A minor note in Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s board appointment announcement set the markets speculating on a potential merger for the San Diego-based company

Araxes Pharma LLC, of San Diego, said it inked an exclusive arrangement with Janssen Biotech Inc., a unit of New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson, to develop first-in-class therapeutics against a certain cancer target...Zogenix Inc., of San Diego, said the FDA informed the firm that it is unlikely to receive an action letter for its new drug application for Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release capsules) by the PDUFA goal of March 1

Pediatrician William Nyhan, who discovered the disorder, is serving as the clinical investigator at the University of California at San Diego site

MediciNova Inc., of San Diego, said the FDA granted fast-track designation to MN-166 (ibudilast) for methamphetamine dependence

San Diego) Genentech (unit of the Roche Group; Basel, Switzerland) $187.5 Licensing deal giving Genentech exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Afraxis' compounds against a novel undisclosed target Deal includes $10M up front, plus milestones that make it potentially worth $187.5M 1/29/13 Algeta ASA (Oslo, Norway) Immunomedics Inc. (Morris Plains, N.J.) ND Agreement that requires Immunomedics to provide clinical-grade antibody, and for Algeta to fund all preclinical and

profit sharing agreement for a one-time payment of $15M from Infinity 12/27/12 Kinex Pharmaceuticals LLC (Buffalo, N.Y.) PharmaEssentia Corp. (Taiwan) ND License agreement granting PharmaEssentia exclusive rights in certain Asian territories for the dermatology preparations of Kinex's dual Src/pretubulin inhibitor, KX01 PharmaEssentia will pay Kinex an undisclosed up-front payment, as well as milestones and royalties 12/4/12 Vical Inc. (San Diego) Cyvax Inc

Other companies, such as San Diego-based Ambrx Inc

On Dec. 13, 2012, Formulation Technologies (the primary operating entity of Akela Pharma) entered into a facility lease with Alliance Diversified Holdings LLC, for a facility located in San Diego...In connection, it entered into a loan and security agreement with Biotech Investment Group LLC, relating to the funding of certain tenant improvements, relocation costs, security deposit, portions of rents related to the leased San Diego facility and certain other cash needs

San Diego-based Ambit is partnered with Astellas Pharma Inc...About the same time, the company reported updated results from an interim analysis of the Phase II of quizartinib at the American Society of Hematology in San Diego, showing the drug had activity in refractory and relapsed FLT3-ITD-positive AML when used as monotherapy

MEI Pharma Inc., of San Diego, named Christine A. White acting lead director of its board

The San Diego-based firm's lead candidate, PRX302, is designed to treat enlarged prostate more effectively without invasive surgery and the sexual side effects that sometimes comes with existing therapy

San Diego) Relday A once-monthly subcutaneous formulation of risperidone Schizophrenia Phase I data showed that adverse events were generally mild to moderate and consistent with other risperidone products 1/4/13 DIABETES Biodel Inc. (Danbury, Conn.) BIOD-238 and BIOD-250 Ultra-rapid-acting insulin analogue-based formulations Type I diabetes Phase I data from a trial in Australia showed pharmacokinetic profiles were consistent with the company's expectations, and absorption rates were

Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) OCA Obeticholic acid Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis Began a Phase II trial 1/9/13 Tobira Therapeutics Inc. (South San Francisco) Cenicriviroc An oral, once-daily CCR5/CCR2 inhibitor HIV Phase IIb data showed it met the primary objective 1/8/13 INFLAMMATORY Receptos Inc. (San Diego) RPC1063 Selective sphingosine1 phosphate 1 receptor modulator Moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis Dosed the first patient in a Phase II study 1/7/13 XOMA Corp. (Berkeley, Calif

1 months in those who received one, two or three prior lines of chemotherapy 1/25/13 CARDIOVASCULAR Adventrx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (San Diego) ANX-188 Purified poloxamer 188 Sickle cell disease Started patient recruitment in its pivotal Phase III study 1/31/13 Amarin Corp...San Diego) and VeroScience LLC (Tiverton, R.I.) Cycloset Bromocriptine mesylate tablets Type II diabetes Pivotal data showed that patient groups in the evaluable per protocol population that added Cycloset to their treatment

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, had total revenues of $13.6 million for 4Q 2012, compared to $12.9 million for 4Q 2011

Elcelyx Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego, closed a $20 million Series C financing for its product candidates New Met, for Type II diabetes, and Lovidia, a weight loss product

Santarus Inc., of San Diego, launched Uceris (budesonide) extended-release tablets in the U.S

Neurocrine Biosciences Inc., of San Diego, was issued U.S. Patent No

San Diego-based Trius Therapeutics Inc