Cytokinetics Inc., of South San Francisco, received orphan drug designation from the European Medicines Agency for CK-2017357, a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator in Phase II trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BioInvent International AB, of Lund, Sweden, and partner Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, a member of the Roche Group, said they completed enrollment in the Phase IIa GLACIER study of BI-204, a monoclonal antibody targeting oxidized forms of low-density lipoprotein, in patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease

Cytokinetics Inc., of South San Francisco, said preclinical research published in Nature Medicine revealed the mechanism of action for CK-2017357, a small-molecule direct activator of fast skeletal muscle troponin, and discussed the scientific rationale for directly modulating fast skeletal muscle contractility as a therapeutic strategy for improving physical activity in diseases in which neuromuscular function is compromised...VistaGen Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, inked a research

Exelixis Inc., of South San Francisco, said lead compound cabozantinib demonstrated that simultaneous inhibition of MET and VEGF signaling reduced tumor invasiveness and metastasis in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, said it inked a drug rescue deal with Cato BioVentures and its CRO partner, Cato Research, to collaborate on identifying, evaluating, rescuing and developing small-molecule drug candidates that were discontinued in late-stage preclinical development due to heart or liver toxicity, despite positive efficacy data

Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, a unit of the Roche Group, said the FDA accepted its biologics license application and granted priority review for pertuzumab in combination with Herceptin (trastuzumab) and docetaxel chemotherapy in HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent, unresectable breast cancer patients who have not received previous treatment or whose disease has relapsed after adjuvant therapy

Veracyte Inc., of South San Francisco, signed a deal with Paris-based Sanofi SA's Genzyme unit for the global promotion of Veracyte's Afirma Thyroid FNA Analysis diagnostic for thyroid cancer

On Jan. 4, Vernalis announced a drug discovery collaboration with South San Francisco-based Genentech Inc., a unit of Roche AG

Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, and Theravance Inc., of South San Francisco, reported that Astellas is terminating the global licensing agreement for Vibativ (telavancin) for injection, a bactericidal, once-daily lipoglycopeptide antibiotic discovered by Theravance

Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, and Theravance Inc., of South San Francisco, reported that Astellas is terminating the global licensing agreement for Vibativ (telavancin) for injection, a bactericidal, once-daily lipoglycopeptide antibiotic discovered by Theravance

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., said it signed a nonexclusive license and partial settlement agreement with South San Francisco-based Genentech Inc. (now part of the Roche Group) relating to U.S

Acumen Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, Calif., said partner Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (formerly Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck & Co. Inc.) terminated the companies' agreement to develop amyloid-derived diffusible ligand targeted antibody therapeutics and diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease

AvidBiotics Inc., of South San Francisco, published new research results in PLoS Genetics regarding mutation of DNA sequences by diversity-generating elements for the purpose of directing changes in a protein molecule

Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, started a multiyear collaboration with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in support of the MMRF's Personalized Medicine Initiative, which is designed to enable the molecular characterization of patients with multiple myeloma and advance the development of new targeted treatments

Azanta Danmark A/S, of Hellerup, Denmark, and Oxigene Inc., of South San Francisco, created an alliance to provide access to the vascular disrupting agent Zybrestat (fosbretabulin) to treat patients in Europe and Canada with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) on a compassionate use basis...Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said that Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, and Biogen Idec Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., appealed the judgment in favor of GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, in a patent

Oxigene Inc., of South San Francisco, and Azanta Danmark A/S, of Hellerup, Denmark, created an alliance to provide access to the vascular disrupting agent Zybrestat (fosbretabulin) to treat patients in Europe and Canada with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) on a compassionate use basis

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, is collaborating with Synterys Inc., of Union City, Calif., to further VistaGen's stem cell technology-based drug rescue initiatives

Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said that Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, and Biogen Idec Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., appealed the judgment in favor of GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, in a patent infringement case involving Arzerra, Genmab's anti-CD20 antibody, which is partnered with GSK and marketed in the U.S

Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, said the final minutes of its pre-new drug application (NDA) meeting for Probuphine, a subcutaneous implant formulation of buprenorphine, confirmed the previously announced regulatory path for the program