Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, reported initial results from OBADIAH, an ongoing Phase IIa trial of obeticholic acid (OCA) as a treatment for primary bile acid diarrhea (PBAD), showing that treatment with OCA is associated with statistically significant increased levels of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) and improvement in clinical symptoms in patients with PBAD...Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., said it reached agreement with the FDA on a Phase III registration

Worlund previously headed up Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc., which went to Roche AG in a $230 million deal in 2011...and Carol Gallagher, former CEO of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals Inc., who will serve as chairman

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Marlborough, Mass., will present 18 research posters on Latuda (lurasidone HCl), an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia, at the 166th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in San Francisco

Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Suzhou, China) ND Debiopharm will support further development in China of Debio 1144 for solid tumors The companies previously inked a license agreement, and after positive preclinical data, Debiopharm decided to support further development 4/19/13 Emisphere Technologies Inc. (Roseland, N.J.) Novo Nordisk A/S (Bagsvaerd, Denmark) $10 Amended development and license agreement for oral formulations of Novo's GLP-1 receptor agonists, which have the potential of treating Type

Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Mississauga, Ontario) Tecnofarma International Ltd. (Uruguay) ND Distribution and supply agreement for exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute CIP-Tramadol ER in Latin America Cipher will receive an up-front payment and is eligible for additional milestones 4/30/13 DARA BioSciences Inc. (Raleigh, N.C.) Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy LLC ND Distribution deal for DARA's two lead products, Gelclair for patients with oral mucositis and Soltamax oral solution to

the deal includes undisclosed up-front and milestone payments, plus a potential $75M 4/23/13 Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Carlsbad, Calif.) Roche AG (Basel, Switzerland) $392 Partnership to develop therapies for Huntington's disease using Isis antisense oligonucleotide technology The companies will work together to increase brain penetration of ASOs...it also will be eligible for milestone payments and royalties 4/30/13 pSivida Corp. (Watertown, Mass.) Undisclosed global pharmaceutical company ND

She called the 17-month PFS and two full remissions in the group "pretty incredible," especially given that most relapsed/refractory CLL patients are 70 or older. 'Among the Most Important New Agents' Gilead picked up idelalisib in its 2011 acquisition of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Seattle, for $375 million cash and $225 million in potential milestones

Roche AG $595M Edison Pharmaceuticals Inc...AstraZeneca plc $420M Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc

Financings Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc...purchased an option to acquire Alvine Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s drug candidate for celiac disease or the company itself

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., called for redemption of its outstanding $400 million in 3.35 percent convertible senior subordinated notes due 2015, based on its provisional "soft call" redemption right

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said preclinical data showed that RNAi therapeutics targeting ALAS-1 (aminolevulinate synthase-1) can completely block the abnormal production of toxic intermediates of the heme biosynthesis pathway that cause the symptoms and disease pathology of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP...SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Foster City, Calif., entered an agreement with Zensun Science & Technology Co

In fact, the distinctive nature of Oncos' technology attracted Wuite – a veteran of Amgen Europe and co-founder of Araim Pharmaceuticals Inc. – to the Finnish biotech

Mylan Inc., of Pittsburgh, said its subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc...Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Jerusalem, said the FDA cleared the company's investigational new drug application for its flagship product, an oral insulin capsule called ORMD-0801 for early Type II diabetes

AltheRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Exton, Pa., named Jim Bennethum CEO, appointed Charles E. Becker board chairman and named Jeffrey O'Donnell and Anthony Zook to its new board of directors...Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., added Anne M. VanLent and Michael R. Dougherty to its board...Edimer Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., added William Aliski and Wendy L. Dixon to its board