Allergan Inc. will acquire dermatology company Vicept Therapeutics Inc. in a deal worth up to $275 million. Malvern, Pa..-based Vicept's lead product, V-101, is in development for rosacea and has showed positive results in Phase II trials. The acquisition will beef up Allergan's range of dermatology products, which includes Tazorac (tazarotene) and Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA). Read More
Caught in a regulatory no-man's land for social and digital media, biopharma will get little help from a new draft guidance on mobile medical apps. Read More
Researchers from the Scripps Research Institute and Dutch biotech company Crucell BV may have found what children will surely consider the best Dutch invention since bread with chocolate sprinkles: a broadly neutralizing antibody to influenza viruses. Together with another antibody identified earlier by the same group, the new antibody may point the way toward a universal vaccine to replace the current annual jab. Read More
With a weak market for initial public offerings (IPO) and Nasdaq cracking down on reverse mergers, Coronado Biosciences Inc. found an alternate route to a public listing: filing a Form-10. Read More
NeoStem Inc., of New York, is bringing in gross proceeds of about $16.5 million in a public offering of 13.75 million units – each consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.75 of a share – priced at $1.20 per unit. Funds will be used for working capital purposes, including R&D work on cell therapeutic product candidates, expansion of business units and other general corporate purposes. Read More
Siena Biotech SpA, of Siena, Italy, received an undisclosed milestone payment from Roche AG, of Basel, Switzerland, stemming from the firms' 2007 neurodegenerative disease collaboration. Roche exercised its option last year to take the lead on developing and commercializing selected molecules for treating Alzheimer's disease. Read More
Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Cambridge, UK, started a Phase II study of CNV1014802 in treating pain associated with lumbasacral radiculopathy, a neuropathic pain condition caused by compression of the nerve roots in the lumbar region of the spine. Read More
NeurogesX Inc., of San Mateo, Calif., received a notice of allowance for a patent, titled "Methods and Compositions for Administration of TRVP1 Agonists." Its claims include method of use, formulation and system claims. Read More
