Celgene Corp., of Summit, N.J., and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, said they established a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of a combination regimen of BMS's investigational PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo (nivolumab), and Celgene's Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound), in a phase I study. Multiple tumor types will be explored in the study including HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, which is expected to begin in the fourth quarter, will be conducted by Celgene. Patients with HER2-negative breast cancer will be treated with Abraxane and Opdivo, while patients with NSCLC will be treated with the combination of Abraxane, carboplatin and Opdivo, and patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma will be treated with Abraxane, gemcitabine and Opdivo. Additional details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

Clinigen Group, of Burton-on-Trent, UK, said it acquired global rights to oncology support therapy Ethyol (amifostine), a cytoprotective drug indicated as an adjuvant therapy to reduce the incidence of xerostemia in patients undergoing postoperative radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, from London-based Astrazeneca plc. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.., of Mumbai, India, disclosed the discovery and initiation of investigational new drug application-enabling studies for GBR 1302, a HER2xCD3 bispecific antibody based on Glenmark's BEAT (Bispecific Engagement by Antibodies based on the T cell receptor) antibody technology platform. Glenmark expects to obtain approval for the initiation of clinical studies during this financial year.

Marina Biotech Inc., of Boston, said it has become current with respect to its obligation to file reports with the SEC. In addition, the company, which CEO J. Michael French said is "solidly on a turnaround path," is advancing its nucleic acid drug discovery platform to refocus research and developments efforts on expanding its clinical pipeline with the addition of two orphan disease programs. Shares of Marina (NASDAQ:MRNA) gained 22 cents, or 34 percent, to close Wednesday at 85 cents.

Nuvilex Inc., of Silver Spring, Md., said studies are under way at Translational Drug Development's (TD2) facilities in Scottsdale, Ariz., to determine if Nuvilex's cancer treatment can slow the accumulation of fluid, known as "malignant ascites," in the abdomen that is characteristic of the growth of many abdominal tumors. In the studies being conducted by TD2, mice that have no immune system, and thus cannot reject foreign tissue from other species, will be injected with human ovarian cancer cells and randomized into four groups: Nuvilex's pancreatic cancer treatment consisting of the combination of Cell-in-a-Box encapsulated live cells and the cancer prodrug ifosfamide; an undisclosed drug normally used to treat ovarian cancer; the ovarian cancer drug plus Nuvilex's Cell-in-a-Box encapsulated live cells and ifosfamide combination; and a control group. The mice will be followed until humane endpoints have been reached.

Orexo AB, of Uppsala, Sweden, said it identified 15 positions as redundant in its Swedish facility as part of a restructuring move aimed at enhancing its commercial focus, agility and operating efficiency. The firm also decided to place all manufacturing of opioid dependence drug Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual tablets in the hands of U.S. partners.

Pozen Inc., of Chapel Hill, N.C., said all rights to migraine drug Treximet (sumatriptan/naproxen sodium) belonging to London-based Glaxosmithkline plc have been acquired by Pernix Therapeutics Holdings Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas. The previously announced transaction was contingent upon Pernix securing financing, which is now complete. Pernix will continue certain of GSK's ongoing development activities and undertake certain new activities, for which Pozen will provide reasonable assistance.

Stemedica International SA, of Epalinges, Switzerland, a subsidiary of Stemedica Cell Technologies Inc., reported results from a preclinical study testing intravenous administration of allogeneic, human, ischemia-tolerant mesenchymal stem cells (itMSCs) in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, showing a greater than 30 percent decrease in amyloid beta plaques in the brain of transgenic animals receiving Stemedica's itMSCs compared to the control group treated with lactated Ringer's solution. Those data stemmed from a two-year research project supported by a grant from the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation.

Tesaro Inc., of Waltham, Mass., is collaborating with nonprofit organization Paradigm, which will use its molecular capabilities to characterize patient tissue samples from clinical trials to better predict which patients may be sensitive or resistant to Tesaro's TSR-011, an oral inhibitor of ALK and TRK in development for solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer. Terms were not disclosed.