• Almirall SA, of Barcelona, Spain, formed a three-year research alliance with BioFocus, a division of Galapagos NV, of Mechelen, Belgium, to deliver drug development candidates directed to a respiratory target of interest to Almirall. Under terms of the collaboration, BioFocus will apply its integrated drug discovery capabilities while Almirall will offer respiratory expertise. Specific terms were not disclosed, but the companies said the collaboration could result in payments to BioFocus of up to €7.5 million (US$9.7 million).

• Genta Inc., of Berkeley Heights, N.J., said the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority denied its request for a reverse stock split. The company is evaluating its alternatives.

• Heptares Therapeutics Ltd., of Welwyn Garden City, UK, reported what it called the first use of structure-based design to discover a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-targeted drug candidate. In the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, company scientists described how they identified antagonists to the adenosine A2A receptor using stabilized receptors and a virtual screening approach. The second paper in the journal described the structure-based optimization of one of those series, which led to a preclinical candidate showing – by X-ray crystallography of receptor-ligand complexes – that the compounds bind in a novel mode deep in the orthosteric pocket. The atom-efficient design results in leads with good pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug properties, according to the authors. The inhibition of the A2A receptor has been proven effective in treating symptoms of Parkinson's disease and may offer benefits in other central nervous system diseases, according to Heptares. Among others, the company is partnered in a $106.3 million schizophrenia deal with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, and a $200 million deal with Novartis Option Fund to generate leads against an unspecified target of interest to parent company Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland. (See BioWorld Today, Oct. 13, 2009, and Apr. 12, 2011.)

• LEO Pharma AS, of Ballerup, Denmark, said the FDA approved Picato (ingenol mebutate) gel (0.015 percent, 0.05 percent) for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis, a precancerous condition caused by cumulative sun exposure that has the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma.

• Neurocrine Biosciences Inc., of San Diego, said its VMAT2 inhibitor candidate, NBI-98854, was granted fast-track designation by the FDA in neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia. NBI-98854 is designed to modulate dopamine release during nerve communication with minimal impact on the other monoamines, reducing the likelihood of off-target side effects. The compound may be effective in disorders such as Huntington's chorea, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome and tardive dystonia. Last week, the company priced a public offering, seeking to raise $77 million. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 20, 2012.)

• Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., published preclinical results in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry showing that RX-5902, a molecule designed to bind to and dysregulate p68 RNA helicase, exhibited desirable pharmacokinetic properties and anticancer activity as an oral product. The company expects to file an investigational new drug application in the second quarter.

• Rhenovia Pharma SAS, of Mulhouse, France, said its first international subsidiary, Rhenovia Inc., was incorporated in Delaware and based in Cambridge, Mass. The company said the U.S. expansion places it closer to large pharma and biotech clients and academic research partners, enabling greater use of its biosimulation technology to accelerate the development of therapies for central and peripheral nervous system diseases.

• Sinovac Biotech Ltd., of Beijing, said it received a letter from Nasdaq stating that the firm no longer complies with an audit committee requirement calling for at least three independent members. The company has a cure period until the earlier of its next annual shareholders meeting or Jan. 4, 2013, to regain compliance.

• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Henderson, Nev., said it agreed to acquire ex-U.S. rights to Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan) injection from Leverkusen, Germany-based Bayer AG. Financial terms were not disclosed. Spectrum said it will use a combination of company resources and partnerships to support the product outside the U.S. Zevalin is approved for treating follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

• XenoPort Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., said in an 8-K filing that it provided notice of dispute and notice of breach and termination to London-based GlaxoSmithKline plc, pursuant to the companies' 2010 agreement to develop and commercialize Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) in moderate to severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). XenoPort has charged GSK with breaching its contractual obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to "maximize the sales of Horizant in an expeditious manner and achieve the sales milestones set forth in the agreement." Under the terms of the deal, XenoPort would have the right to terminate the agreement in the event that GSK has materially breached or defaulted in the performance of its obligations. GSK has 90 days to address the issue. Horizant gained approval in RLS last year. (See BioWorld Today, April 8, 2011.)

• Zogenix Inc., of San Diego, and R&D organization Battelle, of Columbus, Ohio, agreed to collaborate to advance the development and commercialization of Zogenix's DosePro drug delivery technology outside of Zogenix's core therapeutic focus areas. The companies signed a letter of intent for an exclusive co-marketing and technology development option agreement, under which they would offer the DosePro technology to pharma and biotech firms for use with innovative drugs and for life cycle management of marketed drugs and biologics. Financial terms were not disclosed.