Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, reported that South San Francisco-based Genentech Inc., a unit of the Roche Group, and Weston, Mass.-based Biogen Idec Inc

Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, reported that South San Francisco-based Genentech Inc., a unit of the Roche Group, and Weston, Mass.-based Biogen Idec Inc

Curis earned a $4 million milestone payment from Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco (a unit of Roche AG), as a result of the Australian approval

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, said its human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes were used by collaboration partner Duke University to grow three-dimensional (3D) human heart muscle

Hyperion Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, said the FDA notified the firm that Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate) qualified for orphan drug exclusivity, giving the product exclusivity on the market for seven years from the date of approval on Feb. 1

Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, a member of the Roche Group, said the FDA approved Actemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA

Theravance Inc., of South San Francisco, said its board approved plans to separate its businesses into two independently traded companies

Achaogen Inc., of South San Francisco, was awarded a $60 million contract option from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) supporting a global Phase III superiority study that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of plazomicin in treating patients with serious Gram-negative bacterial infections due to Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Addex Therapeutics SA, of Geneva, reported preclinical data showing that its mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator oral small molecule, dipraglurant, dose-dependently prevented the abnormal excitatory effect observed on brain slices of transgenic primary generalized torsion dystonia 1 (DYT1) mice overexpressing the human mutant TOR1A gene by decreasing the paradoxical neuronal activity induced by the dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole. DYT1 is a common and severe genetic form of dystonia

KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, of South San Francisco, and partner Sanofi Pasteur, of Lyon, France, said the FDA granted fast-track designation for the monoclonal antibody KB001A for protecting against bacterial pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mechanically-ventilated patients

Evotec AG, of Hamburg, Germany, said it extended its drug discovery alliance with Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, a member of the Roche Group, for three additional years...Theravance Inc., of South San Francisco, and GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, submitted a regulatory application in Japan for once-daily LAMA/LABA combination medicine, UMEC/VI, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the District Court's judgment in favor of partner GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, in a patent infringement case involving Arzerra (ofatumumab) brought against GSK by South San Francisco-based Genentech Inc. (now part of Roche AG) and Weston, Mass.-based Biogen Idec Inc

The Genome Institute of Singapore and Fluidigm Corp., of South San Francisco, opened a new research center in Singapore, the Single-Cell Omics Centre

Cytokinetics Inc., of South San Francisco, received an award from Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy to support preclinical research on muscle function in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy conducted with the firm's fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, tirasemtiv

In separate news, Astellas signed a deal to access the TSUBAME2.0 supercomputer at the Tokyo Institute of Technology to discover candidates for NTDs caused by dengue virus...In other news, The Nasdaq OMX Stockholm's listing committee approved the listing of NeuroVive's shares

Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, and Bayer HealthCare, of Wayne, N.J., part of Bayer AG, said Stivarga (regorafenib) gained approval in Japan for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, entered a deal with Siemens Healthcare, of Malvern, Pa., to acquire its investigational agent

UCB SA, of Brussels, Belgium and Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, both said that they have entered a strategic collaboration for the discovery of biologics targets and therapeutics in the areas of fibrosis-related inflammatory diseases and central nervous system disorders

Clinigen Group plc, of Burton-on-Trent, UK, and Theravance Inc., of South San Francisco, entered an exclusive commercialization agreement in the European Union and certain other countries located in Europe for Vibativ (telavancin) in nosocomial pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, known or suspected to be caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, when other alternatives are not suitable...Kadcyla is marketed by Roche AG unit Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco