• Benitec Ltd., of Sydney, Australia, said data published in Cancer Research showed that the BIII-tubulin protein has a key role in the pathobiology and aggressiveness of human lung cancer by influencing drug sensitivity, tumor incidence and progression. The researchers demonstrated in an animal model of human lung cancer that suppressing BIII-tubulin, a multifunctional protein involved in drug sensitivity and tumorigenesis in non-small-cell lung cancer, using Benitec's technology of DNA-directed RNAi significantly increased the sensitivity of the cancer to standard chemotherapy drugs, including DNA-damaging agents. They also found that suppressing BIII-tubulin decreased the incidence and progression of lung cancer independently of chemotherapy drugs.

• Critical Outcome Technologies Inc., of London, Ontario, said it has appointed Wayne Danter CEO effective July 1, replacing Michael Cloutier, who is stepping down to pursue a leadership role in philanthropy. Cloutier, however, will remain an active member of COTI's board and continue to play a role in advising the management team.

• Dynavax Technologies Corp., of Berkeley, Calif., reported data showing that activation of cells of the innate immune system by two key receptor, Toll-like receptor 7 and TLR9, can cause glucocorticoid resistance in lupus patients, and that resistance can be reversed by the company's TLR7/TLR9 inhibitors in human blood cells and animal models of lupus. Those data were published in the June 16, 2010, issue of Nature.

• GenVec Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said it has engaged Wells Fargo Securities LLC to conduct a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, including, but not limited to, execution of the company's operating plan, sale of its assets, partnering or other collaboration agreements, or a merger, sale or other transaction, aimed at enhancing shareholder value.

• Janssen-Cilag, of Beerse, Belgium, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, said the European Commission updated the summary of product characteristics (SmPC) for Velcade (bortezomib) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma to include the extended follow-up data on overall survival rates at three years post-treatment. The decision follows a positive recommendation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, which reviewed clinical evidence from a prospectively defined survival update of the Phase III international VISTA study, which showed a significantly improved overall survival of 68.5 percent for patients treated with Velcade plus melphalan and prednisone, compared with 54 percent of patients on melphalan and prednisone alone after three years of treatment. The study also showed a significantly higher complete response rate of 30 percent for Velcade plus melphalan and prednisone vs. 4 percent for melphalan and prednisone alone.

• ProBioGen AG, of Berlin, said Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, of Cairo, Egypt, has completed the acquisition of 95 percent of the share capital of ProBioGen for €30.4 million (US$37.4 million), which includes earn-out payments conditional on the achievement of defined milestones.

• QR Pharma Inc., of Radmor Pa., established a collaborative research agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital to conduct preclinical testing of its drug candidates for Parkinson's disease. QR's lead Alzheimer's drug, Posiphen, inhibits amyloid precursor protein synthesis and also appears to inhibit the alpha-Synuclein pathway, which is implicated in Parkinson's.

• Repros Therapeutics Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas, received notification from Nasdaq that it has not regained compliance with listing requirements. The company intends to submit its plan supporting its appeal for additional time to regain compliance.

• Thallion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Montreal, said it was notified by the Secretariat of the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration that the Arbitral Tribunal has rendered a partial award in favor of the licensor of TLN-232 (formerly CAP-232). The award stipulates that Thallion shall return all materials and information related to TLN-232 originally obtained from the licensor and also is held to be liable, in principle, for damages caused to the licensor. The firm said a decision on potential damages has been deferred to a further or final award following deliberations, expected during a second part of the proceedings, unless a settlement between the parties can be reached.