Company* |
Product | Description |
Indication | Status (Date) |
| | ||||
AUTOIMMUNE | ||||
Active Biotech |
Laquinimod (SAIK-MS) |
Immunomodulatory substance |
Multiple sclerosis |
Presented Phase II data on 209 patients showing a statistically significant reduction in the number of active lesions (4/27) |
Centocor Inc. |
Remicade (infliximab; FDA-approved) |
Monoclonal antibody that targets and binds to tumor necrosis factor-alpha |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
European regulators issued a positive option on application to expand labeling to include early RA patients with severe, active and progressive disease; Schering-Plough Corp. has European rights (4/23) |
GW Pharma-ceuticals |
Sativex |
Cannabis-based medicinal extract product |
Multiple sclerosis |
UK regulators asked for additional information on marketing application, pushing expected action past earlier guidance of the end of the second quarter 2004 (4/30) |
CANCER | ||||
A.P. Pharma |
APF530 |
Agent combining Biochronomer delivery system with granisetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist |
Chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting |
Began Phase I trial in the UK to test safety and tolerability in 18 healthy volunteers (4/16) |
Australian Cancer |
Pentrys (formerly Pentrix) |
Vaccine designed to trigger immune response against cancer cells with mutated p53 gene |
Hormone- refractory prostate cancer |
Began Phase II trial that will include 40 patients at three sites in Australia (4/30) |
Bioenvision |
Clofarabine |
Next-generation purine nucleoside antimetabolite |
Acute myeloid leukemia |
Interim data from European Phase II trial showed complete responses in nine of 14 patients; the single- agent study is being expanded (4/21) |
MediGene AG |
Polyphenon E Ointment |
Product from green tea leaves designed to block virus binding to cells |
Aktinic keratosis |
Began Phase II trial in Germany and Switzerland to test efficacy and safety in 60 patients (4/6) |
Millennium |
Velcade (FDA-approved) |
Bortezomib; proteasome inhibitor |
Multiple myeloma |
European Commission approved the drug for treating patients who have progressed despite two prior therapies; it will be sold there by Johnson & Johnson companies (4/27) |
Oxigene Inc. |
Combretastatin A4 Prodrug |
Vascular-targeting drug designed to block flow of blood to tumor |
Anaplastic thyroid cancer |
The product gained orphan designation in Europe as a treatment for ATC (4/19) |
ProMetic Life |
PBI-1402 |
Orally active agent designed to activate neutrophils |
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects |
Began Phase I trial in Canada to assess compound in healthy volunteers (4/1) |
CARDIOVASCULAR | ||||
Forbes |
FM-VP4 |
Amphipathic analogue of phytostanols |
Cholesterol management |
European Phase II trial showed lowering of cholesterol levels by 11% compared to placebo, a statistically significant result but lower than seen by other agents (4/5); released additional data supporting decision to move drug forward (4/19) |
Sangart Inc.* |
Hemospan (MP4) |
Hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier |
Alternative to blood transfusions |
Received approval for Phase II trial in up to 90 patients at six sites in Sweden (4/12) |
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM | ||||
Pharming Group |
rhC1INH |
Recombinant human C1 inhibitor |
Hereditary angioedema |
Began pivotal Phase III trial at multiple centers in Europe (4/28) |
INFECTION | ||||
Phanuel Pursuits* |
-- |
Topical formulation designed to knock down relevant proteins |
Herpes I and II |
Phanuel plans to begin trials in India of the product licenced from CytoGenix Inc. (4/30) |
SciClone |
Zadaxin |
Synthetic preparation of thymosin alpha-1 |
Hepatitis B |
Began trial in Taiwan comparing treatment with lamivudine vs. lamivudine alone (4/14) |
Sinovac Biotech |
-- |
Vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome |
SARS |
Said World Health Organization agreed to company's Phase I trial design, and that trial would start soon (4/30) |
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
Anika |
Incert-S |
Bioabsorbable, chemically modified form of hyaluronic acid |
Adhesion and scarring after spinal surgery |
Began pilot study in 45 patients in the UK to test safety and effectiveness (4/20) |
Isotechnika |
Trans-ISA247 |
Immunosuppresive agent |
Psoriasis and renal transplantation |
Got approval in Canada for dose-finding trial in 36 subjects (4/21) |
NicOx SA |
NCX 1022 |
Nitric oxide-releasing steroid; ointment formulation |
Seborrheic dermatitis |
Phase IIa trial in 40 patients showed statistically significant improvement in clinical efficacy symptoms (4/29) |
| | ||||
Notes: | ||||
* Privately held. | ||||
Unless otherwise noted, the stock symbols listed for public companies are on the Nasdaq market. | ||||
AMEX = American Stock Exchange; ASX = Australian Stock Exchange; FSE = Frankfurt Stock Exchange; LSE = London Stock Exchange; OTC BB = Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board; SSE = Stockholm Stock Exchange; TSE = Toronto Stock Exchange. | ||||
