Two independent teams of scientists, one from the Chinese Tsinghua University and one from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the University of North Carolina, have identified antibodies to the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that may form the basis of prophylactic or therapeutic treatments against the virus. Read More
CSL Behring Ltd., of King of Prussia, Pa., said the first patient has been enrolled in the pivotal pediatric phase III study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of its investigational recombinant factor VIII single chain (rVIII-SingleChain) for the treatment of previously treated children (up to age 11 years) with severe hemophilia A. Read More
Pharmacyclics Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., reported that their total revenue for the quarter ended March 31, increased to $119.4 million from $2.8 million for the same quarter in 2013 primarily due to net product revenue and milestone revenue recognized during the period. Read More
Ruthigen Inc., of Santa Rosa, Calif., said it submitted an investigational new drug application for lead candidate RUT58-60, a broad-spectrum anti-infective drug for prophylactic use during invasive medical procedures. Read More
Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., priced a public offering of 9 million shares at $3.35 apiece, a 19.1 percent discount to Thursday's closing price. The gross proceeds are expected to total about $30.2 million, with underwriters allowed to purchase up to 1.35 million more shares to cover overallotments for up to an additional $4.5 million. Read More
Novogen Ltd. and Genea Biocells Ltd., both of Sydney, said they accelerated their partnership to test their super-benzopyran drugs for degenerative diseases of the nervous system and muscles. Read More
Endocyte Inc.'s vintafolide-induced roller coaster ride continued Friday. A month after shares jumped a whopping 92 percent on a positive opinion from European regulators on conditional approval of the drug and its companion imaging agents in ovarian cancer, shares of the West Lafayette, Ind.-based company took a 62 percent tumble on news that the phase III ovarian cancer trial was halted for futility, likely putting the kibosh on that expected EU launch. Read More
LONDON – It took Astrazeneca plc just a little over three hours on Friday morning to reject an improved £50 (US$84.32) per share offer from Pfizer Inc., valuing the UK company at about £64 billion (US$107.94 billion), saying the terms are inadequate, substantially undervaluing Astrazeneca and are not a basis on which to engage. Read More
Investors drove shares in Rxi Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ:RXII) up as high as $4.30 Friday after the company reported that intravitreal injection of RXI-109, its experimental RNA interference-based therapy, reduced connective tissue growth factor (CTFG) protein levels in an animal study, showing its potential to fight retinal and corneal scarring as a result of injury or disease. Read More
Acorda Therapeutics Inc.'s second setback in less than a month came in the shape of a complete response letter (CRL) for the new drug application (NDA) related to Plumiaz (diazepam) for epileptic cluster seizures, and the company said the nasal spray version of the benzodiazepine therapy is unlikely to win approval this year. Read More
SUZHOU, China – With the 4th Chinabio Partnering Forum happening this week – designed to foster cross-border partnering – the event is considered the best place for the world to meet up-and-coming Chinese life science companies. Several trends driving partnering this year promise to make the event the liveliest yet. Read More
HONG KONG – The oral anticoagulant Xarelto (rivaroxaban, Johnson & Johnson) is more effective than warfarin for preventing stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), particularly in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) scientists have reported. Read More
Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. and Scynexis Inc. got their initial public offerings (IPO) out the door Friday, but the tiny raise for Aldeyra – nearly half the amount sought in its January filing as Aldexa Therapeutics Inc. – and the brusque greeting for Scynexis shares – off 11 percent from the $10 offering price – suggested May might not put a spring into the step of biotechs entering the public markets. Read More
