In other news, 3SBio said its special committee of independent directors has retained Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, of New York, as the committee's legal counsel...In other news, Boehringer said it started an open-label U.S...The objectives are to decrease or stabilize the number of blood-circulating CLL cells and to delay the onset of other signs of progression, such as swelling of lymph nodes, which then requires immunochemotherapy treatment

Trovagene Inc., of San Diego, said it granted Quest Diagnostics Inc., of Madison, N.J., a nonexclusive license to incorporate nucleophosmin protein into research and clinical testing services related to acute myelogenous leukemia...Vical Inc., of San Diego, inked a worldwide nonexclusive license granting Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, rights to its platform DNA immunization technology and its Vaxfectin adjuvant for use in the production of antibodies

to collaborate on a Phase III trial testing ASP0113 (TransVax), an investigational vaccine licensed from Vical Inc., of San Diego, for preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivations in transplant patients

Cadence Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, and SCR Pharmatop SA, of France, said they received a Markman claim construction ruling in district court in their ongoing patent infringement case against Paddock Laboratories Inc., Perrigo Co., Paddock Laboratories LLC, Exela Pharma Sciences LLC, Exela Pharmsci Inc

MEI Pharma Inc., of San Diego, will acquire Singapore-based S*BIO Pte Ltd.'s exclusive worldwide rights to pracinostat, an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor of interest for hematologic diseases and solid tumors...Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Mumbai, India, will acquire Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Hawthorne, N.Y., for $39.50 in cash per share paid to shareholders other than Sun Pharma and its affiliates, which currently own about 66 percent of outstanding ordinary shares and

BMS exercised its right to purchase additional shares from Amylin, allowing the pharma to complete the merger without stockholder approval

BMS exercised its right under the merger agreement to purchase additional Amylin shares at $31 each so it can complete the acquisition...The approval will allow the company to continue operations and focus on restructuring its financial obligations. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 7, 2012...Pfizer Inc., of New York, licensed the exclusive rights to Pittsburg-based Mylan Inc.'s next-generation EpiPen Injection 0.3/0.15 mg in Japan

MEI Pharma Inc., of San Diego, will acquire Singapore-based S*BIO Pte Ltd.'s exclusive worldwide rights to pracinostat, an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor of interest for hematologic diseases and solid tumors

Genzyme filed suit against Abon July 27 seeking to prevent the specialty pharma firm from commercializing the generic product prior to the expiration of U.S. Patent No...OrPro Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego, received a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance development of its lead product, ORP-100, in cystic fibrosis

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, transferred the Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) new drug application to partner Eisai Inc., of Woodcliff Lake, N.J., which establishes Eisai as the marketing authorization holder responsible for regulatory activities in the U.S...related to commercialization of the obesity drug, including pharmacovigilance requirements...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

Antisense Pharma GmbH, of Regensburg, Germany said it has been granted orphan drug designation from the FDA for its oncology antisense compound trabedersen to treat malignant melanoma...Catalent Inc., of San Diego, began supplying Abilify OD Tablets (orally disintegrating tablets) using its Zydis fast-dissolve drug delivery technology to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co...In other news from Forest, shareholder Carl Icahn and the company are continuing their battle over the leadership and direction of the firm

The change follows Shire's announcement that it planned to build a regenerative medicine campus in San Diego to expand its operational footprint and presence in the area over the next several years

The change follows Shire's announcement that it planned to build a regenerative medicine campus in San Diego to expand its operational footprint and presence in the area over the next several years. (See BioWorld Today, June 12, 2012

According to the EMA timetable, Alexza expects to receive the Day 180 list of outstanding issues in late September...to mucoadhesive product Oravig (known as Loramyc in Europe) for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in adults

Infinity also agreed to issue and sell 1.9 million shares of common stock to Purdue Pharma LP (PPLP) at $14.50 per share for aggregate proceeds of $27.5 million, giving Purdue a 28 percent stake...To date, IPI-145 has been well tolerated, and the maximum-tolerated dose has not yet been determined...Infinity expects to present data from the trial at an undisclosed medical meeting in the second half of the year

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, Calif., discontinued development of AM-831 for schizophrenia because it did not meet pre-determined criteria for further development in a Phase I trial...Under the GAIN Act, the FDA will be required to provide sponsors of qualified infectious disease products with written recommendations for nonclinical and clinical studies necessary for approval, and to review and revise, as appropriate, guidelines for conduct of trials for antibiotic drugs

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said it filed a marketing authorization application with Swiss regulators for obesity candidate lorcaserin hydrochloride, intended as an adjunct to diet and exercise for weight control in patients with an initial body mass index of 30 kg/m(2) or greater, or 27 kg/m(2) or greater in the presence of at least one related comorbid condition...to VS-6063 (formerly PF-04554878), a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor that has completed a Phase I study in advanced

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, commenced a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock in Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego...The decision to reorganize the company came one day after Canada's QLT Inc

The reimbursement applies to IPF patients with predicted forced vital capacity less than 80 percent, and the annualized list price of Esbriet in Sweden will be SEK264,075 (US$37,371) per patient per year...Marshall Edwards Inc., of San Diego, said it's changing its name to MEI Pharma Inc