Four years after its launch and two years after the company quietly secured a $27 million Series A round, Ra Pharmaceuticals Inc. revealed hereditary angioedema (HAE) as the initial target for its cyclomimetics – peptide-like molecules that incorporate non-natural amino acids.

Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc., which has taken some interesting turns on the road to building a portfolio of hospital and respiratory products, expanded its acute care franchise with an agreement to acquire EKR Therapeutics Inc., which specializes in drugs used in the critical care setting.

Pharma giant Abbott plunked down $110 million in cash last week to acquire AP214, a first-in-class alpha-MSH peptide derivative designed to prevent acute kidney injury (AKI) during major cardiac surgery in patients at increased risk, from privately held Action Pharma A/S, of Aarhus, Denmark.

Last week, the FDA increased the options available in Type I Gaucher disease by approving Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa), a recombinant version of the hydrolytic human lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. The compound was discovered by Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc., which is partnered with Pfizer Inc. on development and commercialization outside Israel.

Pharma giant Abbott plunked down $110 million in cash to acquire AP214, a first-in-class alpha-MSH peptide derivative designed to prevent acute kidney injury (AKI) during major cardiac surgery in patients at increased risk, from privately held Action Pharma A/S, of Aarhus, Denmark.

Late Tuesday, the FDA increased the options available in Type I Gaucher disease by approving Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa), a recombinant version of the hydrolytic human lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. The compound was discovered by Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc., which is partnered with Pfizer Inc. on development and commercialization outside Israel.

Compared to foreign entities, the U.S. already has lost its leadership position in technology transfer in terms of overall patent applications and patents issued by the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Moreover, the U.S. return on research expenditure is declining by 10 percent annually, signaling an important call to action.

Biogen Idec Inc. added 1,900 Tysabri (natalizumab) patients during the first three months of 2012, increasing revenues from the multiple sclerosis drug by 14 percent year over year to $286 million, on global in-market sales of $399 million.

Repligen Corp. delivered another disappointment Thursday, disclosing that the FDA canceled the advisory committee meeting scheduled for May 31 to review pancreatic imaging candidate RG1068. The company expects to receive a complete response letter requesting additional clinical data to support its new drug application (NDA) for RG1068, which has a PDUFA date of June 21.

After moving insomnia drug Intermezzo (zolpidem tartrate) through the approval process, Transcept Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking to raise $40.5 million in an underwritten public offering of 4.5 million shares of common stock as the company turns its attention to TO-2061, a low-dose formulation of ondansetron as adjunctive treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).