• Asahi Kasei Pharma America Corp., of Waltham, Mass., said it started an 800-patient Phase III trial of ART-123 (recombinant human thrombomodulin, sold as Recomodulin in Japan) in severe sepsis patients with coagulopathy. Read More
• Dynavax Technologies Corp., of Berkeley, Calif., said it will advance AZD1419, a second-generation Toll-like receptor 9 agonist for asthma, into Phase I studies. Read More
• Cytovance Biologics Inc., of Oklahoma City, and Fountain BioPharma Inc., of Taiwan, executed a biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing collaboration for FB301, a monoclonal antibody under development by Fountain with a lead indication of allergic disease. Read More
• Synthetic Biologics Inc., of Rockville, Md., completed its previously announced private placement in connection with stock purchase agreements dated Oct. 25. Read More
• Acorda Therapeutics Inc., of Ardsley, N.Y., beat analyst estimates for the third quarter, posting GAAP net income of $9.6 million, or 24 cents per share, well above consensus estimates of 10 cents per share. Read More
Although privately held Drais Pharmaceuticals Inc. began operations five years ago, the Bridgewater, N.J.-based company reinvented itself in 2012 to shelter development projects as virtual biotechs. Read More
The 1,000 Genomes Project has surpassed the 1,000 genomes mark. This week, the international consortium that is behind the sequencing effort reported on genome data from 1,092 individuals from 14 separate populations. Read More
A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., could result in a loss of up to €120 million (US$155 million) for its partner Ipsen SA, according to a statement by the Paris-based pharma company Wednesday. Read More