LONDON – Neurodegenerative disease start-up Denali Therapeutics Inc. announced a slew of deals and collaborations, with a potential $1 billion agreement with bispecific antibody specialist F-star Ltd. heading the list. Read More
Novartis AG's siponimod (BAF312), a second-generation sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator designed to be more selective than Gilenya (fingolimod), reduced the risk of disability progression vs. placebo for people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) during a large phase III study, the company reported. Regulatory filings seeking approval for the therapy are planned for 2019. Read More
Amgen Inc.'s bid to get approved an I.V. replacement for its oral Sensipar hit choppy seas in the form of a complete response letter from the FDA on its PDUFA date regarding the NDA for Parsabiv (etelcalcetide), designed to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Read More
Novan Inc. added its name to the IPO queue, revealing in an S-1 filing that it will seek to raise up to $60 million to advance its nitric oxide (NO) platform and programs in five dermatological conditions. The company plans to grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares. Novan did not disclose the number of shares or price in its paperwork. Read More
The lungs are a frequent site of metastases in part because T cells sense oxygen levels and are more tolerant of foreign antigens in high-oxygen environments, scientists reported in the Aug. 25, 2016, advance online issue of Cell. Read More
Beijing Shenogen Pharma Group Ltd. has signed a co-development deal with Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd., of Hong Kong, to combine Shenogen's lead compound, icaritin, a traditional Chinese medicine-derived small-molecule drug, with Pexa-Vec (JX-594, pexastimogene devacirepvec), an oncolytic virus being developed in China by Lee's. Read More
To differentiate itself from competitors, a dating website has partnered with a big data genomics company to conduct proprietary and confidential research, gaining access to health data from millions of people. Customers submit their dream phenotypes, which are matched to digital genotypes, complete with names, addresses and an assortment of customized personal health data. Welcome to Matches Made in Heaven. Read More
Cesca Therapeutics Inc., of Rancho Cordova, Calif., said it converted a senior secured three-year convertible debenture of $12.5 million of principal and $8.25 million of interest to 6.1 million shares of its common stock. Read More
Lion Biotechnologies Inc., of New York, said its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was extended for an additional five-year term, to 2021. Read More
Armetheon Inc., of Milpitas, Calif., said data from a phase I trial of tecarfarin in severe chronic kidney (CKD) disease patients who require anticoagulation treatment showed good results. Read More
