Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc., of Carmiel, Israel, reported results from a phase II trial testing OPRX-106, recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor II fused to an IgG1 Fc domain, in 24 patients with active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.  Read More

Stakeholders must work together to maximize the value and affordability of cancer treatments in the U.S. and support the investments in science and research that will drive future innovations, the President's Cancer Panel concluded in a new report that calls for urgent action to better align the prices of cancer drugs with their value.  Read More

Neuralstem Inc., of Germantown, Md., said a publication in Nature Medicine showed that NSI-566, its lead cell therapy candidate, provided meaningful improvement in forelimb function in a nonhuman primate model of acute spinal cord injury.  Read More

Escalier Biosciences BV, of Nijmegen, the Netherlands, has closed a $19 million series B financing led by Forbion with existing investors New Science Ventures and Biogeneration Ventures.  Read More

HONG KONG –With a new deal with Ferring Holdings Ltd. to option its innovative microbiome-focused technology, Israel's Mybiotics Pharma Ltd. is looking to expand its market and develop new products. Its second option agreement with Ferring is based on validation of Mybiotics' microbiome-based therapeutic technology focused on women's health. Read More

In cell lines directly generated from patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancers that were resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors, multiple different bypass resistance mutations ultimately converged on the same signaling mode to increase cell growth. Read More

AMSTERDAM – A growing epidemic of antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) has cast a heavy load on the laps of antibiotic drug developers. They face challenges in identifying new targets and the particular organism causing the infection, in finding patients to treat at the right time, and in understanding variability in response. If that isn't enough, the money is scarce, costing the same in development as many other drugs, but lacking the blockbuster potential. Read More

With regulatory support from the EMA and financial backing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), Biondvax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. moved a step closer to initiating the pivotal phase III trial of its universal flu vaccine candidate, Multimeric-001 (M-001), by putting a master service agreement in place with a contract research organization (CRO) for the trial, expected to begin in the third quarter prior to the 2018-19 Northern Hemisphere flu season. Read More

AMSTERDAM – Scientist Jeroen Raes was a latecomer to an early morning panel on "nutrition, lifestyle and medicines in the patient's journey," which kicked off day two of BIO-Europe Spring. But his arrival injected a hefty dose of realism – and expertise – into a discussion of an area that has attracted large quantities of hype and cash but has yet to deliver any clinically useful products, never mind compelling clinical data. Read More

LONDON - Quoted technology commercialization specialist Puretech Health plc raised £72 million (US$100 million) in a placing, providing funds to advance its wholly owned pipeline of treatments targeting the lymphatic system and to co-invest in upcoming funding rounds for its affiliate companies. Read More

The death of a woman in a study combining Advaxis Inc.'s lead immunotherapy candidate, axalimogene filolisbac (axal), and Astrazeneca plc's Imfinzi (durvalumab) to treat two types of carcinoma has triggered an FDA clinical hold, halting further dosing and enrollment in the study. Although the final cause of death is still under investigation, a spokesperson for Advaxis told BioWorld that initial reports point to respiratory failure. Read More