• Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Holding NV, of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, said its shares were delisted from the NYSE Euronext Nov. 16, in accordance with previous announcements. The company, which developed gene therapy Glybera (alipogene tiparovec), restructured in March due to financial difficulties and handed over its assets to privately held Amsterdam-based uniQure BV. Glybera gained official approval earlier this month. (See BioWorld Today, Nov. 5, 2012.)

• EpiVax Inc., of Providence, R.I., said it received a $55,000 grant from the GBS-CIDP Foundation International to explore using Tregitopes as an immunomodulator therapy for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a debilitating nerve condition currently treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Funds will be used to compare Tregitopes to IVIG. Tregitopes are linear sequences of peptides contained within the framework of monoclonal antibodies and immunoglobulin-G, which activate natural regulatory T cells. The latest award brings R&D funding awarded to EpiVax in 2012 to $3.4 million.

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., and Sanofi SA, of Paris, said the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion and recommended approval for Zaltrap (ziv-aflibercept) for intravenous infusion in combination with irinotecan/5-fluorouracil/folinic acid chemotherapy in adults with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that is resistant to or has progressed after an oxaliplatin-containing regimen. A decision is expected from the European Commission in the first quarter of 2013. Zaltrap gained FDA approval in mCRC in early August following a priority review. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 6, 2012.)

• Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., of Montreal, said the Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period for the firm's acquisition of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., of Scottsdale, Ariz. The merger remains subject to other conditions, including approval from Medicis' stockholders, who are expected to meet Dec. 7. The two firms entered the merger agreement in September, calling for Valeant to purchase all outstanding shares of the dermatology firm for $44 per share, putting the total value of the deal at about $2.6 billion. (See BioWorld Today, Sept. 5, 2012.)