• Ipsen SA, of Paris, reported positive top-line findings from the primary endpoint of the ELECT study assessing the effect of Somatuline Autogel/Somatuline Depot (lanreotide) Injection 120 mg in controlling symptoms in patients with neuroendocrine tumors associated with carcinoid syndrome.

LONDON – Ablynx NV signed an $840 million licensing deal with Abbvie Inc. for its ALX-0061 nanobody targeted against the cytokine interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

LONDON – Circassia Ltd. is looking for shareholders’ backing for a Phase III trial of its house dust mite allergy treatment after reporting positive results in a Phase II study, with subjects who received the most effective dose showing a significant reduction in symptoms of allergic rhinitis at one year.

LONDON – UK Members of Parliament (MPs) added their voices to the clamor for greater transparency of clinical trial results, describing the current situation as “unacceptable” and calling for the publication of clinical study reports and moves to provide controlled access to patient-level data.

Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc.’s largest shareholder, Italian pharma Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, sweetened its original bid to purchase the specialty pharma’s remaining shares, settling on $9.50 each in cash.

SHANGHAI – A joint venture between a Chinese and a Swiss company has launched Phase III trials for a botanical drug to treat inflammatory bowel disease.

Shares of Zealand Pharma A/S dropped 15.4 percent last Thursday after lixisenatide partner Sanofi SA said it decided to withdraw its new drug application (NDA) for the once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist in Type II diabetes mellitus, with plans to resubmit in 2015 after completing a cardiovascular outcomes trial.

• Alcobra Ltd., of Tel Aviv, Israel, reported preclinical results showing significant improvement in cognitive and social functioning following treatment of MG01CI (sustained-release metadoxine) in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome.

LONDON – The prospects for new drugs to treat cystic fibrosis have improved, following a project to screen thousands of genes to determine which of their protein products affects the function of a molecular sodium channel found on cell membranes.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is introducing a sweeping reorganization, which it hopes will lead to greater efficiency and effectiveness despite the budgetary constraints it is facing, as the European Union continues to battle through an economic crisis that has now lasted for half a decade.