Seattle-based Neovia Oncology Ltd. has enrolled its first patient into a phase I dose-escalation study of intravenous NEV-801, a combination of the natural products podofilox and camptothecin that inhibits topoisomerase I and II and is intended to enhance immunotherapy response in patients with advanced drug-resistant cancers. Read More
DUBLIN – Lysogene SA is the first European biotech to dip its toes in the IPO waters in 2017, with plans to raise up to €39.7 million (US$42.7 million) on the Euronext exchange in Paris. The Neuilly-sur-Seine, France-based gene therapy firm issued an indicative price range of €6.80 to €9.20 per share Wednesday and plans to price the offer on Feb. 7. Read More
After 30 formal meetings and dozens of informal conversations with former colleagues, industry veteran Jim Burns was still euphoric on the final day of the 35th Annual J.P. Morgan (JPM) Healthcare Conference – his first. After nearly 30 years at Genzyme Corp. and parent company Sanofi SA, where he most recently headed the big pharma's North American R&D hub, Burns came to San Francisco with a new gig as president and CEO of start-up Casebia Therapeutics. Read More
KARACHI, Pakistan – The death of 57-year-old Javed Iqbal in a private hospital in Karachi, Pakistan's economic hub, has shined a light on growing concerns surrounding clinical trials involving this country of 200 million people. Informal and often unethical clinical trials carried out by doctors are a common problem, according to numerous anecdotal reports. Read More
Dimerix Ltd., of Subiaco, Western Australia, said it received commitments for a placement to raise A$2 million (US$1.5 million) and will issue 333.3 million new shares to investors at A$0.006 each. Read More
Depuy Synthes Companies, of Raynham, Mass., part of Johnson & Johnson, said an exclusive agreement has been signed in the U.S. between Depuy Synthes Sales Inc. and Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., to co-promote Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), a long-lasting, non-opioid, local analgesic administered at the orthopedic surgical site. Read More
Caladrius Biosciences Inc., of Basking Ridge, N.J., said the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital, University of Florida Diabetes Institute and the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center at Oregon Health & Science University opened to enroll subjects for the company's phase II trial of CLBS03, which consists of autologous expanded regulatory T cells, to treat recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Read More
