Company** |
Product |
Description |
Indication |
Type Action (Date) |
CANCER | ||||
Aronex Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
Atragen |
Liposomal formulation of all-trans retinoic acid; induces tumor cells to differentiate into mature normal cells (injection) |
Acute promyelocytic leukemia in patients unable to take oral formulation of tretinoin |
NDA accepted for review (2/4) |
Cerus Corp. (NASDAQ:CERS) |
ACIT (allogeneic cellular immune therapy) |
Based on light-activated psoralen compound, S-59, developed to target and prevent replication of DNA and RNA |
Reduction of serious adverse immune responses related to bone marrow transplantation procedures |
Received FDA approval to start clinical trials (2/23) |
GlycoDesign Inc.* (Canada) |
GD 0039 |
Orally active small- molecule compound that inhibits key carbohydrate processing enzymes in tumor cells |
Chemoprotective agent in advanced breast cancer patients receiving combination therapy of 5-FU, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide |
Received FDA approval to start Phase I/II study in the spring of 1999 (2/18) |
IGT Pharma* (Canada) |
Anhydrovinblastine |
Analog of vinblastine (vinca alkaloid) |
Advanced solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer |
Initiated Phase I trial (2/24) |
Matrix Pharmaceutical Inc. |
FMdC |
Nucleoside analogue believed to inhibit DNA synthesis directly by incorporation into DNA strands and indirectly by blocking the action of ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme important to nucleotide formation; structure and action similar to gemcitabine |
Non-small-cell lung cancer |
Initiated Phase II trial (2/25) |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
Ontak (denileukin difitox, DAB389IL-2) |
Fusion protein consisting of a fragment of diphtheria toxin genetically fused to interleukin-2; targets IL-2 receptors on the surface of malignant cells and some normal lymphocytes, leading to the death of those cells |
Persistent or recurrent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma whose cells express the CD25 component of the IL-2 receptor |
Cleared for marketing (2/5) |
Panretin Gel |
Alitretinoin 0.1% (topical); chemically synthesized version of 9-cis-retinoic acid (derived from vitamin A) |
Treatment of dermal lesions in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma |
Cleared for marketing (2/3) |
|
The Liposome Co. Inc. |
Evacet |
Liposomal formulation of doxorubicin |
Metastatic breast cancer (combination therapy with cyclophosphamide) |
NDA accepted for filing (2/18) |
Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
Squalamine |
Synthetically produced version of a compound found in the dogfish shark; anti-angiogenic compound combines a steroid and a polymine |
Advanced cancer |
Reported interim Phase I data (2/22) |
SuperGen Inc. |
Nipent (FDA-approved) |
Pentostatin for injection; chemotherapeutic drug that inhibits adenosine deaminase (blocks DNA synthesis) |
Treatment of various mature T-cell lymphomas, particularly cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma |
Filed supplemental NDA for new indications (2/26) |
U.S. Bioscience Inc. andAlza Corp. |
Ethyol (FDA-approved) |
Amifostine; selective cytoprotective agent |
To reduce incidence and severity of radiation- induced xerostomia (dry mouth) in patients with head and neck cancer |
Supplemental NDA accepted for filing and granted priority review status (2/23) |
CARDIOVASCULAR | ||||
CytRx Corp. |
Flocor |
Purified poloxamer 188; surfactant molecule that alters the way cells and molecules interact with water |
Acute sickle cell crisis |
Reached half-way point (112 patients) in enrollment for Phase III trial |
Emisphere Technologies Inc. and Elan Corp. plc (Ireland) |
-- |
Oral formulation of heparin (anticoagulant) |
Prevention of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing surgery for hip replacement |
Phase III study launch delayed due to FDA's request for additional data, prinicipally from studies using final process material (2/25) |
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM | ||||
Vanguard Medica Group plc (U.K.) and Elan Corp. plc (Ireland) |
Miguard (frovatriptan) tablets |
5HT1B/1D agonist |
Acute treatment of migraine |
Vanguard submitted NDA (2/1) |
DIABETES | ||||
Biocontrol Technology Inc. |
Diasensor 1000 Non invasive Blood Glucose Monitor |
Individually calibrated, spectrophotometer-based system for meas-uring glucose levels |
Monitoring of blood glucose levels |
Submitted PMA Shell (2/24) |
Celtrix Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
SomatoKine |
IGF-BP3 complex; recombinant version of complex formed by insulin-like growth factor-1 and its major binding protein |
Type 1 diabetes |
Reported results of Phase IIa trial (2/25) |
Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
Locilex Cream (formerly Cytolex) |
Pexiganan acetate; topical (1% cream); broad-spectrum anti-infective; synthetic magainin (natural host-defense peptide isolated from frogs) |
Infection in diabetic foot ulcers |
Scheduled to go before FDA's Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee meeting 3/4 (2/24) |
INFECTION | ||||
Avanir Pharmaceuticals |
-- |
N-docosanol 10% cream; long-chain fatty acid that interferes with viral entry into cells |
Treatment of oral-facial herpes infections |
Meeting with FDA set for third week of March to discuss NDA and additional evidence submitted following 12/22 not approvable letter (2/8) |
Biota Holdings Ltd. (ASX:BTA; Australia) and Glaxo Wellcome plc (NYSE:GLX; U.K.) |
Relenza |
Zanamivir; neuraminidase inhibitor (designed and synthesized based on crystal structure of surface proteins of influenza virus); inhaled in powder form |
Treatment and prevention of influenza A and B |
FDA's antiviral drugs advisory committee voted against recommending approval (2/24) |
Chembio Diagnostic Systems* |
PreVue B. burgdorferi Antibody Detection Assay |
Point-of-care testfor Lyme disease bacteria (B. burgdorferi) using recombinant antigenic proteins |
Initial test for Lyme disease, to be used in conjunction with confirmatory Western Blot test |
Cleared for marketing (2/16) |
Chiron Corp. and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc. (unit of Johnson & Johnson; NYSE:J&J) |
RIBA HCV 3.0 Strip Immuno-blot Assay |
3-step test uses 5 proteins that react to hepatitis C antibodies in the blood; previous version of test used 4 proteins |
Confirmatory test for hepatitis C viral infection |
Cleared for marketing (2/12) |
Medeva plc (NYSE:MDV; U.K.) |
Hepagene |
3rd-generation recombinant vaccine that incor-porates all 3 hepatitis B virus surface antigens (pre-S1, pre-S2 and S) |
Vaccine for hepatitis B virus infection |
Submitted BLA (2/10) |
Trimeris Inc. |
T-20 |
Antiviral fusion- inhibiting compound (delivered by continuous subcutaneous infusion via pump) |
HIV infection (combination therapy with 3 other antiretroviral drugs) |
Received fast-track designation (2/4) |
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
Anika Therapeutics Inc. and Zimmer Inc. (subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb Co.; NYSE:BMY) |
Orthovisc |
High-molecular weight naturally derived form of hyaluronic acid |
Osteoarthritis of the knee |
Filed investigational device exemption for Phase III trial; FDA sent not-approv-able letter 10/98 (2/24) |
InKine Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. |
INKP-100 |
Sodium phosphate tablets |
Purgative agent for adults undergoing colonoscopic examination |
Scheduled pre-NDA meeting for early April with FDA officials (2/25) |
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) |
Vioxx (rofecoxib) |
COX-2 specific inhibitor |
Osteoarthritis and pain |
FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee to consider NDA on 4/20 (2/25) |
Ostex International Inc. |
Osteomark NTx Serum Test |
Quantitative measure of cross-linked N-telopeptides of type 1 collagen (NTx) in serum as an indicator of human bone collagen breakdown (resorption) |
Prediction of skeletal response (bone mineral density) to antiresorptive therapy and in monitoring bone resorption changes following therap |
Cleared for marketing (2/8) |
NOTES: Not all the companies represented in this chart are biotechnology firms. Large pharmaceutical companies are included from time to time when the products they are developing address overwhelmingly important diseases such as AIDS and cancer, and where biotech companies are developing competing products. ASX = Australian Stock Exchange; TSE = Toronto Stock Exchange * Private companies are indicated with an asterisk. ** Unless otherwise noted, the trading symbols for public biotechnology companies can be found by referring to the BioWorld Stock Report For Public Biotechnology Companies on pp. 16-17. |