Plexxikon Inc.'s and Roche AG's melanoma drug PLX4032 (RG7204) continued its streak of stellar data, with results from an open-label Phase II trial showing a 52 percent response rate in patients with previously treated disease with the BRAF V600E mutation, and the companies are planning to open an access program to answer growing patient demand for the drug ahead of approval. (BioWorld Today)

The dramatic restructuring plan disclosed earlier this week by Biogen Idec Inc. has the Weston, Mass.-based firm clearing out of the cardiovascular space altogether, a move that leaves Cardiokine Inc. flying solo on hyponatremia drug lixivaptan. (BioWorld Today)