NeoStem Inc., of New York, said it was awarded the second year of a two-year grant totaling $595,252 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the development of human, autologous, pluripotent very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells as a countermeasure to radiation threats...In other news, SCT closed its previously announced private placement for gross proceeds of C$3.2 million (US$3.1 million

Beyond Pfizer, other big pharma firms also could be interested...The Gyrase B program has been funded largely under a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases contract, though a portion of proceeds from the public offering are expected to advance the compounds in investigational new drug application-enabling efforts this year...In other financings news

The Merck expansion grants the big pharma further access to Adimab's technology to discover and optimize fully human antibody candidates, including potentially bispecific antibody candidates, across all disease areas...Altravax Inc., of Fargo, N.D., said it received two Advanced Technology Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for research on vaccines to prevent infection by dengue virus and to treat chronic hepatitis B. In recent

Apexigen Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., signed a manufacturing supply agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, of Ingelheim, Germany, under which the big pharma firm will provide cell line development with the high expression BI-HEX system, full process and method development, scale-up and clinical Phase I supply for APX005, a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to target CD40 for treating cancer...iBio Inc., of Newark, Del., said the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded

Akela Pharma Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said it applied for voluntary delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange, citing an inability to maintain the continuous listing requirements...Its expenses related to the terminations will be $280,000 in the fourth quarter

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Genzyme Corp., a unit of Sanofi SA, both of Cambridge, Mass., formed an alliance to develop and commercialize RNAi therapeutics targeting transthyretin for the treatment of transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR) in Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries...PTC Therapeutics Inc., of Plainfield, N.J., received a $1 million grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to discover antiviral agents for the treatment of dengue fever, a

Horizon Pharma Inc., of Deerfield, Ill., said it expanded its sales force from 80 to 150 representatives to facilitate increased reach and frequency of calls on physicians for its lead product, Duexis (ibuprofen and famotidine), which is indicated for the relief of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and to decrease the risk of developing upper gastrointestinal ulcers

Curadev Pharma Private Ltd., of New Delhi, India, triggered a milestone payment from Endo Health Solutions, of Newark, Del., by advancing its oncology program to the next stage of development...Those include a $600,000 Small Business Innovation Research Phase 1 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to assess KL4 surfactant's ability to mitigate acute radiation to the lung...oncology-focused company and a Top 20 pharma firm, in which MAB will deliver a number of

The news sent shares (NASDAQ:PSTI) down 15 percent Thursday, though they stabilized somewhat Friday, closing at $3.83, down 2 cents...In addition to the CLI and IC indications, the company has said it plans to move into Phase II testing of PLX cells in Buerger's disease and muscle injury...And in July, the firm was invited by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to submit PLX cells for evaluation in models of acute radiation syndrome

And in July, the firm was invited by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to submit PLX cells for evaluation in models of acute radiation syndrome...Valeant also said it intends, subject to market and other conditions, to raise about $500 million of unsecured debt for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions. (See BioWorld Today, Sept. 5, 2012.)

The $14.2 million award is for studies to be performed in the Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program for HIV Topical Microbicides, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

In other news, Almirall and Quintiles Transnational Corp., of Durham, N.C., entered a long-term strategic partnership to promote Almirall's respiratory portfolio in the UK, strengthening the companies' existing relationship...In other news, Eisai published results from a pivotal Phase III study (Study 304) of Fycompa (perampanel), for partial-onset seizures, in subjects 12 and older showing that once-daily perampanel 8 mg or 12 mg improved seizure control, and that both doses were safe and well

OPKO plans to commercialize a serum test based on four of the markers that provided a diagnostic sensitivity of 90 percent and a diagnostic specificity of 100 percent to distinguish NMO patients from those with multiple sclerosis or other disorders that may require different treatment regimes...Soligenix Inc., of Princeton, N.J., received a $600,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to support additional preclinical development

With other developmental, regulatory and launch milestone payments, the collaboration could be worth up to $100 million for Rigel, which also would be eligible for tiered royalty payments...Galaxy has engaged Geller Biopharm to seek a new pharma partner that will be committed to completing the drug's clinical development...Oncomatrix plans to work with scientists from Case Western Reserve University and other research centers in Europe and the U.S

Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) agreed to collaborate on drug discovery research for leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and sleeping sickness...In other news, Boehringer and Eli Lilly and Co., of Indianapolis, presented results from two Phase II studies of their investigational basal insulin analogue LY2605541 at the American Diabetes Association meeting in Philadelphia...Erytech Pharma, of Lyon, France, said the European Committee for Orphan Medicinal

Bavarian Nordic A/S, of Kvistgaard, Denmark, received a $17.9 million five-year contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to support development of candidate vaccine technologies to combat the intentional release of pathogens considered a threat to public health...Zealand Pharma A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, signed a collaboration agreement with Protagonist Therapeutics Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., to develop disulfide-rich peptides (DRP) for nondisclosed disease areas

In the experiments, binding of AllerR peptides to IgE antibodies of allergic patients remained undetectable, and for mice pre-sensitized to ragweed pollen, there was no anaphylaxis-like response...LEO Pharma, of Ballerup, Denmark, initiated a global search for new partners in dermatology, following its shift in R&D focus last year...Nephropathic cystinosis, an orphan disease, is estimated to effect a population of 2,000 patients worldwide, including 500 patients in the U.S

BioAlliance Pharma SA, of Paris, inked an exclusive license agreement for Sitavig (acyclovir Lauriad) with Abic Marketing Ltd., a subsidiary of Jerusalem-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd...Erytech Pharma, of Lyon, France, said the European Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products adopted a positive opinion to grant orphan designation to Enhoxy, human erythrocytes encapsulating inositol hexaphosphate, for sickle cell disease

Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, entered a second partnership with Drais Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bridgewater, N.J., to develop and commercialize ASP7147, for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea...Financial terms call for the big pharma firm to make a $25 million up-front payment to Chatham and additional payments could come over the next several years based on certain development and commercial milestones...In other news, HGSI submitted an investigational new drug application with the FDA for a