• Astex Therapeutics Ltd., of Cambridge, UK, began Phase I trials of AZD5363, a protein kinase B inhibitor being developed for oncology applications. The multicenter study will evaluate safety, tolerability and preliminary anticancer activity of the drug in patients with advanced solid tumors. The trial will identify a dose to use for Phase II.

• Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Cambridge, UK, started dosing in a Phase I study of CNV2197944, a small-molecule state-dependent calcium channel blocker, in chronic pain. The trial is designed to test pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of single-ascending oral doses of the drug and is expected to conclude in the third quarter.

• Durect Corp., of Cupertino, Calif., said top-line results from a Phase II trial showed that Eladur (Transdur-Bupivacaine), its transdermal bupivacaine pain patch, missed the primary endpoint of demonstrating a positive treatment difference over placebo for the mean change in pain intensity scores from baseline to the mean of week 11 and week 12. Complete data analysis is ongoing. Eladur is partnered with King Pharmaceuticals Inc., now owned by New York-based Pfizer Inc.

• Verona Pharma plc, of London, began Phase II trials of its respiratory candidate, RPL554. The open-label trial will evaluate the bronchodilator effects of RPL554 in patients with COPD via measurement of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, blood pressure and electrocardiogram. RPL554 will be dosed through a nebulizer, as in previous trials.

• Zealand Pharma A/S, of Copenhagen, and Sanofi-Aventis S/A, of Paris, reported top-line results from the GetGoal-S Phase III trial of lixisenatide in Type II diabetes showing the drug achieved its primary efficacy endpoint of significant HbA1c reduction, improving glycemic control from baseline as compared to placebo, and causing a reduction in body weight. Lixisenatide is being developed as an add-on therapy for Type II diabetes patients who do not have adequate control on sulfonylureas with or without metformin. GetGoal-S was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolling 589 patients for 24 weeks of treatment.