• Algonomics, of Gent, Belgium, received €900,000 (US$1.2 million) research funding from the Flemish Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology. Under the research program, Algonomics will collaborate with research groups at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. The two-year funding will support further development of Algonomics' Epibase platform for predictive immunogenicity of biotherapeutics.

• Curis Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., presented preclinical data for CU-903 at a Keystone Symposia event in Olympic Valley, Calif. Curis scientists have combined PI3K and HDAC inhibitory activities into a single small molecule, CU-903. The preclinical data showed that the combination is synergistic and can provide the molecule with the potential to overcome the limitations in the treatment of heterogeneous and drug-resistant tumors with conventional single-target PI3K inhibitors. Curis expects to file an investigational new drug application for a single-targeted drug candidate, CUDC-305, in the middle of this year.

• Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said partner Wyeth, of Madison, N.J., received European approval of Conbriza (bazedoxifene), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, in postmenopausal osteoporosis in women at increased risk of fracture. The approval triggered a $550,000 milestone payment to Ligand, which also is entitled to receive royalties on net product sales from Wyeth. The Conbriza marketing application was submitted to European regulators in September 2007. The drug, which is designed specifically to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures while also protecting breast and uterine tissue, is under review in the U.S.

• Santaris Pharma A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said it completed delivery of six cancer target drug candidates to collaboration partner Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bridgewater, N.J., as part of the companies' 2006 agreement. The potential $200 million-plus deal granted Enzon rights to two preclinical LNA-based drug candidates from Santaris, with the Danish firm expected to generate six more LNAs to oncology targets specified by Enzon. (See BioWorld Today, July 28, 2006.)

• Spherix Inc., of Bethesda, Md., said it was notified by Nasdaq that the company was out of compliance with the independent director rule. The company has until April 13, 2010, to regain compliance.

• Theravance Inc., of South San Francisco, Calif., said the FDA has accepted as complete for review the company's response to the agency's February 2009 complete response letter, which outlined requirements for approval of telavancin for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections. The FDA assigned a target action date of Sept. 16.