Researchers from Emory University have identified microbiome-produced metabolites that extended healthspan in aged flies, worms, and mice, without affecting lifespan. Much of anti-aging research has been focused on lifespan extension, but in many cases, extending lifespan in animals has not extended their healthspan, meaning that the net result of lifespan extension is that they have spent more time frail or sick. Read More
Blake Insomnia Therapeutics Inc., of New York, submitted a clinical trial application to Health Canada seeking permission to start phase II testing of its third-generation beta blocker Zleepax (ZLX-1). Read More
Vanc Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Vancouver, British Colombia, received Health Canada Class-III approval for Hema-Fer. The updated dosing recommendations now state that Hema-Fer is safe to use in pregnancy to prevent iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Read More
Prescriptions for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Allergan plc’s Linzess (linaclotide) have been written for 1.5 million unique patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) since the drug was launched at the end of 2012. Read More
Efforts to stem the global tide of type 2 diabetes and its unrelenting sequelae have grabbed the lion’s share of attention, and money, for drug development in the space. Read More
Xoma Corp. is licensing to Novartis AG global commercial rights to its interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta antibody gevokizumab in the wake of Les Laboratories Servier’s decision last year to quit the asset. Read More
Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s chief medical officer (CMO) Rajiv Patni told BioWorld that a full development program “just like one would do for a new chemical entity [NCE]” gets credit for the strong label – touting efficacy even during patients’ “off” times – for Gocovri (amantadine extended-release capsules), cleared by the FDA last week for levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Read More
Given the implied value of just $3.41 per share (NASDAQ:DMTX) for the all-stock acquisition of Dimension Therapeutics Inc., Evercore ISI analyst Josh Schimmer asked Kenneth Mills, president and CEO of acquirer Regenxbio Inc., the question that likely was on everyone’s mind during a conference call to discuss the transaction. Could another suitor emerge with a competing bid? Read More
