By encapsulating human liver cells, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been able to make an artificial liver that can evade immune detection for a week after it is implanted into mice. The work could greatly improve preclinical metabolic and toxicity testing of drug candidates in the near term – and could one day improve human liver transplants, as well. Read More
Medicare needs fixing. That much everyone agreed on at a House subcommittee hearing on the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) created by the Affordable Care Act as a way to contain "excessive cost growth" in Medicare. Read More
OncoVista Innovative Therapies Inc., of San Antonio, initiated a preclinical safety study of OVI-117, an L-Nucleoside conjugate for solid tumors, in a second animal species. The company also is preparing to submit an investigational new drug application and plans to begin Phase I trials by the end of the year. Read More
Insite Vision Inc., of Alameda, Calif., is raising $22.2 million in a private placement. The ophthalmology firm is issuing 37 million shares and five-year warrants to purchase 14.8 million additional shares at an exercise price of 75 cents. Read More
Cytavis BioPharma GmbH, of Hamburg, Germany, reported that its melanoma candidate, Aviscumine (CY503), may improve survival of patients with refractory stage IV metastatic melanoma. In the Phase II open-label trial, 31 eligible patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma, who had previously failed antineoplastic therapy, received subcutaneous injections of Aviscumine. Three-month progression-free survival was 32.3 percent, and median overall survival was 11 months Read More
Biomoda Inc., of Albuquerque, N.M., received a notice of allowance for a patent expanding the use of the CyPath assay to include patient response to cancer therapy during the treatment phase of the disease. Read More
Apparently, it will take more than a next-day driving study to satisfy the FDA's concerns regarding the safety of Transcept Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s insomnia drug Intermezzo, a sublingual formulation of zolpidem that the Point Richmond, Calif.-based firm is hoping to position as the first sleep aid specifically for middle-of-the-night awakening. Read More
Two new studies provided the first evidence that daily oral antiretroviral therapy for HIV can decrease the rate of transmission to uninfected partners through heterosexual intercourse. Read More
