Avidbiotics Corp., of South San Francisco, was issued U.S. Patent No. 8,673,291, “Diffocin and Methods of Use Thereof,” related to its bactericidal proteins that selectively target and kill Clostridium difficile in the gastrointestinal tract without harming healthy gut microbiota. The company was also issued U.S. Patent No. 8,658,765, “Non-Natural MIC Proteins,” related to its Micacide proteins, which simultaneously bind to selected cell surface targets and to the NKG2D activating receptor expressed on natural killer cells and certain T cells. Read More
Pfizer Inc., of New York, reported that PROFILE 1014, a phase III study testing anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor Xalkori (crizotinib) met its primary objective of significantly prolonging progression-free survival in previously untreated patients with ALK-positive advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when compared to standard platinum-based chemotherapy regimens. Read More
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla., said the independent data monitoring committee recommended that the ongoing pivotal phase III trial of Firdapse for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) continue as planned following a review of safety and clinical data. Read More
Aspyrian Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego, hired Plantation, Fla.-based Goodwin Biotechnology Inc. to manage initial production of its experimental antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting tumors expressing epidermal growth factor receptor. Read More
It’s only $5 million in series A funding, but enough to move start-up Kindex Pharmaceuticals Inc. into a phase II trial with lead compound KDT 501, a hops-derived candidate for type 2 diabetes that regulates the cross-talk between macrophages and adipocytes to influence the complex of proteins that regulate inflammation, also known as the inflammasome. Read More
LONDON — A vital component of our bones has turned out to be a viscous gel that allows bone crystals to slide over one other. The gel, a combination of water and citrate that also bonds strongly to the calcium phosphate crystals, makes bones strong and flexible, rather than brittle. Read More
It is alliteratively satisfying to combine “biotech” with “bubble,” and the two words have been bandied around frequently for the past couple of days causing massive trading in biotech shares that has resulted in the largest two-day declines that biotech indices have experienced since early 2012. Read More
If the Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee (CRDAC) follows the lead of FDA reviewers Thursday, it will send Novartis AG’s serelaxin back for more testing. Read More
Neurophage Pharmaceuticals Inc. moved one step closer to an investigational new drug filing and the initiation of human studies for lead candidate, NPT088, with the completion of a $17 million series D. Read More
DUBLIN – Genable Technologies Ltd. is dipping into Philadelphia’s deep pool of gene therapy expertise by entering a collaboration agreement with Spark Therapeutics LLC, under which the latter firm will provide manufacturing services and clinical development assistance on its lead program, GT038, currently in preclinical development for rhodopsin-linked autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Read More
LONDON – AM-Pharma has cleared the way to getting its alkaline phosphatase product back into patient trials after reporting positive results in a phase I study in 50 healthy volunteers. Read More
