• Celtic Pharmaceutical Holdings LP, of London, reported Phase I/II data showing that Xerecept (corticorelin acetate) is safe and can reduce or eliminate the need for steroids in pediatric patients with cerebral tumors, thus reducing or eliminating steroid-associated side effects.

Bristol Myers Squibb Co., of New York, will realize operating synergies and tax benefits in addition to gaining access to Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s GLP-1 franchise, executives said in a Monday morning conference call regarding the pharma giant's acquisition of San Diego-based Amylin and partnership agreement with AstraZeneca plc.

After Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. announced the acquisition of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. late Friday afternoon, it emerged that the deal is to be a 50-50 joint purchase with AstraZeneca plc, and that all Amylin's assets are to be placed in the Type II diabetes collaboration the two pharma companies established in January 2007.

Shares in Diamyd Medical AB dropped 30 percent Tuesday on news that its gene therapy treatment for cancer pain missed the primary endpoint in a Phase II placebo-controlled trial.

LONDON – Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline plc and president of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), hit out at austerity-driven pricing and reimbursement policies in an open letter to European heads of state delivered on Monday.

LONDON – A newly identified link between a crucial developmental signaling pathway and regulation of the enzyme telomerase could one day lead to new therapies to treat cancer and degenerative diseases.

New data from an open-label Phase II extension study prompted Ablynx NV to claim Monday that its tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitor ozoralizumab (ATN-103) was back in the game.

BOSTON – Microbial and mammalian cell lines currently dominate in the manufacturing of biologics, but novel techniques, including insect cell, plant cell and cell-free expression systems are coming through, and now are poised to present new options for companies embarking on process development.

BOSTON – The wave of consolidation that has swept through the pharmaceutical sector has reduced the number of potential buyers for a biotech at the same time as a closed initial public offering (IPO) window has made mergers and acquisitions (M&A) the only possible exit.

• Gentium SpA, of Villa Guardia, Italy, said it submitted its responses to the Day 180 list of outstanding issues received from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use regarding its application for Defibrotide to treat and prevent hepatic veno-occlusive disease in adults and children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy.