Gilead Sciences Inc. dropped dosing of its non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor GS 9190 in combination with interferon and ribavirin in the wake of two adverse events in separate studies testing four-drug regimens in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), but the news is not expected to affect the firm's all-oral, interferon-free HCV program. Read More
4SC AG's histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor resminostat attained the primary endpoint of a Phase II trial in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Read More
Shares in Addex Pharmaceuticals AG fell more than 18 percent Monday to a 52-week low on news that Merck & Co. exited from a second partnership with the firm within weeks. Read More
ProMetic BioSciences Ltd., of Montreal, received a grant of C$800,000 million (US$806,000) from the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development to expand products and services to international markets. The repayable grant bears interest at 5 percent per annum, repayable in five installments by December. Read More
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said that its JAK3 inhibitor, VX-509, showed positive results in a Phase IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis. The 12-week study met both of its primary endpoints: improvement in symptoms, and improvement from baseline disease activity score. Read More
LONDON – Evotec AG has out-licensed its lead monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) product for Alzheimer's disease in a $830 million deal with Roche AG, taking $10 million up front, followed by short-term clinical milestones of $170 million and the balance to come in commercial milestones. Read More
In what may well be the largest Series A round in European biotechnology this year, Amakem NV raised €18 million (US$25.6 million) to fund development of a series of locally acting kinase inhibitors aimed at ophthalmology indications. Read More
