Ventrus Biosciences Inc. got a trim instead of a haircut and came within a hair, relatively speaking, of hitting its moderate initial public offering (IPO) target.
Partners Immunomedics Inc. and UCB SA have launched two Phase III studies of epratuzumab in patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, a chronic and potentially fatal autoimmune disease.
Cytokinetics Inc.'s shares (NASDAQ:CYTK) were down 65 cents, or 22.2 percent, to close at $2.28 Monday despite "encouraging" results in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients from a Phase IIa evidence-of-effect trial of CK-2017357, a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator and the lead drug candidate in the company's skeletal muscle contractility program.
EpiCept Corp. stock (NASDAQ:EPCT) climbed 38.6 percent, gaining 27 cents, to close at 97 cents Friday, following word from the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based company that a new analysis supported the favorable impact of Ceplene (histamine dihydrochloride) on overall survival and its activity with interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Axcan Holdings Inc. will acquire Eurand NV for $12 per share in cash, a $583 million transaction that the companies expect to close in the second quarter of 2011. (BioWorld Today)
Investors continued their unenthusiastic reaction to biotech IPOs with last week's initial public offering from Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (BioWorld Today)
