The CHMP opinion will be forwarded to the European Commission, which will make the final decision...Tranzyme Pharma, of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said that the FDA has granted fast-track designation for the company's oral gastrointestinal prokinetic drug candidate TZP-102, for the treatment of gastroparesis in diabetic patients

Galantos Pharma GmbH, of Mainz, Germany, said it was granted funding by the German Ministry for Education and Research under the KMU-Innovativ-2 program to support work on neuroprotective drugs for Alzheimer's disease...to develop products designed to advance the study of Alzheimer's disease...Targeted Genetics Corp., of Seattle, terminated the lease for its facility in Bothell, Wash., losing about $12 million in estimated payment obligations and other liabilities under the lease in exchange for a

In other news, Compugen said it will receive grants of approximately $400,000 from the Office of the Chief Scientist of Israel to support its FPRL1 and TP programs...In other news, DeCode and academic colleagues from Iceland, the Netherlands and Denmark reported results of a study identifying a common biological mechanism that contributed to both kidney stones and decreased bone mineral density

The committee's opinion will be forwarded to the European Commission, which has 66 calendar days to act

In other news, Evotec said it will acquire the zebrafish screening operations of Summit Corp...Perindopril, used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure, the latest generation of a class of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors...UCB SA, of Brussels, Belgium, said it is seeking to acquire shares of Monheim, Germany-based Schwarz Pharma AG held by minority shareholders - representing about 0.4 percent of stock capital - through a squeeze-out

Authors of the study concluded that CK-2018509 selectively inhibits the ATPase activity of smooth muscle myosin compared to other myosin II isoforms, including nonmuscle myosin as well as cardiac and skeletal muscle myosins...Under the amended agreement, HGS and Novozymes each has the opportunity to exclusively license and/or sublicense a number of albumin fusion proteins in exchange for royalties and other consideration...No existing HGS or Novozymes products or product rights, including rights

In other news, Actelion said the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use issued a positive opinion for the pediatric formulation of bosentan (Tracleer) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH...The European Commission is expected to make a final decision within two months...Trion Pharma GmbH, of Munich, Germany, and its partners Fresenius Biotech, of Bad Homburg, Germany, and Ascenion GmbH, also of Munich, said the European Commission approved Removab (catumaxomab), a trifunctional

The European Commission is expected to make a final decision within two months...Analyst Jonas Alsenas, of Leerink Swann & Co., wrote in a research note that the move was a "necessary step to manage sparse cash resources until a partnership deal for lorcaserin can be signed...Arena reported positive Phase III data late last month, showing that lorcaserin met all three of its co-primary endpoints, but shares fell as analysts speculated that those data might not be strong enough to entice a big pharma

To that end, the firm is decreasing its Georgia work force by about 30 employees, effective immediately, which is expected, along with other efficiencies, to result in an $8 million decrease in costs this year and an annualized reduction in costs of $10 million...Trion Pharma GmbH, of Munich, Germany, and its partners Fresenius Biotech, of Bad Homburg, Germany, and Ascenion GmbH, also of Munich, said the European Commission approved Removab (catumaxomab), a trifunctional antibody, for the

Lipoxen plc, of London, said it entered an agreement with Glide Pharma, of Oxfordshire, UK, to investigate the delivery of Lipoxen's long-acting insulin, SuliXen, a conjugate of insulin with polysialic acid, using the Glide SDI needle-free delivery system...to develop reagent tool kits to isolate liver stem cells and elucidate their gene function and encoded proteins...A decision from the European Commission is expected in 60 days to 90 days, and NeurogesX said it is finalizing a European commercial

IDM Pharma Inc., of Irvine, Calif., said the European Commission granted a centralized marketing authorization application for Mepact (mifamurtide) in patients with nonmetastatic, resectable osteosarcoma...regulators to address issues raised in the 2007 nonapprovable letter. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 28, 2007

BioAlliance Pharma SA, of Paris, said it terminated a 2007 licensing agreement with SpeBio, a joint venture with Amsterdam, the Netherlands-based SpePharm Holdings BV, relating to the distribution of Loramyc, a muco-adhesive buccal tablet for treating oropharyngeal candidiasis...To further conserve capital, the firm also decided to reduce its board from seven to three directors

The committee's opinion will be forwarded to the European Commission, which will make a final decision on the authorization within 44 calendar days...La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co., of San Diego, said it is taking steps to reduce costs to preserve remaining cash and other assets following the negative results of the Riquent Phase III interim efficacy analysis

Amgen Inc., of Thousand Oaks, Calif., said the European Commission granted marketing authorization for Nplate (romiplostim) for the treatment of splenectomized adult chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura patients who are refractory to other treatments...The company said it expects to be in a position to assess the viability of pursuing other options in the second quarter

NBI has the put option to require deCode to repurchase the securities following the sale of other deCode assets, or if not previously repurchased on Dec. 31...Premacure intends to initiate a Phase II trial during the second quarter...Scolr Pharma Inc., of Bothell, Wash., said the FDA requested additional information in its review of the company's abbreviated new drug application for the decongestant pseudoephedrine

Antares Pharma Inc., of Ewing, N.J., received a milestone payment of $450,000 from BioSante Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Lincolnshire, Ill., related to an agreement with Azur Pharma, of Dublin, Ireland, for the marketing of Elestrin (estradiol gel) to treat moderate to severe hot flashes in menopausal women in the U.S. BioSante received $3.325 million on signing with Azur, of which about $1.5 million was purchased inventory

IDM Pharma Inc., of Irvine, Calif., said the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use formally adopted the positive opinion it issued last month recommending European approval of Mepact (mifamurtide) in nonmetastatic resectable osteosarcoma...Final European Commission approval is expected in the first quarter of 2009

Although the company continues to pursue its divestment strategy of selling or licensing its clinical assets C2L and goserelin, the board of directors has approved a process to explore all other strategic options available to the company to protect and enhance shareholder value...The European Commission has awarded a three year grant of nearly €6 million to support a three-year collaborative project named MitoTarget, which will investigate the efficacy and safety of Trophos compound TRO19622 in a

The blood test is designed to identify patterns of antibodies generated by the immune system in response to early stage disease, and studies have shown that the presence and amplification of those antibodies predicts lung cancer at an accuracy rate greater than that of other known methods...The new company, LEO Pharma China, will market LEO Pharma's portfolio of drugs for the treatment of psoriasis and other dermatological products...Palatin Technologies Inc., of Cranbury, N.J., said it has extended