• Janssen Research & Development, of Raritan, N.J., a unit of Johnson & Johnson, reported findings showing that subcutaneous induction regimens of anti-TNF-alpha therapy Simponi (golimumab) induced clinical response in a majority of patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who had previously failed or were intolerant to conventional agents. Read More
• H. Lundbeck A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, and not-for-profit research organization CHDI Foundation Inc., of Deerfield, Ill., said they are collaborating to investigate a targeted therapy for Huntington's disease. Read More
• Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla., said it reached its patient recruitment goal for a Phase IIb study of CPP-109 vigabatrin, with an estimated 210 cocaine-dependent subjects enrolled following final screening this week. Top-line data are expected in the first quarter of 2013. CPP-109 is a GABA analogue that has fast-track status in the U.E. Read More
• BioDelivery Sciences International Inc., of Raleigh, N.C., received a milestone payment of $2.5 million from Meda AB, of Goteborg, Sweden, for registration and pricing approval of Breakyl (Onsolis). It will be eligible for a final milestone payment of $2.5 million upon commercial launch, which is anticipated in late 2012. Read More
Orphagen Pharmaceuticals Inc. knows its orphan nuclear receptor programs are too early stage for most venture capitalists. In fact, they're too early even for most academics, CEO Scott Thacher told BioWorld Today. Read More
By sequencing extremely large numbers of people, two studies published last week add to the growing realization that the genetic component of common diseases comes in the form of many rare genetic variants, rather than a few common ones. Read More
Shares in Active Biotech AB climbed more than 12 percent Monday on news that the company earned a €10 million milestone payment from its partner, Ipsen SA, after reaching the halfway point in recruitment onto a 1,200-patient, Phase III registration trial of tasquinimod in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Read More
• Novavax Inc., of Rockville, Md., said it pulled in net proceeds of about $12.1 million for general corporate purposes, including working capital, product development and capital expenditures. The company sold 10 million shares of common stock to RA Capital Healthcare Fund LP at a price of $1.22 per share. Read More