Ipsen SA, of Paris, reported additional data from a phase III study testing Dysport in spastic equinus foot, a condition associated with cerebral palsy (CP) in children, ages 2 to 17. Data, presented at the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine meeting in Austin, Texas, showed that, at week four, muscle tone was improved in patients treated with Dysport vs. placebo, as measured by a change in the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Read More
Can-Fite Biopharma Ltd., of Petach Tikva, Israel, reported findings for its CF602 drug candidate showing a defined mechanism of action in erectile dysfunction similar to Viagra (sildenafil, Pfizer Inc.) in a rat model of diabetes mellitus. Read More
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., said it closed a $250 million credit facility in connection with the financing of its acquisition of Japanese firm R-Tech Ueno Ltd. Sucampo has funded all shares and stock acquisition rights tendered during the previously announced tender offer and has also closed its share purchase agreement with R-Tech Ueno’s founders and a related entity. Read More
Acorda Therapeutics Inc., of Ardsley, N.Y., reported third quarter net revenue of $117 million from sales of multiple sclerosis drug Ampyra (dalfampridine), a 21 percent increase over the third quarter of 2014. Total revenue reached $148.2 million. Read More
Viventia Bio Inc., which recently launched a phase III study testing lead candidate Vicinium in bladder cancer, is looking to raise up to $86.25 million in an IPO and gain a listing on Nasdaq under the ticker VITA. Read More
SAN FRANCISCO – Data on the cost and efficiency of clinical trials are downright depressing. The ratio of dollars invested in R&D to the return on investment has declined about threefold over the past 15 years, according to a study by McKinsey & Co. cited by Lawrence Klein, an associate partner at the consulting firm, who led a lively discussion at the BIO Investor Forum examining methods and tools that could lower costs while speeding drug development. Read More
A naturally occurring hormone that is produced in the bone marrow, erythropoietin stimulates the production of red blood cells, and recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) and follow-ons such as Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Amgen Inc.’s Epogen (epoetin alfa) and Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) are a billion-dollar industry for the treatment of anemia. Read More
Symphogen A/S has closed a €67.5 million (US$75.4 million) convertible debt facility from existing investors that will help the company advance its pipeline, led by Sym004, an antibody mixture currently in a phase IIb study for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with disease resistance or who are refractory to antibody therapies targeting epidermal growth factor receptor. Read More
Two days earlier than expected, the FDA approved Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Onivyde (irinotecan liposome injection) in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer previously treated with gemcitabine, giving the company its first ever U.S. drug approval. Read More
