Auven Therapeutics Management LLLP, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. and Bellus Health Inc., of Laval, Quebec, have hired Lazard Capital Markets LLC to explore the sale of Kiacta (eprodisate disodium), an experimental drug in phase III development for the treatment of AA amyloidosis. As the company nears completion of a confirmatory phase III trial for Kiacta, Auven and Bellus amended the asset purchase and license agreement related to Kiacta (eprodisate disodium) in order to facilitate a potential sale of the drug.

Eleven Biotherapeutics Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., reported data for two of its protein therapeutics, demonstrating the role of cytokine biology to target both front and back-of-eye diseases at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2014 annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Eleven's lead candidate, EBI-005, demonstrated improvements in signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, including reduction in ocular pain and artificial tear use. Preclinical data on EBI-029, demonstrated that the drug potently inhibits IL-6 signaling in vitro, suggesting it could offer an alternative to the current standard of care, including anti-VEGF therapies.

Endo International plc, of Dublin, said it has settled agreements to repurchase about $240 million of its 1.75 percent convertible senior notes and a proportional amount of the related warrants to reduce the dilutive effect of the securities.

GW Pharmaceuticals plc, of London, received confirmation from the FDA that its investigational new drug application is now open for Epidiolex, cannabidiol medicine, in the treatment of Dravet syndrome, a rare and catastrophic treatment-resistant form of childhood epilepsy. GW expects to commence a phase II/III trial in the second half of this year.

Mimedx Group Inc., of Marietta, Ga., said two of its peer-reviewed scientific studies have been published in the scientific literature, one on angiogenesis in Vascular Cell and another titled, "Properties of Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Composite Grafts: Implications for Wound Repair and Soft Tissue Regeneration" in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials. In the angiogenesis Study, Mimedx Purion processed dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane tissue allografts were evaluated for properties to support wound angiogenesis. In the bioactivity study, Mimedx dHACM tissue allografts were analyzed for the effectiveness of the Purion process in retaining composition of the amniotic membrane and preserving bioactivity in the resulting products.

Oxford Biotherapeutics Ltd., of Oxford, UK, obtained the exclusive global rights to certain Xenomouse antibodies generated by Amgen Inc., of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and to Waltham, Mass.-based Immunogen Inc.'s maytansinoid antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology for an undisclosed target. The rights were granted under the existing strategic collaboration between Oxford Biotherapeutics and Amgen. Oxford intends to use the antibodies and ADC technology to develop a novel ADC targeting a protein in HER2-negative breast cancer, initially focusing on triple negative breast cancer, and other cancers, where the target is expressed. The target was identified using the company's OGAP discovery technology.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., submitted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to the FDA for a nerve-block indication for Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension). The sNDA is based on positive data from a phase III study assessing the safety and efficacy of Exparel in femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty, and will include safety data from a phase III study of Exparel used to perform an intercostal nerve block for thoracotomy. The product now is indicated for single-dose infiltration into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia.