Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said that complete results from a Phase I trial of its RNAi therapeutic, ALN-VSP have been published. The company said that the results validate longer-term safety and tolerability of its LNP delivery platform. Alnylam Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., licensed the LNP technology from Tekmira, and is developing several products under that license. Tekmira is due a $5 million payment related to initiation of clinical trials for ALN-VSP in

Acceleron Pharma Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said it started a Phase II study testing ACE-536 to treat anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The trial is designed to test the drug's safety and efficacy in patients with low-risk or intermediate-1 risk MDS, with efficacy measures including increases in hemoglobin levels, reduction in red blood cell transfusion burden and other hematologic parameters, as well as biomarkers of iron and bone metabolism. ACE-536, a modified Type II

Seattle Genetics Inc., of Bothell, Wash., said interim results from a Phase I trial of ASG-5ME in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma identified the maximum-tolerated dose for weekly administration, demonstrated tolerability and provided preliminary evidence for antitumor activity. The best response for 18 patients treated at 1.2 mg/kg weekly included one patient (6 percent) who achieved a partial response, six patients (33 percent) with stable disease and four (22 percent) with

CSL Behring, of King of Prussia, Pa., said it enrolled the first patient in the pivotal pediatric Phase III trial to test efficacy and pharmacokinetics of recombinant fusion protein linking coagulation Factor IX with recombinant albumin in previously treated children (up to age 11).

Cancer Research UK's Drug Development Office in London and partner AstraZeneca plc, of London, opened a three-armed study testing AZD0424 in a Phase I trial expected to recruit up to 30 patients, initially across all solid tumor types. The design of the trial later will be adapted, enabling it to separate into three separate personalized arms to test AZD0424 in different combinations alongside standard or other experimental treatments in specific patient populations. AZD0424 is designed to work

Neuralstem Inc., of Rockville, Md., said it has received FDA approval to start a Phase I trial of lead cell therapy candidate NSI-566 in chronic spinal cord injury patients. The open-label study, based on an investigational new drug application filed in 2010, will enroll up to eight patients with thoracic spinal cord injuries (T2-T12), who have an American Spinal Injury (AIS) Association A level of impairment, between one and two years after injury. The primary objective is to determine the

Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland, said data published in The Lancet showed that patients on mTOR inhibitor Afinitor (everolimus) tablets with noncancerous kidney tumors known as renal angiomyolipomas associated with tuberous sclerosis complex experienced a significant reduction in tumor size and the absence of tumor progression. In the study, 42 percent of patients on everolimus experienced an angiomyolipoma response vs. 0 percent on placebo.

BioTime Inc., of Alameda, Calif., said it submitted a clinical investigation protocol to European regulatory authorities for approval to initiate studies for its Renevia stem cell delivery platform. Renevia, a member of the firm's HyStem family of hydrogels, is a formulation designed to mimic human extracellular matrix. Studies are expected to start in the second quarter. GeoVax Labs Inc., of Atlanta, said it completed enrollment in a nine-patient Phase I/II trial testing its DNA/MVA vaccine

TapImmune Inc., of Seattle, said an interim safety analysis of the first five breast cancer patients treated with HER2/neu Class II antigens did not show any serious adverse events, so treatment of the remaining 17 patients in the Phase I study at the Mayo Clinic will progress

Baxter International Inc., of Deerfield, Ill., reported pivotal Phase III results showing that routine prophylaxis vs. on-demand treatment of FEIBA NF (anti-inhibitor coagulant complex [nanofiltered and vapor-heated]) in patients with hemophilia A or B reduced median annual bleed rate. Results showed the annual bleed rate dropped from 28.7 percent during FEIBA NF on-demand treatment to 7.9 percent during FEIBA NF prophylactic treatment, marking a 72.5 percent reduction. Baxter intends to file a

Aeterna Zentaris Inc., of Quebec City, agreed with the FDA on a special protocol assessment for its Phase III registration trial of AEZS-108 in endometrial cancer. The open-label, randomized trial will be carried out in North America and Europe, and will compare AEZS-108 with dosorubicin as second-line therapy in endometrial cancer. About 500 patients will be enrolled. Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, completed a Phase I single-ascending dose trial of SP-333 for ulcerative colitis

Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, said dosing has commenced in a Phase IIb trial of plecanatide to treat patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). The 350-patient trial is being conducted at 70 sites in the U.S. Participants with IBS-C will be treated with one of four doses of plecanatide (0.3, 1, 3 or 9 mg) or placebo, taken once daily over a period of 12 weeks. The trial will measure the mean change in complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM) over

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., told licensor Bionomics Ltd., of Adelaide, Australia, that the planned Phase I trial of the investigational anti-anxiety drug candidate IW-2143 (BNC210) has begun in the U.S. The trial is designed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of IW-2143 in healthy volunteers, using single and multi-dose administration. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 6, 2012.) Coronado Biosciences Inc., of Burlington, Mass., entered an agreement with the National

Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Palatine, Ill., said it filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA for clinical testing of its hydrocodone bitartrate with acetaminophen formulated using its Aversion Technology. Acura intends to complete clinical testing for a new drug submission via the 505(b)(2) pathway in the first half of 2014. BioAlliance Pharma SA, of Paris, said the European Independent Board of Experts held its first meeting on the ReLive Phase III trial evaluating the

Acasti Pharma Inc., of Laval, Quebec, said it achieved significant progress in two ongoing clinical studies with CaPre for lipid management. The registrational Phase II double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study has completed the first of two interim analyses. The second Phase II open-label study should be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. It has been delayed due to the need for further patient recruitment after the approved clinical trial amendment to add an additional 4

ARCA biopharma Inc., of Broomfield, Colo., said a paper published in the European Journal of Heart Failure discusses the post-hoc analyses of data from the Phase III study, designated BEST (Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial), testing Gencaro (bucindolo hydrochloride) in heart failure. Data demonstrated that patients with established atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving Gencaro in the trial had improvements in heart failure clinical endpoints, and those receiving Gencaro were more likely

Eli Lilly and Co., of Indianapolis, provided an update on the next steps planned for solanezumab, its Phase III monoclonal antibody being studied as a potential therapy for patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. Following discussions with regulators in the U.S., Europe and Canada, Lilly plans to conduct an additional Phase III study of solanezumab in patients with the condition, but other details of the study, which will begin no later than the third quarter of next year, are yet to come.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, and Pfizer Inc., also of New York, disclosed data from a Phase III study testing Eliquis (apixaban) for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). Data from the year-long trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that treatment with Eliquis significantly reduced the recurrence of VTE and death from any cause compared to those treated with placebo.

Pfizer Inc., of New York, said randomized Phase II data showed that PD-0332991 in combination with letrozole significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) compared to letrozole alone in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor-1-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Patients in the combination arm showed a median PFS of 26.1 months vs. 7.5 months in the letrozole-only arm, a statistically significant improvement (p < 0