• ACT Biotech Inc., of San Francisco, published a new study showing telatinib has biological activity. The drug has potential for a number of cancers including stomach, colon, ovarian, kidney, sarcoma and neuroendocrine. The study was published in Vascular Cell.

• The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority awarded its first two contracts for advanced development of drugs to treat gastrointestinal tract injuries associated with acute radiation syndrome. Apogee Biotechnology Corp., of Hummelstown, Pa., was awarded a two-year, $2 million contract to conduct preliminary studies of ABC294640, a sphingosine kinase inhibitor. Avaxia Biologics Inc., of Wayland, Mass., received a two-year, $2.9 million contract to support preliminary efficacy studies for AVX-470, which inhibits the effects of a tumor necrosis factor that increases inflammation.

• Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said partner Merck and Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J., submitted a marketing authorization application with the European Medicines Agency for ridaforolimus, an investigational mTOR inhibitor for treatment of patients with metastatic sarcomas.

• CytRx Corp., of Los Angeles, said it achieved complete remissions in ovarian tumors treated with INNO-206 with doxorubicin in an animal model of ovarian cancer. Either drug given alone caused significant body weight loss, but the combination of both drugs at low doses produced less weight loss. INNO-206 is an albumin-binding prodrug of doxorubicin.

• Femta Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, submitted an investigational new drug application to the FDA to initiate clinical development of FM101, a high-affinity, humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The company said preclinical studies have shown FM101 is effective in inhibiting interleukin-6 in a number of in vitro and in vivo models.

• Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said the FDA granted orphan drug status to its MM-398 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. MM-398 is a nanotherapeutic encapsulation of the chemotherapy drug irinotecan.

• Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc., of Carmiel, Israel, submitted a reply to a complete response letter issued by the FDA in February, regarding its new drug application for taliglucerase alfa, for Gaucher's disease. The company said it has addressed the FDA's concerns including a request for clinical data from a switchover trial and long-term extension trial, and information regarding chemistry, manufacturing and controls. It expects the FDA to assign a new PDUFA date within about two weeks.

• Stealth Peptides Inc., of Boston, reported it presented data from animal studies of lead candidate Bendavia, for treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction including ischemia reperfusion and microvascular injuries, during the 2011 American Heart Association's Cardiovascular Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. The company said the animal models for interventional procedures demonstrated Bendavia's beneficial biologic effects and confirmed the significance of its mechanism of action, which preserves mitochondrial function under pathological conditions, for ischemia reperfusion and microvascular injuries.

• The FDA approved a subcutaneous formulation of Orencia (abatacept), by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, for rheumatoid arthritis. The drug will be used either alone or with other antirheumatic drugs, except for antagonists of tumor necrosis factor or biologic therapy like anakinra.

• Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., announced an exclusive license agreement for the commercialization in Argentina of schizophrenia drug Fanapt (iloperidone) with Argentina-based Biotoscana Farma SA, a wholly owned affiliate of Biotoscana International, of Bogota, Colombia. Vanda said that Biotoscana will seek regulatory approval and promote Fanapt to psychiatrists in Argentina.