Positive findings from an initial Phase III study of pain candidate Ampion drove shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE:AMPE) higher Wednesday. Patients in the Phase III SPRING study in osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) treated with a single intra-articular injection of the non-steroidal immunomodulator achieved clinically meaningful reduction in pain. Investors took notice, sending shares of the Greenwood Village, Colo.-based company up 30 percent at the opening bell. Read More
Immunomedics Inc.'s epratuzumab exceeded expectations in a Phase II trial in follicular lymphoma, producing a response rate of 88.2 percent when used in combination with rituximab. Read More
Drugmakers that are doing nothing to prepare for California's track-and-trace requirements in the hope that Congress passes legislation to preempt the state law could be taking a big gamble. Read More
LONDON – Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) has put further flesh on its ambition to become a leader in electroceuticals – in which nanoscale devices will be used to modulate the body's neural circuits – with the announcement of a $50 million venture capital fund to back pioneers in the field. Read More
LONDON – There's been a summer bonanza of grants for European biotechs, with awards from different sources to fund projects ranging from early stage academic collaborations to running Phase II trials. Read More
Cancer immunotherapy is currently the industry's knight in shining armor. Researchers have high hopes that harnessing the immune system will enable cancer treatment to finally offer patients durable remissions or even cures, rather than the short-term respite that current cancer drugs all too often provide. Read More
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of two other companies focused on stem cells – Verastem Inc. and Stemline Therapeutics Inc. – that successfully completed their initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2012 and 2013 respectively, San Diego-based Fate Therapeutics Inc. filed its S-1 with the SEC to raise up to $69 million in an IPO. Read More
• Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bridgewater, N.J., reported that net sales for its gout drug Krystexxa (pegloticase), were $6. 1 million for the second quarter ended June 30, a 38 percent increase over the first quarter of the year. Read More
• Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, signed a license agreement with Curx Pharmaceuticals Inc., also of San Diego, to develop and commercialize Ligand's Captisol-enabled Topiramate Injection for partial onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in hospitalized epilepsy patients who are unable to take oral topiramate. Ligand will be eligible for more than $21 million in potential net milestone payments and net royalties on future sales of 6 percent to 7.5 percent. Read More
• Prima Biomed Ltd., of Sydney, Australia, said the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted approval to begin the Phase II/III CANcer VAccine Study (CANVAS) of CVac at several sites. Read More
