Personalized medicine became more than a buzzword two weeks ago. When the Russian Ministry of Public Health approved Oncophage, Antigenics Inc.'s cancer vaccine, it marked the first such approval for a personalized vaccine from a major country, and it shines new light on that system of disease treatment and management. (BioWorld Financial Watch)

Avanir Pharmaceuticals has taken a step to push Zenvia, its late-stage investigational drug for pseudobulbar affect (PBA) further along the regulatory pipeline. The Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based company reached out to investors Wednesday with a $40 million registered direct offering to complete development of the drug. (BioWorld Today)