Chelsea also plans to initiate a clinical trial in the fourth quarter, given the potential need to verify Northera's durability of effect in a postmarketing study...18 to close at $1.94, with more than 31 million shares changing hands. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 6, 2012...Proteologics Ltd., of Rehovot, Israel, and Newcastle Innovation Ltd., the technology transfer company of the University of Newcastle, Australia, entered an exclusive license agreement to develop and commercialize therapeutics for

Ltd., of Seoul, South Korea, entered an agreement to develop and commercialize multiple pre-specified and undisclosed biosimilar candidates...and Europe to extend the marketing authorization for Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis and for active axial spondyloarthritis

At all doses tested, ALX-0061 was well tolerated and the safety profile compared favorably to data reported for other biological DMARDs...To date, almost 50 percent of planned patients have been enrolled in about 30 European centers...In both studies the JE vaccine was shown to be highly immunogenic in children/adolescents age 2 months to younger than 18 years with a safety profile comparable to pediatric vaccines licensed for other diseases

The approval was based on a liver transplant study showing that Zortress plus reduced tacrolimus led to comparable efficacy and 10mL/min higher renal function as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate for Zortress compared to standard tacrolimus at 12 months

NeurOp is working with Emory to accelerated N-methyl D-aspartate, or NMDA, receptor research in the three-year collaboration...and six other countries under an expanded access program...co-promotion rights for Kineret (anakinra) to Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bridgewater, N.J. Under the agreement, Sobi will remain responsible for all commercial drug manufacturing, supply, safety and regulatory activities involving Kineret, which is indicated in the U.S

In a pipeline update, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said that it is developing three biosimilar products under its collaboration with Baxter International Inc., of Deerfield, Ill. M923 and M834 are targeted to autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, and M511 is a monoclonal antibody in development for oncology...The company plans to submit an investigational new drug application in 2014 for M923 and may generate a license or milestone payment for M511 and M834 next year

patents relating to Exalgo to sell Actavis' 32-mg product beginning May 15, 2014...16 to $2 per share but did not change previously reported non-GAAP results. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 22, 2008, and March 10, 2009

Breckenridge launched its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) prior to patent expiration pursuant to a settlement of patent litigation with Osaka, Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical Co...and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc., which granted Breckenridge and Synthon a license to applicable patents to sell and distribute its ANDA

Pursuant to the terms, each of the company's ordinary shares, including shares represented by American depositary shares (ADS), will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive $2.20 in each per share, or $15.40 per ADS...Due to the oversubscription, the closing unit price was set at NIS3.544 per unit

According to a joint statement from the two companies the amendment was executed primarily to provide EpiCept with cost-effective operating capital while the merger closing process continues. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 28, 2012...In both studies the JE vaccine was shown to be highly immunogenic in children/adolescents ages 2 months to younger than 18 years with a safety profile comparable to pediatric vaccines licensed for other diseases

Reddy expects to settle the offer on Feb. 13, to acquire the remaining shares of OctoPlus under the same terms during a post-closing acceptance period and to terminate the company's listing (Euronext Amsterdam:OCTO

Celgene expects Revlimid to be available to patients late in the second quarter of 2013...Teva opted to make a one-time payment of $880,000 in lieu of future payments

The complaint alleges that Daiichi Sankyo pays female sales employees less than male employees for performing the same work, promotes or advances female sales employees at a slower rate than male sales employees, treats pregnant employees and working mothers of young children adversely compared to other employees and subjects women to other discriminatory terms and conditions of employment

That drug is designed to treat acute myeloid leukemia, with potential applications in other hematological and solid tumors...Tranzyme Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said its board decided to explore and evaluate strategic alternatives, including the possibility of a merger, sale or other form of business combination, or other transaction to maximize value to its stockholders

As part of the settlement, Shire will make a one-time cash payment to Impax of $48 million, which was recorded as a liability on Dec. 31, 2012...Inc., of Woodcliff Lake, N.J., over an abbreviated new drug application filed by Anchen for a generic version of Amitiza (lubiprostone) oral capsules claiming infringement of six patents due to expire between 2020 and 2027...Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Yakum, Israel, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Mumbai, India, agreed to terminate

to purchase up to 1.5 million shares, or about 0.77 percent, of outstanding Alexion common stock at $90.50 per share...The companies partnered last year in a potential $200 million deal giving Avanir worldwide rights to AVP-786 and other deuterium-modified dextromethorphan compounds. (See BioWorld Today, March 1, 2012...Dyax Corp., of Burlington, Mass., and CVie Therapeutics, of Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd., entered a deal to develop and commercialize Dyax's Kalbitor

GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, said it submitted a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for trametinib (ME) as a monotherapy and in combination with dabrafenib (BRAF) for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600 mutation...Ipsen SA, of Paris, and Braintree Laboratories Inc., of Braintree, Mass., said that Eziclen/Izinova (BLI-800) completed the European decentralized registration procedure, giving member states 30 days

Ltd., of South Korea, so that, upon successful completion of the merger, the combined firm will re-acquire full rights to voclosporin for autoimmune indications including lupus, and transplantation in the U.S., Europe and other regions of the world outside of Canada, Israel, South Africa, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong...Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc., of Carmiel, Israel, said it engaged Citigroup to assist it in reviewing product partnering, technology sharing and other strategic alternatives...In

The transaction is subject to approval by Covidien's board, and the separation is expected to be complete at the end of the second quarter of 2013...The FDA granted orphan drug designation to the product for retinitis pigmentosa