Science and Nature offered their year-end roundups of the most important scientific advances of the year and the people behind them, respectively, this week. Those lists are not exclusive to biological science, nor to applied science. But there was plenty for the biopharma industry on this year’s Christmas list, starting with Science’s breakthrough of the year: cancer immunotherapy.
Genzyme, of Cambridge, Mass., a Sanofi company, said the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) for patients with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features to slow the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical relapses.
Helsinn Group, of Lugano, Switzerland, and Mundipharma Pte. Ltd., of Singapore, signed an exclusive license and distribution agreement, covering China, Hong Kong and Macao, for netupitant-palonosetron fixed-dose combination (NEPA), a Helsinn product under development for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Athersys Inc., of Cleveland, completed enrollment in a Phase II study of Multistem cell therapy for ulcerative colitis under a 2009 collaboration with Pfizer Inc., of New York.
Bowing to the inevitable, the board of Algeta ASA voted unanimously to recommend a sweetened NOK362-per-share bid from Bayer AG, which values the company at NOK17.6 billion (US$2.9 billion).
Shortly after unveiling its newest clinical candidate for infantile spasms and nephrotic syndrome, Retrophin Inc. filed for a $40 million initial public offering (IPO), with plans to move its stock to Nasdaq, trading under “RTRX.”
Taiwan Liposome Co. Ltd. (TLC), of Taipei, Taiwan, signed a collaboration agreement with Sandoz AG, an affiliate in the generics division of Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland, giving Sandoz responsibility for commercialization of Liposomal Amphotericin B in the European Union and the U.S.
Researchers have gained new insights into the autoimmune roots of narcolepsy – findings that will allow both easier diagnosis of the disorder, and “a model to understand other autoimmune disorders,” Stanford University’s Emmanuel Mignot told BioWorld Today.
Depomed Inc. boosted its pain portfolio with the purchase of Nautilus Neurosciences Inc.’s migraine drug, Cambia (diclofenac potassium for oral solution) for $48.7 million. Nautilus is eligible for an additional $5 million payment based on achievement of sales milestones. Cambia is the only single agent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory specifically indicated for migraine, with $18 million in sales over the past 3 months.
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