Monday, May 21, 2012

Peregrine Shares Rise on Bavituximab Phase IIb Data in NSCLC

Shares of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM) jumped more than 30 percent at the opening bell before settling back to a 15 percent gain at midday on positive top-line results from the company’s randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase IIb trial evaluating two dose levels of bavituximab plus docetaxel compared to docetaxel plus placebo in patients with second-line non-small-cell lung cancer. Data from the initial indication for Peregrine’s lead compound indicated a doubling in overall response rates – the primary endpoint – with an improvement in a secondary endpoint of progression-free survival in both bavituximab-containing arms. The company said median overall survival – a data point typically targeted by the FDA – has not yet been reached in the study.

Active Biotech Shares Climb on Ipsen Milestone

Shares in Active Biotech AB climbed more than 12 percent on news that the company earned a €10 million milestone payment from its partner, Ipsen SA, after reaching the half-way point in recruitment onto a 1,200-patient, Phase III registration trial of tasquinimod in metastatic prostate cancer. Lund, Sweden-based Active Biotech said it expects topline data from the study by the end of 2014 and a regulatory filing, based on a progression-free survival primary endpoint, could follow in 2015.

Collectively, ‘Rare’ Disease Variants are, in Fact, Common

By sequencing extremely large numbers of people, two studies published last week add to the growing realization that the genetic component of common diseases comes in the form of many rare genetic  variants, rather than a few common ones.

NewCo News: Orphagen Seeks Ligands for Orphan Nuclear Receptors

Orphagen Pharmaceuticals Inc. knows its orphan nuclear receptor programs are too early stage for most venture capitalists. In fact, they’re too early even for most academics, CEO Scott Thacher told BioWorld Today. “If you want to get a publication in two years and you’re having trouble screening, you’re going to drop it,” Thacher said. “We went much earlier in the pipeline than is socially acceptable.”

Also in the News

Achillion, AltheRx, Amgen, Apricus Biosciences, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, BioDelivery Sciences, Cerecor, China Nuokang Bio-Pharmaceutical, ElexoPharm, Emergent BioSolutions, GlaxoSmithKline, iPierian, Ipsen, Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Neuroptis Biotech, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Nymox, Opexa Therapeutics, Provence Technologies, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Tengion, Xiangxue Pharmaceuticals