Four months after reporting positive results from a Phase IIb trial of its endothelin A receptor antagonist, SPP301, in diabetic nephropathy, Speedel Group AG initiated a pivotal Phase III study in Type II diabetes patients. (BioWorld International)

With its Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT) program only at the preclinical stage, Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc. nailed down a potential $340 million development and commercialization deal with AstraZeneca plc, which has agreed to pay $10 million of that amount up front. (BioWorld Today)