The privately held UK specialty oncology firm EUSA Pharma Ltd. is to be acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a $700 million cash deal that is motivated by the early commercial success of EUSA's Erwinaze treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), approved by the FDA in November 2011. Read More
As expected, the FDA green-lighted Vivus Inc.'s erectile dysfunction drug Stendra (avanafil) on Friday, but analysts and investors remain focused on the looming July 17 PDUFA date for obesity drug Qnexa (phentermine/topiramate). Read More
Mitochondria, the energy-producing centers of cells, very likely got their start more than a billion years ago as bacteria that gradually went from a symbiotic relationship to a full-fledged part of the cells they colonized. Read More
Gilead Sciences Inc. beat revenue estimates for the first quarter, but missed earnings-per-share consensus by 2 cents, as it reported solid sales for its antiviral franchise, including impressive uptake of recently launched triple-drug, single-tablet HIV drug Complera. Read More
• The International Myeloma Foundation, of North Hollywood, Calif., said a new drug application (NDA) has been submitted for pomalidomide, an immunomodulatory agent for multiple myeloma developed by Summit, N.J.-based Celgene Corp. The NDA is seeking use of the drug in patients who no longer respond to other therapies. Read More
• Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd., of Charlotte, N.C., said that in its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Study 301), Northera (droxidopa) showed statistical improvement compared to placebo for neogenic orthostatic hypotension. Read More
• Manhattan Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, changed its name to TG Therapeutics Inc. and implemented a one for 56.25 reverse stock split, which takes effect on April 30. Read More
• Savara Pharmaceuticals, of Austin, Texas, reported top-line data from its Phase Ia study of AeroVanc, an inhaled antibiotic. AeroVanc (vancomycin hydrochloride inhalation powder) is a dry powder form of vancomycin in a capsule-based inhaler to treat respiratory methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Read More
Two Italian teams, one from the San Raffaele Telethon Institute and one from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, have shown that during gene therapy, vectors frequently integrate into the host genome in ways that leads to alternative splicing of the proteins they land in. Read More
