• Acceleron Pharma Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and its collaborators presented data at the 2012 Markers in Cancer Conference in Hollywood, Fla., a joint meeting sponsored by ASCO, EORTC and the NCI, that illustrate possible new biomarkers for use in metastatic breast cancer and in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The two poster presentations described the potential role of activin A as an adverse biomarker for patients with metastatic breast cancer and of BMP9 as a biomarker for the identification and selection of patients with head and neck cancer. Acceleron is focused on developing medicines that regulate members of TGF-B superfamily of proteins, which include BMP9 and activin A. Those proteins play fundamental roles in regulating the growth and differentiation of various cell types and are involved in diseases such as cancer.

Scientists from Addex Therapeutics SA, of Geneva, will present new data from its G-protein-coupled receptors program at the Society for Neuroscience 2012 meeting Oct. 13-17. Presentations will include results showing improvement in recognition in rodent models of Alzheimer's for ADX92639, posters related to the use of dipraglurant in Parkinson's and new information about the physiological roles of mGluR7 based on studies with ADX1743, supporting its development in depression and related disorders.

• Advanced Cancer Therapeutics Inc., of Louisville, Ky., was awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research grant in the amount of $158,000 by the National Cancer Institute to support the development of an inhibitor of glycolysis targeting 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) in models of glioblastoma multiforme.

• Affitech A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, was not delisted from Danish trading as planned, but will continue on the exchange while regulators consider whether the exchange's decision to delete Affitech was a violation of the Danish Securities Trading Act.

• Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said a recent publication highlighted the discovery of the first potent inhibitors of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) that lower tumor 2-HG in vivo. The article "Discovery of the First Potent Inhibitors of Mutant IDH1 That Lower Tumor 2-HG in Vivo" was published in the October 2012 issue of American Chemical Society Medicinal Chemistry Letters. IDH1 and IDH2 are the firm's lead programs. Agios scientists reported the first inhibitors of mutant IDH1 that show good potency in a glioblastoma cell line harboring IDH1 mutation and achieve robust tumor 2-HG inhibition in the tumor xenograft model.

• ARCA Biopharma Inc., of Broomfield, Colo., published a paper in PLOS ONE showing that adrenergic receptor polymorphisms interacting with Gencaro (bucindolol hydrochloride) behaved pharmacologically determined ways when the genetic monotypes were combined. The data suggested that a subpopulation of about 45 to 50 percent of heart failure patients have responses to Gencaro that exceed other beta blockers, and a smaller subpopulation of about 10 to 15 percent where the drug was not useful.

• Argos Therapeutics Inc., of Durham, N.C., said it identified a unique immune response signature that significantly correlates with clinical outcomes associated with its Arcelis immunotherapy product candidate, AGS-003, in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Data presented at the Markers in Cancer Meeting, in Hollywood, Fla., demonstrated that a specific tumor-reactive cytotoxic T-cell subset (CD28+/CCR7+/CD45RA-phenotype) displaying a broad markers of immune function profile correlated with progression-free survival and overall survival in patients treated with AGS-003.

• Biogen Idec Inc., of Weston, Mass., and Elan Corp plc, of Dublin, Ireland, said that results of Tysabri (natalizumab) investigations will be on display on 10 posters and one platform at the 28th Congress of the European committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in Lyon, France, Oct. 10-13. Results include safety and efficacy of natalizumab from the TOP program, improvement of fatigue and quality of life from the TYNERGY trial, visual function and disease activity-free status from the AFFIRM trial, and use of JC-virus antibody testing in clinical practice. Overall, the data provided further support for the benefits of Tysabri in reducing relapse rates and slowing disease progression.

• Genesis Biopharma Inc., of Los Angeles, received meeting minutes from the FDA regarding a pre-investigational new drug application submission meeting held in August for Contego, an adoptive cellular immunotherapy using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes to treat stage IV metastatic melanoma. Genesis said the correspondence will help the company to establish a path forward for Contego.

• ImmusanT Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said a link between gluten and the immune system was visualized in research published in Immunity. Use of X-ray crystallography enabled ImmusanT scientists and collaborators from Australia and the Netherlands to visually determine how T cells interact with gluten that causes celiac disease in patients with the DQ8 susceptibility gene, providing insight into how celiac disease pathology is triggered. About half the population is genetically susceptible to celiac disease because they carry the immune response genes HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8. ImmusanT is developing a blood test and therapeutic vaccine, Nexvax2, for patients with celiac disease who carry HLA-DQ2.

• Marina Biotech Inc., of Bothell, Wash., amended its note and warrant purchase agreement from Feb. 10 for a fourth time, removing an obligation that the company pay the purchasers all sums received from the sale of surplus equipment by the companies. The purchasers are MDRNA Research Inc. and Cequent Pharmaceuticals Inc., both wholly owned subsidiaries of Marina. Under the fourth amendment to the agreement, Marina issued warrants for 1,035,715 shares of common stock, which have an exercise price of $0.28 per share, subject to adjustment. The warrants are good for five years beginning six months and one day following issuance. The stock and warrants are unregistered according to exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and rule 506 of Regulation D. Marina also agreed to issue $1.5 million shares of common stock to its landlord, Ditty Properties Ltd., contingent upon a future equity financing, merger, sale of assets, or takeover. The stock issue is additional consideration for a lease termination agreement. Marina's stock (NASDAQ:MRNA) fell 4 cents, or 11 percent, to close Thursday at 33 cents.

• Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc., of Dublin, Ohio, said it met with the FDA for guidance related to a complete response letter received on Sept. 10 for Lymphoseek (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept). The company said that the process will not entail a re-review of the full application and a majority of the requirements needed from the third-party manufacturing facilities to address certain deficiencies, which have already been completed. The receptor-targeted radiopharmaceutical, designed to identify the lymph nodes that drain from a primary tumor, has been studied in lymphatic mapping procedures performed to help stage breast cancer and melanoma.

The Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration, of Ann Arbor, Mich., received a Specialized Programs of Research Excellence grant from the National Cancer Institute in the amount of $11.5 million over five years in support of sarcoma translational research.

• Somaxon Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said its board approved a 1-for-8 reverse stock split of its common stock and a decrease in the number of authorized shares of its common stock from 100 million to 25 million shares. The reverse stock split and the decrease in the number of authorized shares of common stock were authorized by Somaxon's stockholders at a special meeting held last week. The reverse stock split became effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

• Trophos SA, of Marseille, France, received a €1 million (US$1.3 million) grant from the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche to support its Translate-MS-Repair project. The 24-month project will include a Phase Ib/IIa study of olesoxime, Trophos' lead compound, targeting neurodegeneration that underlies long-term progressive disability in multiple sclerosis.

• ValiRx plc, of London, said its sales and distribution subsidiary, ValiMedix, entered into a UK distribution agreement with First Health Products Ltd. for the distribution and sale of ValiRx's SELFCheck health screening products in the UK. The agreement, initially for a period of five years, releases the company from direct expenses or management time associated with sales and marketing of SELFCheck products in the UK. ValiRx will continue to receive royalty payments from UK sales. The move was designed to allow ValiRx to focus on core therapeutic and diagnostic activities, including the anticipated clinical development of lead compound VAL201 , an inhibitor of androgen receptor-associated Src, in hormone-dependent breast cancer.