Pulmatrix Inc., of Lexington, Mass., reported top-line data from a phase I pilot pharmacokinetic (PK) bioavailability trial of PUR0200, a dry powder formulation of a currently marketed once-daily bronchodilator, formulated using the company's Isperse technology, with results supporting continued development of the drug as a potential equivalent of the approved long-acting muscarinic antagonist for the maintenance of bronchospasm in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Europe. Read More

Vernalis plc, of Winnersh, U.K., and Suresnes, France-based Les Laboratoires Servier SAS achieved a new milestone in their first oncology drug discovery collaboration, triggering a payment of €500,000 (US$550,750) to Vernalis related to success against an undisclosed target. Read More

Precision Ocular Ltd., of Oxford, U.K., said V-Bio Ventures had joined investors in the company's series A financing, which has raised £15.5 million (US$20.3 million) in all from investors Imperial Innovations, Consort Medical plc, Neomed and Hovione Scientia Ltd., along with V-Bio. Read More

HONG KONG – A collaborative study by U.S. and Chinese researchers has identified an immune system component responsible for the homeostatic control of innate immune responses to nosocomial invasive candidiasis, which represents a potential target that may lead to the development of treatments for the fungal infection. Read More

JERUSALEM – Marking a pivotal moment in the growing relationship between China and Israel, the biggest pharma licensing agreement between the two countries recently took another step forward. Jerusalem-based Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. received the first milestone payment from its license and investment agreement with Hefei Tianhui Incubator of Technologies Co. Ltd. (HTIT), of Hefei, China. Read More

Saying "the time is right to bring all the various pieces together," Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc. CEO Robert Gould told BioWorld Today that his firm, funded by a $55 million series A round from Third Rock Ventures LLC, will combine recent findings in the biology of gene regulation to develop small-molecule therapies. Read More

DURBAN, South Africa – So far, there has been exactly one person who has been cured of AIDS – Berlin patient Timothy Brown. And his treatment, due to both its dangers and its costs, is definitely not suitable for scale-up. Read More

In a solid win for Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., the FDA's Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee (DODAC) voted 18-0 in favor of approving the biologics license application (BLA) for brodalumab, branded Siliq, to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Read More

Jounce Therapeutics Inc. will receive a $225 million up-front payment and a $36 million equity investment as part of a five-candidate immuno-oncology (I-O) collaboration with Celgene Corp. Read More