Recalling biotechnology battles is almost like re-living boxing matches from the past.Who could forget when Genzyme Corp. faced off against Transkaryotic Therapies Inc. to get first approval for a Fabry's disease therapy? In a hard-fought showdown, Genzyme had Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta) pitted against TKT's Replagal (agalsidase alfa). At the final bell, the loser was TKT, which gave up efforts to win FDA approval after gaining market clearance in 27 countries, and the FDA gave its nod to Genzyme's drug. Lights out.
Cardiome Pharma Corp.'s oxypurinol fizzled in top-line results from a Phase II trial against congestive heart failure, missing the primary and secondary endpoints, but officials will sift the data further before making a decision on the fate of the program. (BioWorld Today)
CV Therapeutics Inc.'s regadenoson to boost coronary blood flow for better myocardial perfusion imaging hit the primary endpoint in the first of two pivotal Phase III studies, and the company is awaiting results from the second trial. (BioWorld Today)