LONDON – Shares in Erytech Pharma SA began trading in Paris last week following an initial public offering (IPO) that exceeded the €15 million (US$19.5 million) target, raising €16.7 million. Read More

LONDON – There may be a completely new way to block the estrogen receptor on breast cancer cells, which normally thrive on estrogen. Researchers working in the Netherlands have shown that blocking the receptor at that point reduces the growth rate of breast tumor cells. Read More

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SpA landed a hefty chunk of upside, that all-too-elusive commodity, by grossing $89.2 million from a sale of Santarus Inc. stock. The transaction will enable the already-profitable company to begin paying dividends to its shareholders. Read More

LONDON – Creabilis SA reported positive Phase IIb results for its topical TrkA kinase inhibitor CT327 in the relief of chronic pruritus (itch) caused by psoriasis, paving the way for a Phase III study designed to gain approval for treating itch in any dermatological disease. Read More

Cardio3 BioSciences (C3BS) closed a €19 million (US$25 million) investment round to fund an ongoing European Phase III trial of its stem cell therapy for ischemic heart failure, C-Cure. Just €7 million of the total represents new money, however. The remainder comprises an equity conversion of existing loans. Read More

Osaka, Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is gaining access to several key vaccine candidates targeted against major infectious diseases in the developing world such as dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), through its acquisition of Inviragen Inc., of Fort Collins, Colo. Read More

• PharmaMar SA, of Madrid, a subsidiary of Zeltia SA, said it completed enrollment in its Phase IIb study testing PM01183 vs. topotecan in resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. The open-label study is designed to confirm PM01183's activity in that indication. Read More