From Science to Society: A Northern Ireland Showcase in Cancer Genomics and Personalized Medicine highlighting the capabilities and exceptional work of Northern Irelands established oncology hub. The event will be opened by Declan Kelly, US Economic Envoy to...

MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Expanded IncreaseRx(R) Promotion for MOXATAG(R)
WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MBRK) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with DoctorDirectory.com Inc., the Companys promotion partner for MOXATAG (amoxicillin extended-release) Tablets, 775 mg, to expand its previously announced IncreaseRx promotion program. The expanded IncreaseRx promotion program for MOXATAG will incorporate physicians...

StemCells Inc. Granted Broad Patent for Pluripotent Rat Stem Cells and Genetically Engineered Rats
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) announced today that the United Kingdom (UK) Intellectual Property Office has granted patent number GB2451523 with broad claims covering true (germline competent) rat stem cells and genetically engineered rats derived from these cells. The patented technology is expected to have significant utility to academic and pharmaceutical...

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd Receives Allowance of a New Patent on its Antibodies Targeting Pancreatic Cancer
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (OTCBB: IMUC), a biotechnology company that is developing immune based therapies for the treatment of various forms of cancer, announced today it received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering technology relating to monoclonal antibodies that bind to certain epitopes present on pancreatic cancers...

Regulus Therapeutics, Inc. Announces U.S. Allowance of Stanford University Patent Application Covering miR-181a Function in Immune Cells
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulus Therapeutics Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed claims in U.S. Application Serial No. 11/977,506 covering methods of antagonizing miR-181a to regulate immune response. This patent is owned by Stanford University and licensed exclusively to Regulus. miR-181a has been shown to regulate the response of...

Aurora Biofuels Raises $15 Million
Pehub -- Aurora Biofuels Inc., an Alameda, Calif.-based biofuels company focused on open-pond algae aquaculture, has raised $15 million in third-round funding. Oak Investment Partners led the round, and was joined by fellow return backers Gabriel Venture Partners and Noventi. The company previously raised $25 million.

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Announces Exercise of Over-Allotment Option for Common Stock Offering

SAN DIEGO, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. today announced that the underwriter of its recently completed public offering of common stock has exercised in full its option to purchase an additional 1,365,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments. The sale of the additional shares closed on March 16, 2010. When taking into account the sale of the...

Advaxis, Inc. Schedules Annual General Meeting
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) immunotherapy company, has scheduled its annual general meeting for Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 1000 EDT. The meeting will be hosted at Nasdaq OMX headquarters in New York City. Formal invitations will be mailed over the coming few weeks.

Covidien plc Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend and Announces Share Repurchase Program
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien plc (NYSE: COV) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per ordinary share. The dividend is payable on May 14, 2010, to shareholders of record on April 15, 2010.

Micromet Closes $80.5 Million Public Offering of Common Stock

BETHESDA, Md., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Micromet, Inc. announced today the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering. Prior to closing, the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional 1.5 million shares of common stock. As a result, Micromet sold a total of 11.5 million shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $...

XOMA (US) LLC Receives Anticipated Notice of Non-Compliance From
BERKELEY, Calif., March 16, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA) announced today that it has received a Staff Determination letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ") indicating that the company has not regained compliance with the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on The NASDAQ Global Market, pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) . As a result, the...

Millennium Biotechnologies, Inc. Announces Corporate Name Change to
PARAMUS, N.J., March 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Millennium Biotechnologies Group Inc. (OTCBB:MBTG), a leader in targeted product development for the Clinical Nutrition and Sports Supplement Markets, announced today that the Company has officially changed its name to Inergetics, Inc., effective immediately.

Life Technologies Named Among Top 100 Best Corporate Citizens
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) announced that for the first time, CRO Magazine (formerly Corporate Responsibility Magazine) has named the company to its annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List. The list is one of the world's top corporate responsibility rankings based on publicly-available information and recognized by PR Week as one of America's top...

Quintiles, Inc. Examines Asia-Pacific Drug Development Landscape in New Report
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As drug makers around the world continue to navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape referred to as the New Health, many companies are flocking to Asia-Pacific for better access to patients, improved operational efficiencies and increasingly, pharmaceutical innovation.

Cellular Bioengineering Inc. Trutag Authentication Technology Wins Pharmaceutical And Biotechnology Innovation Of The Year Award
Honolulu, Hawaii, March 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ TruTag Technologies, a spinout of Cellular Bioengineering, Inc., was selected as the 2010 North American Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Innovation of the Year by Frost & Sullivan. TruTag microtags ('TruTags') are secure, optically encoded micro-crystals made of pure, nanoporous silica, which is deemed "Generally Regarded as Safe, or (GRAS)" by the...

The Medicines Company Announces Decision in PTO and FDA Litigation

PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued an order in the Company's lawsuit against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "PTO"), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

CytoDyn Begins Full Humanization of Cytolin(R)
SANTA FE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CytoDyn, Inc. (Pink Sheets:CYDY) has begun full humanization of Cytolin, the Companys unique immune therapy for treating HIV/AIDS. Although a murine (mouse) version of Cytolin was used for previous human experience that included some 200 patients successfully treated for up to two years, as well as an encouraging Phase I(b)/II(a) study, the Company believes that...

AEterna Zentaris to Announce Fourth Quarter Full Year 2009 Financial and Operating Results on March 24, 2010

QUEBEC CITY, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - AEterna Zentaris Inc. (the "Company"), a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrinology, will announce its fourth quarter and full year 2009 financial and operating results before market open on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss these results later that same day...

Anika Therapeutics Reports 18% Revenue Growth in Fourth-Quarter 2009
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANIK), a leader in products for tissue protection, healing, and repair, based on hyaluronic acid (HA) technology, today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

Advanced Cell Technology Announces Year-End Results
WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: ACTC) announced today that it has filed its Annual Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period ended December 31, 2009 on Form 10-K. Some of the fiscal 2009 and recent highlights include:

BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results

Toronto Stock Exchange Symbol: MS

EDMONTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - BioMS Medical Corp. , today announced financial and operational results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

"While 2009 was a challenging year for BioMS and our shareholders, we have remained focused on our core mission of investing our financial and management resources in promising opportunities...

Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. Reports on Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2009 Financial Results and Recent Developments

SAN DIEGO, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardium Therapeutics today reported highlights and financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and other important recent developments and outlook for 2010.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051018/CARDIUMLOGO)

Highlights of 2009 and Recent Developments

China Nuokang Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results
BEIJING, March 16, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Nuokang Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq:NKBP) ("Nuokang" or the "Company"), a leading China-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, manufacture, marketing and sales of hematological and cardiovascular products, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2009 as well as provided an update on...

Centene Corporation Schedules First Quarter 2010 Financial Results Conference Call

ST. LOUIS, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Centene Corporation today announced that it will release its first quarter 2010 financial results at approximately 6:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, and host a conference call afterwards at approximately 8:30 AM (Eastern Time) to review the results. Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and William N. Scheffel...

China Sky One Medical, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Results; Provides Earnings Guidance for 2010

HARBIN, China, March 17 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- China Sky One Medical, Inc. ("China Sky One Medical" or "the Company") , a leading fully integrated pharmaceutical company producing over-the-counter drugs in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. The Company also announced its earnings guidance...

Cyprotex Results For The Year Ended 31 December 2009
Cyprotex PLC (AIM:CRX), the drug discovery technology and information company, today reports its final results for the year ended 31 December 2009. Cyprotex enables its customers to access secure, high quality Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion / Toxicity (ADMET) data without incurring significant overheads. Its highly automated platform guarantees high throughput, reproducibility and...

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter/Year End 2009 Earnings Call
CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:EMIS) announced today that management will host a conference call to discuss the Companys financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 10:00 AM EDT. A press release will be issued prior to market open.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals 2009 Results Interviews With CEO and CFO

LONDON, March 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hikma Pharmaceuticals today announced 2009 preliminary results with operating profits up 36% on the back of a strong performance from its Middle East markets.

In a video interview on financial broadcaster http://www.cantos.com, Group CEO Said Darwazah re-committed to his target of doubling the size of the business every four years, saying...

Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2009 Financial and Operational Results

CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ: MIPI), a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developingtargeted therapeutic and imaging radiopharmaceuticals for use in oncology,today announced financial and operational results for the fourth quarter...

Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Revises Guidance for Fiscal 2010 and Comments on Preliminary Second Quarter Operating Results and Business Outlook Including illumigene(TM) Update
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (NASDAQ: VIVO) today announced that it is revising downward its previous sales and earnings guidance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. This action is being taken as a result of weaker than expected operating results for the second quarter ending March 31, 2010, based on preliminary results to date. Separately, Meridian...

PharmAthene, Inc. to Host Year-End 2009 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PharmAthene, Inc. a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, announced today that its financial results for the year ended 2009 will be released on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

PharmAthene management will host a conference call to discuss its year end financial results. The call is...

PLC Systems, Inc. to Host Fourth Quarter Conference Call on March 30, 2010

FRANKLIN, Mass., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PLC Systems Inc. announced today that it expects to release to the news wire its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 before the market opens on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. The company plans to host a conference call to discuss those results at 11:00 a.m. ET on that same day.

About...

Renhuang Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announces First Quarter 2010 Results

HARBIN, China, March 17 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Renhuang Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Renhuang" or the "Company"), a developer, manufacturer and distributor of botanical products, bio-pharmaceuticals and traditional Chinese medicines ("TCM"), today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2010.

"Renhuang achieved record results in the first...

Somanetics Reports First Quarter 2010 Results

TROY, Mich., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

First Quarter Highlights

Somanetics Corporation reported net revenues of $13.1 million for the first quarter ended February 28, 2010, an 18 percent increase from $11.2 million in the same period of 2009.

U.S. net revenues increased 20 percent to $10.5 million from $8.7 million in the same period last year...

Stellar Pharmaceuticals Inc. Profitable for 2009

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) - Stellar Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCBB: SLXCF) ("Stellar" or "the Company"), a Canadian pharmaceutical developer and marketer of high quality, cost-effective products for select health care markets, today announced financial results for the year ended December...

Trimeris, Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009
DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trimeris, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMS) (Trimeris or the Company) today announced financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2009. The Company reported net income of $7.2 million, or $0.32 per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with $1.5 million, or $0.07 per share for the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company reported net income of $...

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation Provides Corporate Update and Reports 2009 Audited Results

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) - Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (TSX: TKM), a leading developer of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, today reported its 2009 audited operating results, including a summary of 2009 corporate and product development achievements as well...

Unigene Laboratories, Inc. Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2009
BOONTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unigene Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB: UGNE, http://www.unigene.com) has reported its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

Astellas Pharma Inc. Announces Full Slate of Independent Director Nominees for Election at OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 2010 Annual Stockholders Meeting

TOKYO, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. today notified OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. that it will nominate a full and competing slate of independent directors at OSI Pharmaceuticals' 2010 annual stockholders' meeting.

On March 2, 2010, Astellas commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of OSI for $52.00 per share in cash. This price represents...

Cytokinetics, Inc. Announces Changes to Its Board of Directors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) -

Highlighted Links

 

CYTK Website
Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:

ThermalTherapeuticSystems Announces the Addition of Former MEDRAD Executive to the Board of Directors

PITTSBURGH, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- ThermalTherapeutic Systems, Inc., developer of a highly portable platform technology designed to standardize hyperthermic perfusion treatments, today announced the appointment of Alan Hirschman, PhD to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Hirschman was a member of the Corporate Development & Innovations group of MEDRAD, Inc., serving as a senior...

ev3 Inc. to Present at the Global Healthcare Conference on March 23, 2010
PLYMOUTH, Minn., March 16, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ev3 Inc. (Nasdaq:EVVV) today announced that Julie Tracy, senior vice president and chief communications officer, is scheduled to present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the Loews Miami Hotel located at 1601 Collins Avenue, Miami, FL.

Medifocus Announces Acceptance at Two Medical Society Meetings: Posters and Oral Presentations on Past Clinical Trial Results and the Upcoming Phase III Pivotal Study will be Given
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medifocus Inc. (OTC:MDFZF.PK and TSXV:MFS) is pleased to announce that clinical presentations of the Companys breast cancer treatment system, the Microfocus APA-1000, will be made at two medical society Annual Meetings in March and April 2010.

Sirona to Present at the Fourteenth Annual New York Forum
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sirona (Nasdaq: SIRO), the dental technology leader, today announced that John Sweeney, Vice President of Investor Relations, will present at the Fourteenth Sidoti and Company, New York Emerging Growth Institutional Investor Forum on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

Biovest International, Inc. Announces Upcoming Conference Calendar to Present on Personalized Cancer Vaccine Targeting B-cell Lymphomas
TAMPA, Fla. & MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biovest International, Inc. (Other OTC:BVTI) today announced that the company is confirmed to present its personalized cancer vaccine, BiovaxID, at the following upcoming conferences:

inVentiv Health to Present at Global Healthcare Conference
SOMERSET, N.J., March 17, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- inVentiv Health, Inc. (Nasdaq:VTIV), a leading provider of commercialization services to the global pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, today announced that Blane Walter, Chief Executive Officer, and Dave Bassin, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference, which will be held March 24 in Miami...

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Present at the 2010 Global Healthcare Conference

EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (6:00 a.m. Pacific Time). Interested parties may access a live webcast of the presentation on our website at:

http://www.onyx-pharm.com/view.cfm/32/Event...

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Present at the 2010 Global Healthcare Conference

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that Robert Myers, the company's President, will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time at The Loews Miami Hotel in Miami, Florida.

About Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals...

West Pharmaceutical Services to Present at Investor Conference

LIONVILLE, Pa., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. today announced that Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and William Federici, Chief Financial Officer, will attend the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference in Miami, FL. Management will present an overview of West's business and outlook on Wednesday, March...

Endo Pharmaceuticals to Present at Capital Global Healthcare Conference

CHADDS FORD, Pa., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Endo Pharmaceuticals today announced that it will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, Mar. 23, 2010, at 10:15 a.m. EDT. David Holveck, president and chief executive officer of Endo, will review the company's products and development programs.

About Endo

...

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. to Present at the Capital Global Healthcare Conference

NOVATO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced that Dan Maher, Senior Vice President of Product Development of BioMarin, will present a company update at the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference in Miami on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. ET.

About BioMarin

BioMarin(R), Naglazyme(R...

Covidien to Present at Healthcare Conference
MANSFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien (NYSE: COV) will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference in Miami, Florida, on March 24, 2010. Charles J. Dockendorff, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the Company in a presentation scheduled to begin at 8:00AM ET.

Elan Corporation PLC to Present at the Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) today announced that it will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and 1:00 p.m. GMT.

Exelixis, Inc. Announces March 24 Webcast of Presentation at the Capital Global Healthcare Conference
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) announced today that Frank Karbe, the companys executive vice president and chief financial officer, will present at the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference at 3:45 p.m. EDT / 12:45 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Miami. Mr. Karbe will discuss the companys corporate strategy, development pipeline, financial...

Exelixis, Inc. Announces March 24 Webcast of Presentation at the Capital Global Healthcare Conference
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) announced today that Frank Karbe, the companys executive vice president and chief financial officer, will present at the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference at 3:45 p.m. EDT / 12:45 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Miami. Mr. Karbe will discuss the companys corporate strategy, development pipeline, financial...

IMPAX Laboratories, Inc. to Present at the Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL) today announced that the Company will provide an update of their business at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 23rd, at 5:15 p.m. ET. The conference will be held at the Loews Miami Hotel, Miami, FL.

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Present at Capital Global Healthcare Conference
BEDMINSTER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPSP) announced today that Francois Nader, M.D., president and chief executive officer, is scheduled to present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 10:45 a.m. ET. The presentation will be available as a live webcast with a replay available approximately three hours...

Pall Corporation to Present at s Global Healthcare Conference
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL) announced today that it will present at Barclays Global Healthcare Conference in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Representing the Company will be Eric Krasnoff, chairman and CEO; and Lisa McDermott, CFO.

Sirona to Present at the Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sirona (Nasdaq: SIRO), the dental technology leader, today announced that John Sweeney, Vice President of Investor Relations, will present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 23rd, at the Loews Hotel in Miami, FL.

Targacept, Inc. to Present at Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Targacept, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel NNR Therapeutics (TM), today announced that Alan A. Musso, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is scheduled to present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 1:3...

Zimmer Holdings Inc. to Present at Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reliv International, Inc. , a nutrition and direct selling company, recently introduced its blood-sugar management product, GlucAffect(R), in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

A clinical study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that GlucAffect significantly reduced blood glucose levels...

Beckman Coulter, Inc. to Present at the 2010 Healthcare Conference
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beckman Coulter, Inc. (NYSE: BEC), a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of products that simplify, automate, and innovate complex biomedical testing, announced today that Charlie Slacik, Beckman Coulter's senior vice president and chief financial officer, will present at the Barclays Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 23, ...

Eli Lilly and Company Gets Rights to Sell Testosterone Drug from Acrux Limited in Deal Worth up to $335 Million

INDIANAPOLIS and MELBOURNE, Australia, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company and Acrux announced today that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the potential commercialization of Acrux's experimental underarm testosterone solution (proposed tradename AXIRON(TM)). The new drug application for AXIRON is currently under regulatory...

Dynavax Technologies Corporation Gets Going-Concern Warning; Auditors Express Doubts on Company's Financial Position
Reuters -- Dynavax Technologies Corp (DVAX.O) said its auditors have expressed doubts on the company's ability to continue as a going concern as a result of the company's current financial position.

Medivation, Inc. Loses $54.8 Million in 2009

SAN FRANCISCO, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Medivation, Inc. today provided a corporate update and reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

"We are disappointed by the results of the Phase 3 CONNECTION trial in Alzheimer's patients, and it is our highest priority to work with our colleagues at Pfizer to further analyze the data and determine next steps...

AstraZeneca PLC Says Will be Picky in Emerging Markets
Reuters -- AstraZeneca (AZN.L) expects double-digit growth in emerging markets, the new battleground for Big Pharma as sales in Western markets stall, but said on Tuesday it would be much more selective than some of its rivals.

4-Antibody AG Announces a Long-Term Collaboration With Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation for Therapeutic Antibodies; will Receive Payments of up to EUR 177.5 Million
BASEL, Switzerland, March 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- 4-Antibody AG today announces a major long-term collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover and to develop fully human therapeutic antibodies for a number of targets in various disease indications. 4-Antibody will use its proprietary and unencumbered Hu-PAC(R) and Retrocyte Display(R) technologies for the discovery and development of fully...

US FDA Warns ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on Claims in Xibrom Eye Drug Promotion
Reuters -- Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc (ISTA.O) made misleading claims about Xibrom eye solution in sales material, U.S. regulators said in a letter released on Tuesday.

Heist Nets $75 Million in Eli Lilly and Company Drugs
WTNH -- Police are investigating an over-the-weekend drug heist at a Connecticut warehouse filled with prescription drugs. Investigators say it appears a group of people broke into the building and stole up to $75 million worth of prescription drugs.

Novartis Corporation's Drug Tekturna Fails to Help After Heart Attack According to Study
Reuters -- The addition of the Novartis (NOVN.VX) blood pressure medicine Tekturna to current standard drugs in patients who had a heart attack failed to help prevent changes in the heart's shape and worsening of its blood pumping ability, according to data from a study.

Promedior Closes $12 Million Series C Financing
MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, today announced that it has raised $12 million in a Series C financing round. Forbion Capital Partners led the round, with participation from existing investors Morgenthaler Ventures, HealthCare Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, and Easton...

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Pfizer Inc. Initiate New Research Collaboration
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - 03/16/10) - Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (TSX:TKM - News), a leading developer of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, announced today the initiation of a new research collaboration with Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - News).

Tekmira and Pfizer will collaborate on evaluating Tekmira's stable nucleic acid-lipid particle (SNALP) technology to deliver small...

Genentech (South SF) Submits Supplemental Biologics License Application for ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab) for Prevention of Structural Joint Damage and Improvement of Physical Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genentech, Inc., a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the company submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ACTEMRA (tocilizumab) for the prevention of structural joint damage (as assessed by radiograph) and improvement in physical...

Nuvo Research Inc. Enrolls First Patient in Phase 2 WF10 Allergic Rhinitis Trial

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Nuvo Research Inc. , a Canadian drug development company focused on the research and development of drug products that are delivered to and through the skin using its topical and transdermal drug delivery technologies, and on the development of its immune modulating drug candidate WF10, today announced that it has enrolled the first patient in its...

Viron Therapeutics Inc. Reports Positive Proof of Concept Results in Arthritis for its VT-346 Anti-TNF Therapeutic

LONDON, ON, March 16 /PRNewswire/ - Viron Therapeutics Inc. announced that VT-346, an anti-TNF protein therapeutic, demonstrated positive results in a pivotal proof of concept study in the gold standard transgenic mouse model for arthritis. VT-346 achieved a statistically significant, dose dependent impact in this preclinical model of arthritis and prevented deterioration due to disease in terms...

Icagen, Inc. Reports Positive Results for ICA-105665 in Patients With Photosensitive Epilepsy
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., March 15, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Icagen, Inc. (Nasdaq:ICGN) today reported positive results in its Phase IIa epilepsy study of ICA-105665, the Company's novel orally available small molecule KCNQ potassium channel agonist.

Lantheus Medical Imaging Presents Preliminary Phase 2 Data With Flurpiridaz F 18 (BMS747158), a Novel PET Cardiac Imaging Agent, at the American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session
NORTH BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, today announced preliminary data on flurpiridaz F 18 (formerly known as BMS747158), its novel compound in development as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) agent. The study of nine patients compared rest-stress flurpiridaz F 18 PET MPI, with rest-stress...

OctoPlus Announces Publication of Positive Locteron Interim Phase IIb Data

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) -


OctoPlus N.V. ("OctoPlus" or "the Company") (Euronext: OCTO) announcespublication of an abstract containing preliminary Locteron® Phase IIbclinical results. The abstract was submitted by OctoPlus' licensee Biolexand has been accepted for an oral presentation at the 45th InternationalLiver Congress...

OctoPlus Announces Update On Publication Of Positive Locteron Interim Phase IIb Data

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) -



OctoPlus N.V. ("OctoPlus" or "the Company") (Euronext: OCTO) announces thattwofurther abstracts containing preliminary LocteronÂÂ(r) Phase IIb clinicalresultshave just been published.These abstracts were submitted by OctoPlus'licenseeBiolex and have been accepted for poster...

PCI Biotech Reports Successful Completion of the Third Dose Group in the Phase I/II Amphinex(R) Trial
OSLO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PCI Biotech reported today that it has completed the treatment of the third dose group in the phase I/II study of its proprietary photosensitiser Amphinex used in combination with the cytotoxic agent bleomycin in cancer patients. Complete clinical regression of all evaluable treated tumours is observed within a few weeks of treatment also on patients at the third dose level...

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Investigational New Drug Application
PALATINE, Ill., March 15, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACUR) today announced clinical evaluation is now allowed under an Investigational New Drug application ("IND") filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for a benzodiazepine product candidate utilizing our Aversion Technology. The primary active ingredient in this product candidate is intended for...

Dynavax Technologies Corporation Anticipates Earlier BLA Submission for HEPLISAV(TM)

BERKELEY, CA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) today said that its large-scale Phase 3 study of HEPLISAV™ isfully enrolled, with immunization of subjects proceeding in accordance withthe pre-specified safety monitoring plan. Dynavax indicated that...

Cytheris SA Announces Publication of Preclinical Study in Showing Interleukin-7 PromotesT Cell Viability, Trafficking, and Functionality While Improving Survival in Sepsis
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development of new therapies for immune modulation, today announced publication of data from a preclinical study in a clinically relevant animal model of sepsis showing that recombinant human Interleukin-7 (rhIL-7) treatment not only restores T cell trafficking and function, but also translates into...

Sernova Corp. Announces Interim Results From Key Preclincal Study With Its Proprietary Cell Pouch System(TM)

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Sernova Corp. (TSX VENTURE: SVA) today reported interim results from a key porcine diabetes study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Cell Pouch System™.

Interim results, to be presented at the American Society of Artificial Internal...

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Receives FDA Approval for Generic Cardizem(R) LA

MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended-Release tablets, the generic equivalent to Biovail Laboratories International...

AstraZeneca PLC: New PLATO Sub-Analysis of CABG Patients Presented at American College of Cardiology

ATLANTA, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca today announced results of a new analysis of the PLATO (A Study of PLATelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) study which showed there were fewer deaths in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who took the investigational oral antiplatelet ticagrelor (BRILINTA(TM)/BRILIQUE(TM)) within seven days prior to having heart bypass surgery...

BioSpace.com Featured News

 

Pfizer-Ranbaxy: Could There Be Trouble Brewing?
Michael Shulman submits:

Pfizer (PFE) was, at one time, the most owned stock in the world and the darling of individual and institutional investors alike. Despite looming patent expirations, an anemic pipeline and a stock that has significantly underperformed the S&P for the past five years, analysts and legions of blow-dried pundits on CNBC keep recommending the stock. In my service, ChangeWave Shorts, I have recommended short- and long-term puts on the stock. I myself am not short Pfizer.

Disclosure over, last week was not a good week for PFE in light of obvious and not so obvious news. It went oh-for-there in cancer trials - an experimental lung-cancer drug called figitumumab failed in trial as did Sutent, already on the market for two type of cancer treatment, in trials for advanced breast-cancer and failed to meet their primary endpoints. The Street read the headlines and the stock sold off a bit.


Complete Story »

Amylin, Alkermes Find Relief in Benign FDA Response Letter to Diabetes Drug
EP Vantage submits:

The dreaded FDA complete response letter, so often seen as a major setback and perceived negatively by investors in afflicted companies, was Monday welcomed with open arms by shareholders in Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN) and Alkermes (ALKS), sending shares in both companies to 12-month highs; in early morning trading Amylin stock gained 9% to $22 while Alkermes rose 11% to $13.50.

Although the FDA has essentially rejected the application to approve Amylin, Alkermes and co-partner Eli Lilly’s (LLY) once-weekly version (Bydureon/Byetta LAR) of the already approved twice-daily diabetes therapy, Byetta, the relatively benign looking response letter appears to have removed significant uncertainty over the product’s approvability, with safety issues a particular concern (Event - Victoza approval could pave the way for Byetta LAR approval, February 4, 2010). Amylin hopes to respond to the FDA’s requests, over labelling, REMS and manufacturing issues, within the next few weeks although the likely classification of the response, Class I or II, remains unclear.


Complete Story »

Sequenom Plunges on Earnings Miss
optionMONSTER submits:

By Jon Najarian

SQNM Chart

Loss Is Worse Than Expected


Complete Story »

Learning a Lesson From Boston Scientific

Anyone who doesn't own Boston Scientific (BSX) is once again breathing a sigh of relief. It seems like an ever shrinking list. Holders of BSX include Paulson & Co., Primecap, Dodge & Cox, Wellington, Greenlight Capital (Einhorn), and even Brandes. It's a who's who in investment royalty.

We mere mortals in the field have taken notice, and the logic seems clear enough. First there is the attractive demographics. We're all falling apart and will need everyone from Medtronic (MDT), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), and Abbott (ABT) to Stryker (SYK), Zimmer (ZMH), and St. Jude (STJ) to duct tape us back to relative health.


Complete Story »

The Worse Boston Scientific Looks, The Better
jason kellyJason Kelly submits:

Boston Scientific (BSX) announced Monday that it's halting sales of its implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). The suspension was due to filing errors and not safety issues, but the company says it still has no idea how long the suspension will last. For a firm fighting to recover back to former glory, this is another setback.

Yet, the stock's price chart suggests that bottom feeding might not be a bad idea one of these weeks. The news is bad, true, but the news around cheap stocks usually is bad. I watched the stock fall from $45 in 2004, patiently waited for some kind of base to show up, then built a position in 2007 and 2008 at a cost basis of $12.98. Boy, did that look cheap.


Complete Story »

Vanda, Titan Pharmaceuticals: 2 Biotech Stocks It Wouldn't Hurt to Own
VFC submits:

Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA):

Shares of Vanda Pharmaceuticals have been on the move of late after Hapoalim Securities initiated coverage of the company with a 'BUY' rating and issued a price target of $23. Additionally, Hapoalim suggested that the company could be targeted for acquisition.


Complete Story »

Neostem Set to Blow Away Wall St. Estimates
M.E. Garza submits:

One of the companies we've been following most closely, Neostem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS), is presenting at the Roth Capital Partners 22nd Annual OC Growth Stock Conference in Southern California today.

Last week, Roth Capital initiated a "Buy" recommendation on the stock with a $2.50/shr price target.


Complete Story »

Sequenom Inc. Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

Sequenom Inc. (SQNM)

Q4 2009 Earnings Call

March 15, 2010 4:30 pm ET


Complete Story »

3 Ways to Play the Obesity Drugs
Ruthanne Williams Roussel submits:

Now that Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA), Vivus (VVUS) and Orexigen Therapeutics (OREX) have all announced full year 2009 financial results, it's time to revisit my pet strategy of investing in the obesity treatment space by investing in a basket of these three stocks.

This basket essentially represents an option on the obesity drug market that I believe will mature in 2011, and that I hold in my own portfolio.


Complete Story »

Amgen: Profitable Biotech at Bargain Price
Paul Price submits:

Amgen Inc. (AMGN - $56.90) is the world’s largest independent biotechnology medicines company. They discover, develop, manufacture and market medicines for serious illnesses. Their focus is on human therapeutics and AMGN concentrates on medicines based on advances in cellular and molecular biology. 2009 R&D investment was about $2.9 billion or 20% of total sales.

This biotechnology pioneer has been solidly profitable for many years and posted $4.83 per share in 2009 earnings from continuing operations - the highest EPS in its history. Despite its excellent results and record earnings, AMGN shares now trade for 34% less than they did at their peak price of $86.90 set back in 2005 when EPS were just $2.95.


Complete Story »

Carl Icahn's 6 Biggest Busts - Will Genzyme Be No. 7?
Wall Street Cheat Sheet submits:

By Derek Hoffman

On February 22nd, Genzyme (GENZ) said Carl Icahn will nominate 4 directors, including himself, to Genzyme’s board of directors. The election is slated to take place at the annual meeting on May 20th.


Complete Story »

Regulatory Catalyst News for ALKS, AMLN, LLY, MNKD, SVNT
Mike Havrilla submits:

Shares of Amylin Pharma (NASDAQ: AMLN) are rising by about 10% during early trading today on the issuance of a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA for its once-weekly formulation of its diabetes drug Byetta (exenatide), which would be marketed as Bydureon. The issues raised in the CRL appear to be minor and related to labeling issues with expected resubmission in the next few weeks and likely Class I (60-day) review designation by the FDA upon resubmission by AMLN. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Alkermes (NASDAQ: ALKS) also have stakes in the drug, with ALKS also trading up 10% and LLY up slightly during early trading.

Meanwhile, MannKind (NASDAQ: MNKD) is trading down by about 10% on news of a CRL for its inhaled insulin product candidate Afrezza, requesting updated clinical / safety data, information on the MedTone inhaler device, and changes to proposed labeling of packaging.


Complete Story »

Intermune Rounds Final Corner in Lung Disease Treatment Approval
The Burrill Report submits:

Nobody knows exactly how Intermune's (ITMN) lung-disease treatment works. But that didn't stop investors from sending the company's shares soaring March 10 as an FDA panel recommended its lung-disease treatment, pirfenidone, for approval. The vote of confidence from the FDA's Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee sparked buyout speculation on Wall Street, which sees gold in orphan drugs, such as pirfenidone, with the potential to sell to niche markets for high prices and retain extended patent protection.

Gilead (GILD) and Roche (RHHBY.PK) have been mentioned as potential suitors, but neither commented on the possibility. Furthermore, the notion is premature considering a final decision on approval hangs in the balance.
Intermune, which is based in Brisbane, California, could make more than a billion dollars per year from pirfenidone should FDA reviewers follow the panel's recommendation and approve the drug. The panel called the results of a late stage study of pirfenidone "statistically very persuasive." While the FDA doesn't have to take the panel's advice on approvals, it usually does.
Approval of pirfenidone would be a boon for people suffering from its target, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a scarring of the lungs without a known cause. The disease decreases lung function and often leads to death by respiratory failure within three to five years. It is estimated to affect 14 to 43 per 100,000 people in the United States.
While pirfenidone is already approved in Japan, no medications for IPF are approved in the United States and lung transplantation is considered to be the only intervention that can improve survival in patients with the condition.
The FDA has previously said it expects to act on Intermune’s application for approval to market pirfenidone by May 4, 2010.
Shares of Intermune closed the week at $36.76, a steep climb up from February 1's close of $16.50.

Complete Story »

Trouble at the Top: Roche's Avastin May Not Become the World's Top-Selling Drug
EP Vantage submits:

Avastin’s seemingly inevitable rise to becoming the top-selling drug in the world could be under threat. Roche (RHHBY.PK) reported results Friday of a phase III trial in prostate cancer showing that the monoclonal antibody did not meet its primary endpoint of extending overall survival.

The announcement depressed Roche shares as investors and analysts began erasing the prostate cancer indication from their projections on Avastin sales. Before Roche’s announcement, sales of the drug to treat prostate cancer, which kills more men than any other cancer except lung cancer, were projected to account for around 8% of Avastin’s sales of $9.07bn in 2014. The loss to Avastin of an estimated $725m in sales by 2014 could allow Abbott Laboratories' (ABT) anti-rheumatic antibody, Humira, to be crowned the industry's top drug.


Complete Story »

A Lukewarm IPO, White Knight Spice Up Biotech's Latest Deals
The Burrill Report submits:

by MARIE DAGHLIAN


[[AVEO]] Pharmaceuticals’ initial public offering on March 12 reaffirmed investors’ tepid interest in IPOs of developmental-stage biotech companies. After delaying its debut for two days, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech priced 9 million shares at $9.00, well below its target $13 to $15 a share range. Top investors in Aveo include Biogen Idec, MPM Capital, Highland Capital Partners, Venrock Associates, and Prospect Venture Partners. At the end of the day, Aveo’s shares were trading down one penny. The company raised $81 million for further development of its late-stage renal cell cancer treatment.
Aveo is the third biotech company to IPO this year and the third to also price well below its target range. Anthera Pharmaceuticals (ANTH) went public last week at $7 per share, half of what it had originally hoped for. Anthera shares ended the week up slightly at $7.10 per share. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (IRWD) went public at the beginning of February at $11.25 per share, 25 percent below its original target price. At the end of six weeks, Ironwood shares were trading at $12.91, up 15 percent. Trius Therapeutics (TSRX) has postponed its initial offering in order to reconsider some new FDA clinical trial protocol.
After fending off Biogen Idec (BIIB) for four months last year, Facet Biotech (FACT) signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Abbott Laboratories (ABT), enhancing Abbott’s early- and mid-stage pharmaceutical pipeline. As the white knight, Abbott is offering $27 a share for Facet, well above the $17.50 final offer of Biogen Idec in December 2009.
The Abbott offer values Facet at $722 million, including $272 million of Facet’s projected cash and marketable securities at closing. The acquisition of Facet provides Abbott with a pipeline of biologics in immunology and oncology, including daclizumab, a biologic treatment for multiple sclerosis that will enter late-stage testing this year, and several oncology compounds in early- to mid-stage development. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2010.
Animal health was in the spotlight this week with two separate deals. Sanofi-Avenetis (SNY) exercised its option to combine its animal health unit Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough (SGP), Merck’s (MRK) animal health business, creating a joint venture that will be equally owned by Sanofi and Merck.
The enterprise value of Merial has been fixed at $8 billion and the enterprise value of Intervet/Schering-Plough at $8.5 billion, leading to a true-up payment of $250 million to Merck to establish the 50-50 joint venture. Sanofi will also pay an additional $750 million as per the terms of the agreement signed on July 29, 2009 when Sanofi bought Merck’s 50 percent interest in Merial for $4 billion. The new joint venture will offer a broader portfolio of animal health products and services in pharmaceuticals and biologics, as well as the ability to capitalize on growth opportunities in all fields and countries around the world [see story].
A worldwide animal health market that reached $19 billion in 2008 is not a trifle. In the same week, Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly (LLY), agreed to acquire the European rights to a portfolio of Pfizer (PFE) Animal Health products that have been marketed by Pfizer and Wyeth's (WYE) Fort Dodge operations. Elanco also will acquire a manufacturing facility in Sligo, Ireland, currently used in the production of animal vaccines. As part of the agreement, all Sligo employees will be offered positions with Elanco. Pfizer’s divesture came at the request of the European Commission as a result of its acquisition of Wyeth last year. Lilly will pay Pfizer an undisclosed upfront payment. Other terms were not disclosed.
Swiss biopharmaceutical company Novartis (NVS) is paying French biotech Transgene (TRGNF.PK) $10 million upfront for an option for a worldwide license to its TG4010 experimental cancer vaccine. If Novartis exercises the option, Transgene will be eligible for as much as $950 in milestones and royalties. Transgene has been looking for a partner for more than a year to help develop TG4010, which has been granted fast-track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Investors were not too happy with the deal because Transgene will have to shoulder development costs for another two years when the first results of a mid-stage trial testing the vaccine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer will be reported. Novartis wants to see the outcome of the trial before exercising its option.
Privately held German biotech Cellzome entered into a second drug discovery alliance with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) potentially worth $695 million. The new collaboration gives GSK exclusive access to Cellzome’s proprietary Episphere technology, which addresses epigenetic targets in disease-specific protein complexes, in inflammatory diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together to identify selective small-molecule drug candidates against targets from four different epigenetic target classes. The companies will share operational responsibility for the programs until identification of drug candidates, at which stage GSK will assume responsibility for any further preclinical and clinical development and commercialization. Cellzome will receive an upfront payment of $45 million in technology access fees and an equity stake by GSK in the company. Cellzome will also be eligible for milestone payments and tiered royalties for each program.
Finally, AstraZeneca (AZN) raised its presence in emerging market by entering into a supply partnership with India’s Torrent Pharmaceuticals, its first such deal. Under their agreement, Torrent will supply AstraZeneca with a portfolio of 18 generic medicines, which AstraZeneca will then brand and market in nine countries. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Click to enlarge

Complete Story »

Industry News Bytes: Delcath, Amylin and Access Pharma
Mike Havrilla submits:

Potash (POT) is poised to open trading at new highs after posting strong earnings and upping its guidance. Meanwhile, Yara International (YARIY.PK) has withdrawn its bid for Terra Industries (TRA), which will be acquired by CF Industries (CF). In addition, Agrium (AGU) has dropped its hostile bid for CF.

Delcath Systems (DCTH) is an emerging, small-cap medical device innovator that is developing a regional treatment system for cancer in the liver. Delcath's Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) technology allows physicians to deliver significantly higher doses of existing chemotherapy drugs to the liver without exposing each patient's entire body to the anti-cancer drugs, representing an elegant solution that promises to increase the effectiveness of approved anti-cancer drugs while reducing systemic side effects.


Complete Story »

Abbott Buys Facet to Strengthen Biologics Capabilities, Pharma Pipeline
The Burrill Report submits:

Abbott (ABT) has acquired antibody expert Facet Biotechnology (FACT) for $722 million, which includes Facet’s projected cash and marketable securities, capturing for itself the font of immunology and oncology potential Biogen (BIIB) so desired to control before giving up its own spurned bid for Facet last year. The March 9 deal gives Abbott control of daclizumab, a mid-stage biologic intended to treat multiple sclerosis as well as Facet's oncology pipeline, which includes early- and mid-stage compounds for various types of cancer, including multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Daclizumab, Facet's lead product candidate, has big potential. For starters, Biogen will owe Facet a $30 million milestone payment as soon as the first patient is enrolled in a late-stage trial of the drug. But if the drug goes on to prove it can reduce inflammatory lesions associated with multiple sclerosis while showing better efficacy and safety than competing drugs, it could go on to realize a substantial slice of the $10.9 billion annual global market for MS treatments, Facet says.
After expending significant energy fending off bids for $14.50 and then $17.50 from Biogen starting September 2009, Facet's board was likely relieved to secure Abbott's $27 per share tender offer. Facet had put a poison pill in place just to make sure it would be able to embrace the buyer of its choice.
Biogen might have seemed a natural fit for Facet since the two companies have partnerships covering both of its most mature programs, daclizumab and volociximab for solid tumors. But its final bid valued the company at little more than $110 million after taking Facet's cash reserves into account, leaving some observers questioning the fairness of the bid.
Facet also has partnerships with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) on elotuzumab for multiple myeloma and PDL241 for treating immunologic diseases.
Abbott's senior VP of global pharmaceutical R&D, John Leonard, says the acquisition will strengthen his company's biologics capabilities and pharmaceutical pipeline.
Faheem Hasnain, Facet's president and CEO, says Abbott's expertise in immunology and oncology makes it an excellent match for maximizing the full potential of Facet's programs and technologies.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2010.

Complete Story »

Roche, Biogen Suspend Experimental Treatment: Biotech's Latest Mishaps
The Burrill Report submits:

Roche (RHHBY.PK) and Biogen Idex (BIIB) said they suspended Ocrelizumab, their experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis following the recommendation of an independent data and safety monitoring board. The board concluded that the risks outweigh the benefits in the patient population targeted by the drug. Some patients using the drug suffered serious opportunistic infections, some of which were fatal. Ocrelizumab was viewed as a possible successor to Roche’s Rituxan.

ExonHit Therapeutics (EXHTF.PK) and bioMérieux said they have decided not to pursue their collaboration in colon cancer, following a recent review of data by their scientific committee. Both companies continue to collaborate in the field of prostate cancer. “ExonHit’s technology was able to produce a robust and reproducible test however, the final results from the colon cancer program did not reach the level of performance we were aiming to achieve,” said Loïc Maurel, president of the management board of ExonHit Therapeutics. ExonHit and bioMérieux collaboration is dedicated to the discovery of biomarkers for the detection of certain cancers.
XenoPort (XNPT) said it would eliminate about half of its 220-person workforce as part of a restructuring designed to focus the company’s resources on advancement of its later-stage product candidates. On February 17, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued told the company it would not approve at this time the company’s application to begin marketing Horizant, an experimental, non-dopaminergic treatment for moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome. The Company expects to incur cash expenditures in the first half of 2010 of up to $4.2 million related to the restructuring, which will partially offset the savings in 2010. The Company also expects to incur additional non-cash expenses as a result of the restructuring. “The unexpected setback in the approval of Horizant has forced us to conduct a thorough review of our operating plans,” said Ronald Barrett, XenoPort’s CEO. “We have made the difficult decision to restructure the company to prioritize later-stage development activity and eliminate our discovery research efforts.”
Exelixis (EXEL) said it would eliminate about 270 employees or 40 percent of its workforce as part of a strategy to focus resources on the development of its key late-stage compounds. The company said it will aggressively advance XL184, XL147 and XL765, each of which is the subject of a large clinical development program. Additionally, Exelixis retains a fully integrated R&D organization, and will continue to advance new compounds into development, although the number will be reduced for the foreseeable future. Exelixis has retained the ability to meet all of its obligations to existing partners. Further, as a result of its retained R&D capabilities and its numerous unpartnered clinical and preclinical compounds, the company expects that its ongoing and future business development discussions will be unaffected. Exelixis said the restructuring will reduced its cumulative cash expenditures through 2011 by approximately $90 million after payment of restructuring costs. The savings are primarily related to reductions in compensation and benefits, laboratory supplies, and clinical trial costs. The company expects to record a restructuring charge of approximately $15 million in the first quarter of 2010, which may increase later in the year, depending on potential facility-related charges and other write downs that have not yet been finalized.
The Board of Ark Therapeutics has withdrawn its application with European regulators to begin marketed the brain cancer treatment Cerepro. A scientific advisory group to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency recommended an additional clinical trial before the product could be approved. Following the withdrawal of the Cerepro application, Ark said it has initiated a full review of its portfolio of assets, potential and alternative strategies, and options to optimize shareholder value. The review will also consider strategic alternatives in light of offers that have already been received. The company has received a number of offers and has initiated further discussions with a number of parties, which it said may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company.
AutoImmune said that its board of directors has decided to liquidate the company after consideration of potential strategic alternatives. The decision follows the failure in July of the company’s experimental multiple sclerosis drug in a late-stage trial. In connection with the liquidation, the Pasedena, California-based company intends to distribute to its stockholders all available cash, except such cash as is required for paying or making reasonable provision for the liabilities and other obligations of the company. The company intends to call a special meeting of the stockholders to seek approval of a liquidation plan. If the plan of liquidation is approved, the company also intends to close its stock transfer books and to discontinue recording transfers of its stock.
Neuropharm Group said it is considering a voluntary liquidation in the face of a lack of offers from ongoing talks with potential buyers. The specialty pharmaceutical focused on neurodevelopmental disorders has been in discussions with a number of parties since it entered an offer period in November 2009 and announced that it was pursuing a proposed sale or merger of the company. The Company is continuing talks with a potentially interested party, which is in the advanced stages of due diligence, but no offer has yet been received. The company said it has significantly reduced its cash burn and, as of the end of 2009, had unaudited cash, cash equivalents and money market investments of $9.4 million.

Complete Story »

Three Biotech ETFs for Different Risk Appetites
tom lydonTom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits:

The biotechnology sector has been hopping around like Tigger lately; mergers and acquisitions dot the space, some stocks are rocketing higher while others are taking a few lumps. This is why biotech ETFs might be a better way to access the sector than picking stocks.

The biotech industry at large may appeal to some of the more conservative investors out there, says Don Dion for The Street. Many of the larger ETFs are taking unique, well-balanced approaches to the industry, but which you go for depends on what your goals are.


Complete Story »

XOMA Ltd. Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

XOMA Ltd. (XOMA)

Q4 2009 Earnings Call

March 11, 2010 4:30 pm ET


Complete Story »

Biotech Sector and Stocks Analysis from Seeking Alpha
'Biotech' Tag RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com

 

Abraxis Looks Promising in Lung Cancer War (ABII)
Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABII) is one of the top biotech gainers this morning.  The company announced that its key ABRAXANE met the primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The company’s randomized Phase 3 clinical trial comparing ABRAXANE, the company’s protein-bound paclitaxel, along with with a Taxol injection, in [...]

StemCells Scores New Stem Cell Patent (STEM)
StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) has a new stem cell patent.  For rats, issued in the United Kingdom.  The company issued a release showing that the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office granted patent number GB2451523. The patent has broad claims covering true rat stem cells and genetically engineered rats derived from these cells, which is expected to [...]

Stem Cells Versus Aging, Fountain of Youth (BTIM, GERN, ACTC)
How many movies and legends are based upon eternal youth?  Hundreds or thousands for sure.  BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTIM) is seeing a massive surge of interest today after the company announced a “Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publication on the Reversal of the Developmental Aging of Normal Human Cells.” The company is a small-cap biotechnology company (approximately $250 [...]

Sequenom Still Seeks Down’s Syndrome Grail (SQNM)
Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) is trading lower in the after-hours session after the troubled diagnostics company reported its year-end earnings.  Because of its recent woes of 2009, the earnings and revenue reports are a true side-show compared to what the company is updating over its pipeline and over its products. We would note that actual trading [...]

OSI Can’t Stay Indpendent Forever (OSIP)
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP) is holding up yet again, despite the notion that Astellas Pharma, Inc. of Japan wants to acquire the company.  OSI decided to formally reject the $52.00 per share tender offer and is recommending that its shareholders reject the offer while it contacts other parties.  Today we have a counter-response from [...]

Savient, Gout, and FDA… Back At The Door (SVNT)
Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVNT) is from giving up on its KRYSTEXXA as a gout treatment.  This morning the company announced that it has resubmitted its Biologics License Application to the FDA.  This has been in the news, particularly since the company announced a secondary offering late last year after the FDA denied this in [...]

High Hopes on Ariad (ARIA, MRK)
Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ARIA) is seeing elevated trading today after a presentation and ahead of earnings. The difference here is that Ariad’s increased trading is in both the stock and in the bonds. Joe Kunkle of OptionsHawk.com noted, “implied volatility is 10% higher to 87.8% as shares gain 2.7%, 4,140 calls trading, [...]

More Drug and BioHealth Dividends (MRX, WCRX, AMGN, MRK, PFE, PPH, BBH)
Medicis (NYSE: MRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company in treatments of dermatological and aesthetic conditions, has the talk going again about dividends in the drug and biotech sector.  The company declared a quarter-end cash quarterly dividend of $0.06 payable on April 30, 2010 for holders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2010.  [...]

The Facet Biotech Buyout Saga (FACT, BIIB, ABT, PDLI)
Facet Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: FACT) is a buyout saga that seemed as though it would never end in 2009.  The company is now finally being acquired, but not by Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB).  Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) announced last night that it entered into a definitive agreement for $27.00 per share in a cash buyout.  [...]

EDAP TMS, Back on the Map (EDAP)
EDAP TMS SA (NASDAQ: EDAP) is a French company which makes medical devices for the treatment of urological diseases and the company’s stock is soaring after the company was granted marketing approval of its newly designed, high-end Sonolith I-Sys lithotripsy device by the Japanese Administration.  Because this market is still under-served, we wanted to look [...]

BioHealth Investor
Biotech and Medical Business Information

 

Continued Demand Makes Monsanto and Agriculture Unique Investment Opportunities, Global Seeds and Traits Lead to Tell Investors
ST. LOUIS, March 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As world population growth and dietary shifts continue, Monsanto Company's (NYSE: MON) ongoing investment in agriculture is bringing more choices to the farm than ever before, Brett Begemann, executive vice president – seeds and traits, will

Kendle Executive to Share Insights at World Pharma Trials Asia 2010
CINCINNATI, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kendle (Nasdaq: KNDL), a leading, global full-service clinical research organization, today announced Dr. Ross Horsburgh, Vice President, Asia/Pacific will address the World Pharma Trials Asia 2010 conference being held March 17-18, 2010 at the Raffles

Champions Biotechnology Reports Fiscal 2010 Third Quarter Financial Results
BALTIMORE, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Champions Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSBR), a company engaged in the development of advanced preclinical platforms and tumor specific data to enhance the value of oncology drugs, today announced its financial results for the third  fis

Kendle Announces New Revolving Credit Facility
CINCINNATI, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kendle (Nasdaq: KNDL), a leading, global full-service clinical research organization, today announced that it has entered into a new $35 million secured revolving credit facility as of March 15, 2010 with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as administrative agen

OriGene Technologies Raises $16 Million to Build the Largest Collection of Next Generation Monoclonal Antibodies (TrueMAB(TM)) to Cover the Majority of Human Proteome
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 17 /PRNewswire/ --  OriGene Technologies, Inc., a leading gene-centric life sciences company, announced the completion of a $16 million Series B financing led by IDG-Accel, SBI & TH Venture Capital Enterprise, and Zero2IPO. OriGene's previous investors Morningside Vent

Idenix Pharmaceuticals to Present at the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX) announced today that management will present a corporate overview at the upcoming Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference, March 24, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Loews Miami Hotel, Florida. The

Bioscience Bridge, LLC Launches as a Technology Transfer Agency for University-Based Bioscience Research
BOISE, Idaho, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- A new professional services company has been launched focused on accelerating the connections of university-based bioscience research with commercial development opportunities. Bioscience Bridge, LLC was formed by Michelle Travis, principal and managing directo

Agendia to Play Pivotal Role in ISPY-2 Trial for Breast Cancer
12 Cancer Drugs Tested, 20 Leading U.S. Cancer Centers Involved HUNTINGTON BEACH, California and AMSTERDAM, March 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, announced today it will participate in the highly anticipated I-SPY 2 TRIAL for breast cancer,

From Donuts To Hogs - Which Brand Icons Might Be In Play?
NEW YORK, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Initial public offerings for LinkedIn and Dunkin Donuts, takeovers of Mead Johnson Nutrition and Harley-Davidson, and a Cold Stone Creamery sale are among the 10 deals predicted by columnists from Dow Jones Investment Banker for 2010. "Technology should lead the m

Data Presented at ACC/i2 Summit Demonstrate Impressive Long Term Clinical Outcomes in Real World Patients Treated with OrbusNeich's Genous(TM) Bio-engineered R stent(TM)
ATLANTA, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- OrbusNeich today announced that 12 month follow up data from real world patients demonstrated long term clinical efficacy of the company's Genous Bio-engineered R stent. Margo Klomp, M.D., of the Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam, presented the data from 40

Healthcare Web Site Expands Reach to Pharmacy Industry
DENVER, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- HEALTHeCAREERS Network, North America's leading healthcare Network, has another solution for the down economy. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100204/FL49504LOGO-a ) Employers are now able to post as many pharmacy-specific jobs as they would like through

Micromet Closes $80.5 Million Public Offering of Common Stock
BETHESDA, Md., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Micromet, Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI) announced today the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering. Prior to closing, the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional 1.5 million shares of common stock. As a r

Zimmer Holdings to Present at Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
WARSAW, Ind., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH) announced today it will be participating in the Barclays Capital 2010 Global Healthcare Conference in Miami, Fla., on March 23, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.   A live webcast of the presentation can

Ambry Genetics and RainDance Technologies Announce Partnership for Diagnostics and Genomics Services Utilizing the RDT 1000 for Sequence Enrichment and Targeted Resequencing Validation
SAN DIEGO, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambry Genetics and RainDance Technologies today jointly announced at the Annual CHI Next Generation Sequencing Conference in San Diego, CA their partnership utilizing the RDT 1000 for sequence enrichment and resequencing validation. A global leader for genetic tes

Radiation Breakthrough Gives Breast Cancer Patients Hope in Single Dose
PHILADELPHIA, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology never before offered in the U.S. that allows patients to receive one dose of radiation during surgery, as opposed to the current average of six weeks, was successfully delivered to several breast cancer patients last week -- including the sister of t

Valeritas Announces Appointment of New CFO
BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Valeritas, Inc., a medical technology company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative drug delivery solutions, announced today that it has hired James E. Dentzer to serve as its Chief Financial Officer. Dentzer brings a wealth of

BioMarin to Present at the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference
NOVATO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today announced that Dan Maher, Senior Vice President of Product Development of BioMarin, will present a company update at the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference in Miami on Wednesday, March 24,

GenVault Provides GenTegra(TM) DNA to Support Cardiovascular Genetic Testing at Berkeley HeartLab
CARLSBAD, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- GenVault Corporation today announced that Berkeley HeartLab, a subsidiary of Celera Corporation (Nasdaq: CRA), has adopted GenTegra DNA to preserve and store diagnostic samples for genetic testing related to the management of cardiovascular disease.  

ALS Therapy Development Institute and Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. Collaborate to Investigate Potential Treatments for ALS
Combination of Core Competencies to Lead to New Compounds being Identified and Screened CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) and Aestus Therapeutics, Inc., announced their plans today to test several potential small-molecule compounds

New Health Reviser Software Enables User-Friendly Access to Cutting Edge Professional Health and Fitness Programs
SEATTLE, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The scientifically validated Health Reviser hardware/software system delivers more than 15 years of scientific research from major universities and health scientists directly to a user's desktop computer. So health-cautious individuals, people suffering from hyperte

Biotechnology
Press Releases from PR Newswire about Biotechnology

 

Biopharma R&D rises 2% in '09 despite recession

R&D investments by pharma and biotech companies in the U.S. actually rose two percent last year, according to a new report from PhRMA and Burrill & Co. And they pointedly note that that is a pretty good bottom line if you consider the savage recession that took a heavy toll on the overall economy. The R&D budget jumped to $65.3 billion in 2009, the analysts say. And the report adds that pharma companies devoted 18 percent of annual sales revenue into the development of new drugs--a point PhRMA repeatedly emphasizes to lawmakers interested in regulating the retail drug market. PhRMA release

Astellas tries board coup in hostile bid for OSI

Now that OSI's board has officially given Astellas the cold shoulder for its $3.5 billion takeover bid, the Japanese pharma company has nominated a slate of independent directors for the biotech who would give them a much warmer reception.

Astellas' nominees include some well-known biotech faces, including Aptuit founder Michael A. Griffith and Jill Kanin-Lovers, a veteran of the Alpharma board. They'll be expected to make the case that a combination of OSI and Astellas would help generate faster progress in the development of new cancer therapies.

OSI's major objection to the Astellas bid, of course, has nothing to do with R&D synergy. The OSI board has shunned Astellas' $52-a-share offer as far too low. And investors were quick to bid up the share price several dollars past that point in anticipation of a higher offer. To help nudge things along, OSI said yesterday that it is in talks with other potential buyers, including some unnamed Big Pharma players.

In a follow-up release, OSI said that it "believes the Astellas director nominees' only mandate is to support Astellas in acquiring OSI at an inadequate price."

- read the OSI release
- see Astellas' release
- here's the story from Bloomberg

Related Articles:
Out to ignite a bidding war, OSI rejects Astellas' bid
Astellas' hostile bid for OSI heats up
Major OSI shareholder calls for $60 bid
OSI: Board to consider Astellas bid

Unigene Labs raises $13.6M in debt restructuring

Boontoni, NJ-based Unigene Laboratories has restructured its debt, raising $13.6 million and giving Victory Park Capital Advisors, the sole investor in the transaction, the right to name two people to the company's board. Unigene also says that it has agreed to make changes to senior management. "This infusion of additional capital, coupled with the fact that we will not need to make interest payments on the notes until their maturity and that maturity date has been extended by approximately 18 months, will significantly improve our financial condition," said CEO Dr. Warren P. Levy. Unigene release

Roche pipeline close-up will focus on PhIII blockbusters

Roche investors are expected to pay particularly close attention at tomorrow's pipeline review day, when top execs for the pharma giant will try to put the best face possible on its new drug prospects.

This is the first pipeline review since Roche absorbed Genentech, and analysts will be looking to see whether the pharma giant's recent minor setbacks with programs like the rheumatoid arthritis drug ocrelizumab can be overshadowed by the promise presented by its new biotech arm and a slate of potential blockbusters. Unlike most of its Big Pharma competitors, Roche doesn't face a big patent cliff. And that has helped bolster its stock price. Now the analysts want to know how well positioned Roche is for the future.

"Investor expectations are high for this event and Roche does not have much margin for error, given the series of minor setbacks recently and the disappointment on 2009 sales," Natixis analysts said in a note.

The Genentech acquisition, though, is so recent that it's hard to see how Roche can blow it at this stage. Drug development is a notoriously slow process, and that gives Roche plenty of breathing space for completing the absorption process without much critical heat. So you can expect most of the attention to center on Roche's three late-stage blockbuster programs: dalcetrapib, aleglitazar and RG1678.

- here's the notice from Roche
- read the analysis from Reuters

Related Articles:
Trial failures put pressure on Roche
Roche CEO offers his vision for new R&D era
Roche and Genentech: Top 10 deals of 2009
Roche diabetes drug performs like a blockbuster in Ph3

Cash squeeze triggers going-concern alert at Molecular Insight

A troubled Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals (MIPI) needs to raise more cash to avoid breaching the minimum liquidity requirements tied to senior debt at the company, and that cash squeeze helped prompt its auditors to raise a going-concern warning for the second half of the year.

Auditors for the biotech are also concerned by recurring losses at the company, despite the smaller-than-expect quarterly loss reported yesterday evening. Investors in the company responded by driving down its stock price by about 25 percent in after-market trading.

Molecular Insight reported a $13.2 million loss for the fourth quarter and reported that it had about $64 million in cash and equivalents on hand at the end of 2009. On Monday the company reported that NASDAQ officials had notified them that they were in violation of its minimum market value requirement. And at the beginning of the year the developer said it cut nine employees to help reduce costs. Molecular Insight has two Phase III oncology trials slated to begin this year.

Molecular Insight says that it already out-licensed one program, Onalta, and has plans to out-license Zemiva, a late-stage radiopharmaceutical for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.

- check out Molecular Insight's release
- and here's the Reuters story

Related Articles:
Molecular Insight cuts jobs in realignment
Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals - 2005 Fierce 15 revisited

Clark Johnson to become president, CEO of Neurologix

> Neurologix has tapped Vice Chairman Clark Johnson as its president and CEO to replace John Mordock, who has resigned. Release

> Bausch & Lomb has named Fred Hassan as chairman of the board of directors and Brent Saunders as CEO. Release

> MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals CEO John Thievon has resigned, and CFO David Becker will become the acting CEO. Story

> Endo Pharmaceuticals has appointed Julie McHugh as the company's COO. Release

> Portola Pharmaceuticals has announced that President and CEO Charles Homcy will retire from his current position and assume the role of co-chairman of the board of directors. Chief Operating Officer William Lis will succeed Homcy as the new CEO. In addition, Hollings Renton has been appointed co-chairman and lead director of the board of directors. Release

> Genetix Pharmaceuticals has named Mitchell Finer as its chief scientific officer. Release

> Berndt Modig will become the CFO of Prosensa, the Dutch based biopharmaceutical company focusing on RNA modulating therapeutics. Release

> Timothy Barabe has been appointed CFO and EVP of Affymetrix. Release

> Caris Life Sciences has appointed Dan Sawyers as SVP, chief accounting officer and Greg Kelly, SVP of operations. Release

> San Diego's Organovo has named Marie Csete as EVP of R&D. Release

> OXiGENE has announced the resignation of Arthur Laffer from the company's board of directors to pursue other longstanding interests. Release

> James Sabry has resigned from the board of Cytokinetics to assume an operational role at pharmaceutical company. An announcement regarding his new role is expected soon. The Cytokinetics board has elected L. Patrick Gage as its chairman. Release

> Adeona has named Jeff Lucero Riley to its board of directors. Release

> Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell has announced the nominations of William Burns, James Shannon and George Siber to its supervisory board. Release

> Agios Pharmaceuticals has appointed William Kaelin, Jr. to its scientific advisory board. Release

> Shire has named Bill Burns to its board as a non-executive director. Burns has also been appointed a member of Shire's remuneration committee. Release

> A. Bruce Montgomery will join ZymoGenetics' board of directors. Release

> Russ Altman of the Stanford University Medical School has joined the NextBio's scientific advisory board. Release

HGS investors shrug off a mid-stage cancer failure

Human Genome Sciences announced this morning that its cancer antibody flunked a mid-stage clinical trial, failing to produce better data on either disease response or progression-free survival for lung cancer when compared to a control group.

Mapatumumab is designed to trigger apoptosis, or cancer cell death, a popular strategy in the cancer field. The antibody binds to a protein known as TRAIL receptor 1 and HGS is also studying it for multiple myeloma and hepatocellular cancer. The biotech says it will have progression-free survival data available from the multiple myeloma study in mid-2010 and expects to initiate the randomization stage of the hepatocellular cancer study before the end of 2010. Today's release didn't include any specific data readouts, though. Those will be released at a scientific meeting sometime later in the year.

HGS' cancer program is its most advanced mid-stage product. But investors who have fueled a skyrocketing share price have been concentrating primarily on the far more promising prospect for Benlysta, which amazed the company's closest observers with unexpectedly positive late-stage lupus results last year. HGS also faces an October 4 PDUFA date for its hep C drug Zalbin. HGS shares slid only about one percent after the cancer news was announced.

- here's HGS's release

Related Articles:
HGS seeks Zalbin OK as analysts revive buyout buzz
FDA wants more info on HGS anthrax drug
HGS's groundbreaking lupus drug promising in second Phase III
Promising lupus data fuels fresh rise in HGS shares

Novartis reports success with novel blood pressure drug

An experimental hypertension therapy in Novartis' pipeline has cleared an important mid-stage clinical trial hurdle and is headed for a pivotal test. Researchers for the pharma giant say that LCZ696--a combination of the experimental AHU377 with the standard drug Diovan-- significantly better than Diovan alone. And the combo therapy clearly outperformed a placebo.

LCZ696 is a new molecule created from the combination of AHU377 and Diovan. AHU377 is a new kind of drug similar to Bristol-Myers Squibb's omipatrilat, which was once thought to be a potential blockbuster before signs of dangerous side effects scuttled the program. This new therapy is designed to enhance the body's natural blood-pressure lowering machinery. The drug blocks angiotensin-2--which constricts blood vessels--while spurring a natural diuretic the body generates to help ease blood pressure.

In a study with 1,215 patients spread around 18 countries, the combo therapy performed almost twice as well as Diovan alone at a dose of 200 mg. And the rate of reduction in systolic levels fell in the same category as significant weight loss or a diet that concentrates heavily on fruit and vegetables.

"These findings build promise for this novel drug class. In addition, these study results demonstrate the potential for managing cardiovascular diseases through enhancement of the beneficial effects of the body's own natriuretic peptides via neprilysin inhibition and concomitant blockade of the angiotensin receptor," writes principal investigator Luis Ruilope. Significantly, patients taking the therapy had the same side effect profile as the placebo group. And if Novartis can successfully navigate Phase III, they may have a new standard of care in a huge market. Some 75 million American adults suffer from high blood pressure. But this is one field where safety issues can present enormous, and often unexpected, obstacles.

- see Novartis' release
- here's the WebMD story
- and here's the piece from Science News

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BioTime soars on cell aging reversal

Shares of BioTime shot up over 33 percent this morning after investors got a whiff of a newly published scientific paper in which the biotech company says it was able to reverse the aging process in cells. And scientists for the company say the work has big implications for the development of a new generation of cell-based therapies that can target age-related degenerative diseases. Report

MannKind addresses Afrezza concerns following FDA response

In an analyst call this morning, MannKind discussed yesterday's complete response letter from the FDA for Afrezza, the company's inhaled insulin drug. The part of the response that sent tongues wagging yesterday was the FDA's request that the company submit available clinical data that support the "clinical utility" of Afrezza. Analysts and investors wondered whether the agency's wording meant that didn't see a need for another insulin product.

For MannKind, it comes down to a question of interpretation. "We interpret this request as a desire to understand the positioning of Afrezza within the range of available therapies, and a desire to know how, and in whom, and when in the course of therapy it should be used," CEO Alfred Mann said in the conference call. He emphasized that the agency asked for no additional studies and expressed no safety concerns about the drug.

The company also said that it believes its next-generation inhaler, known as "Dreamboat," will settle labeling question raised by the FDA. MannKind had planned to launch Afrezza with its existing MedTone devices and switch patients to the Dreamboat after securing a separate FDA OK for the product. Now the developer says it may submit an application for its new device in its response to the FDA's letter.

Mann said that his company is closer to a partnership deal now that it's received FDA feedback on the drug. According to the company, MannKind and an interested party were close to a deal for Afrezza last July, but uncertainties about the drug impacted valuation, making it pointless to close the deal until more agency guidance was received. "We were reluctant to partner until we had regulatory feedback because we couldn't determine the real value of Afrezza," Mann claimed. He added that the company's chances for a partnership are higher now that the list of outstanding items with Afrezza has been reduced to a few items.

MannKind has enough cash to make it into 2011. However, during the conference call, Mann said the company will work to reduce its spending over the next few weeks to move it farther into 2011. He didn't elaborate on how the developer plans to cut costs.

Mann seemed riled when asked whether the FDA had indicated whether the company would face an expert panel prior to the approval of Afrezza. "They've said very explicitly for almost a year now that we're not going to have a panel. Period." The bottom line? "We have no reason to believe that our plan to launch in 2011 will be adversely affected by the issues raise in the letter."

Related Articles:
MannKind's inhaled insulin drug Afrezza delayed
Despite delay, MannKind expects quick approval
MannKind defies analysts skeptical of inhaled insulin drug
MannKind shares plunge on renewed doubts about Afresa
Inhaled insulin lung cancer warning riles investors

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