Positive top-line efficacy data for migraine prevention drug ALD403 pushed Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc. shares (NASDAQ:ALDR) 50 percent higher to $25.70 by Monday market close, bolstering the company's standing in a race to bring the first calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist to what's expected to be a multibillion-dollar market. Read More

Therabron Therapeutics Inc., of Rockville, Md., appointed Alan Cohen senior vice president and chief medical officer, and Linda Chang senior vice president and chief financial officer. Read More

Apricus Biosciences Inc. is halting development of fispemifene after the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) failed to achieve statistical significance in the primary endpoint of erectile function or the secondary endpoint of low libido in a phase IIb proof-of-concept study in men with secondary hypogonadism (HG) and sexual dysfunction. Read More

With their new deal nailed down, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. is "keenly interested in getting going immediately" in psoriasis with XP23829, the oral fumaric acid ester (a prodrug of monomethyl fumarate), Xenoport Inc. spokeswoman Jackie Cossmon told BioWorld Today. Read More

HONG KONG – Neurobiologists at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) in Wako, Japan, have discovered that stimulating the brain electrically using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) releases synchronized waves of calcium from astrocytes, which reduced depressive symptoms and led to a general increase in neural plasticity in mice. Read More

TAIPEI, Taiwan – In recent years, Taiwan has been pouring considerable attention, effort and funding into the development of a sustainable biotech industry, seeking a new economic driver to replace the diminishing prominence of its once-dominant electronics manufacturing sector. Read More