LONDON – Midatech Ltd. is poised to move its gold nanoparticle delivery technology into Phase II after raising £10 million (US$16 million) in its first formal round, and attracting Ippon Capital SA as a new investor with a commitment of £7.6 million.

LONDON – A composite molecule that targets the two primary hormones that are released by the gut following meals can reduce weight and lower blood sugar in animal models, raising hopes of new and more effective treatments for obesity and diabetes.

• SRI International, of Menlo Park, Calif., said it was awarded a five-year contract valued up to $9.75 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct preclinical safety studies of potential new medicines to treat substance abuse.

• Cel-Sci Corp., of Vienna, Va., said a second interim review of the safety data from its open-label, randomized, Phase III study of immunotherapy candidate Multikine (leukocyte interleukin, injection) was conducted, with the independent data monitoring board recommending that the study continue unmodified.

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., posted U.S. net sales of ophthalmic drug Eylea (aflibercept) of $363 million for the third quarter, a 49 percent jump over the same period last year and topping consensus estimates of $350 million.

• Shire plc, of Dublin, reported positive top-line results from two identically designed randomized placebo-controlled Phase III studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) capsules (CII) vs. placebo in adults with binge eating disorder (BED).

• Pfizer Inc., of New York, said the FDA approved a prior approval supplement for Embeda (morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride) extended-release capsules CII.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc.’s Zerenex (ferric citrate) may be poised to become the first oral iron booster that also provides phosphorous control in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, if new top-line data from a Phase II trial hold up.

VIENNA – Astrazeneca plc’s Marc Dunoyer made his scheduled appearance at a plenary session on transformational dealmaking during day two of the BIO-Europe 2013 meeting here at the Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center.