Atlas Venture plans to explore a range of opportunities with the drug developers, including co-creation of life sciences start-ups, formation of asset-centric development projects and the translation of discoveries from academic collaborations...plc, of Dublin, Ireland, published a response to an offer made by Echo Pharma Acquisition Ltd. (Royalty Pharma) on May 2

Their Life Science Venture Capital Barometer, which measures the change in share price of life science companies funded during the year compared with the share price of their previous financing round – showed an average price increase of 23 percent for 2012, in comparison to 14 percent for 2011...According to Credit Suisse analyst Ravi Mehrotra writing in a research note, "We do not think that we are in a 'biotech bubble,' given that the drivers of the biotech sector's YTD performance are very

Innate Pharma SA, of Marseille, France, reported preclinical data for two of its programs...ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., of Laval, Quebec, began trading on OTCQX International, by OTC Markets Group Inc., under the symbol PFSCF

Apricus Biosciences Inc., of San Diego, said it intends to cease financing its French subsidiaries, Finesco SAS, its French holding company, Scomedica SAS, its French sales company and NexMed Pharma SAS, its marketing company...In other news, law firm Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, of New York, said it is investigating claims on behalf of purchasers of Spectrum securities, after shares (NASDAQ:SPPI) fell as much as 38 percent on March 13 on news that the company slashed its revenue projections

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...In other news, Elan said its Tysabri (natalizumab) restructuring transaction is

Anavex Life Sciences Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, reported preclinical data showing Alzheimer's disease candidate ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrated disease-modifying effects, including an ability to repair normal mitochondrial functionality in the hippocampus...Leica Biosystems, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and Synthon Biopharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of specialty pharma firm Synthon BV, of Nijmegen, the Netherlands, inked a deal to develop and commercialize a companion diagnostic test using Leica

Isotechnika Pharma Inc., of Edmonton, Alberta, and privately held Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Victoria, British Columbia, said they signed a binding term sheet for a merger to create a clinical-stage firm focused on the global nephrology market...Under the terms, Bio-Link will work with Phylogica to monetize those assets through out-licensing or disposal of the Phylomer peptides to a pharma or biotech company...Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc., of Carmiel, Israel, said it engaged Citigroup to assist

In a flash note, she observed that, with respect to pharmacokinetics, "it's unclear whether PI3K gamma inhibition by IPI-145 has meaningful contribution to anticancer activity...OncoSec plans to use the proceeds to fund clinical trials and research and development and for other corporate purposes...The company plans to use the proceeds to fund research and development, clinical trials and for other corporate purposes.

Distribution of Prothena ordinary shares in the demerger is conditioned upon, among other conditions to the demerger, a registration statement filed with the SEC, having been declared effective by the SEC and the affirmative vote of the Elan shareholders...Galderma Pharma SA, of Lausanne, Switzerland, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., of Montreal, reached agreement on terms of a revised North American aesthetics arrangement, resolving Galderma's pending litigation related to Valeant's

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...ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., of Laval, Quebec, said it achieved the first milestone related to the

Isotechnika Pharma Inc., of Edmonton, Alberta, said a partial award has been issued in the company's ICC arbitration regarding its right to terminate the development, distribution and license agreement with Iljin Life Sciences Co

The randomized, sham-controlled, blind trial will compare C3BS-CQR-1 to a sham therapy in at least 240 patients with a primary composite endpoint of mortality, morbidity, quality of life and other measures at nine months after the procedure...LEO Pharma A/S, of Ballerup, Denmark, said the European Commission granted marketing authorization for Picato (ingenol mebutate) gel as a treatment for actinic keratosis, a skin condition that can lead to squamous cell carcinoma if not treated...Following

The contract, issued under the Russian Federation's "Pharma 2020" development initiative, provides matching funding over a period of about three years, which will be used to support preclinical and clinical studies...Early this year, Theravance's partner for Vibativ, Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, handed back full rights to the program. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 1, 2009...Viral Genetics Inc., of San Marino, Calif., changed its name to VG Life Sciences Inc

Cardiome Pharma Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said Nasdaq granted the firm's request for an additional 180 days to regain compliance with the $1 minimum bid price requirement...ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., of Laval, Quebec, reported preclinical data showing that its once-daily oral antifibrotic treatment, PBI-4050, demonstrated a significant reduction in kidney hyperfiltration, proteinuria and hepatic steatosis in an animal model used to mimic the long-term detrimental effects of diabetes

Anavex Life Sciences Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, reported new data demonstrating the ability of Anavex 2-73 to restore mitochondrial functionality, and prevent oxidative stress and apoptosis...BioAlliance Pharma SA, of Paris, said it signed a deal with Shafayab Gostar to distribute Loramyc (miconazole Lauriad mucoadhesive buccal tablet) in Iran for the treatment of oropharygeal candidiasis in immunocompromised patients

Kite Pharma Inc., of Los Angeles, entered a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National Cancer Institute for the development and commercialization of novel engineered peripheral blood autologous T-cell therapeutics for the treatment of multiple cancer indications...ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., of Laval, Quebec, said it signed two agreements, totaling C$21 million (US$21 .3 million), with Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co

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...oncology-focused company and a Top 20 pharma firm, in which MAB will deliver a number of monoclonal antibodies to partner-selected targets

Johnson & Johnson, of New Brunswick, N.J., said it plans to establish four regional innovation centers in major life sciences communities to accelerate early innovation and enhance opportunities for collaboration and investment across its global health care business

The contract is under Russia's "Pharma 2020" initiative and will provide funding over a period of about three years, which will be used to support completion of preclinical studies, filing of an investigational new drug application and Phase I and Phase II trials...ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., of Laval, Quebec, and NantPharma LLC, of Los Angeles, said they formed an affiliate biopharmaceutical firm, NantPro BioSciences LLC, to develop and commercialize a plasma-derived biopharmaceutical product for