MacuClear Inc. has tossed its hat into the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) ring with the first of two pivotal Phase III studies for lead compound MC-1101. The topically administered drug, delivered as an eye drop, is designed to treat and stop the progression of AMD from early stage, or the dry form, to late-stage, or wet AMD, by increasing ocular blood flow in the choroidal vessels. Read More
By treating mice with an inhibitor of one type of glutamate receptor, scientists from Roche AG have been able to reverse most symptoms of Fragile X disease in young adult animals. The findings add to the evidence that Fragile X, like a number of other neurodevelopmental disorders, remains treatable even after symptoms have developed. Read More
On its way to the public trough, ArQule Inc. decided to go for a bigger portion, opting to increase its underwritten offering to 7.15 million shares priced at $7.30 per share. Read More
• BioRestorative Therapies Inc., of Jupiter, Fla., said it closed a license deal with Regenerative Sciences LLC, of Broomfield, Colo., for a technique used for the treatment of bulging and herniated discs. The treatment encompasses a way of cell culturing and includes a medical device designed for re-transplantation of an individual's own stem cells into the disc area for repair. Financial terms were not disclosed. Read More
• Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, received a $20 million milestone payment from Darmstadt, Germany-based Merck KGaA, which was triggered by results from a clinical trial of its drug TH-302 in pancreatic cancer. In the trial comparing TH-302 with gemcitabine to gemcitabine alone in 214 patients, the drug showed a significant benefit for progression-free survival. Read More
