With Gilead Sciences Inc. posting strong, even "record" sales of its HIV drug franchise for the second quarter, and launching the first of two Phase III studies of promising once-daily, HIV integrase inhibitor elvitegravir, the Foster City, Calif.-based firm's quarterly progress should have sounded like music to investors' ears. (BioWorld Financial Watch)
Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. plc reported two new cases of PML — though not much else, to the chagrin of investors and analysts — linked to multiple sclerosis therapy Tysabri (natalizumab), spoiling the controversial drug's two-year anniversary of its re-launch onto the market. (BioWorld Today)
On the heels of Roche Holdings AG's $44 billion offer for Genentech Inc., as potentially the biggest buyout bid in the industry, another big pharma has made a play for its biotech collaborator. (BioWorld Today)
Amgen Inc.'s second-quarter earnings outstripped Wall Street expectations and sent shares rising for the second day in a row, signaling a much-needed upturn following a year and a half of negative ESA headlines. (BioWorld Today)
The news, released after the market close Friday, gave a big boost to Amgen investors, who have been looking anxiously at the RANK ligand inhibitor to help the company gain back ground lost by its safety-plagued ESA franchise. Top-line data from the FREEDOM (Fracture REduction Evaluation of Denosumab in Osteoporosis Every Six Months) trial showed that denosumab, given as a subcutaneous injection, resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of new vertebral fractures compared to placebo, the primary endpoint. (BioWorld Today)
London-based Acambis plc is being acquired by Sanofi Pasteur Holding, the vaccines division of Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis Group, in a deal valued at about £276 million (US$549 million), as the overseas buyout trend continues. (BioWorld Today)
Celgene Corp.'s first full quarter following its March acquisition of Pharmion Corp. proved to be a strong one, as the Summit, N.J.-based firm reported "record" sales for its flagship multiple myeloma drug Revlimid and posted higher-than-expected second-quarter earnings. (BioWorld Today)
