LONDON – A growing body of in vitro, animal and more recently clinical research, is pointing to the potential for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which have established their therapeutic value in cancer, to be repurposed as treatments for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Read More

Two years after its formation by Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Akcea Therapeutics Inc. planted its own flag on the public markets, opening Friday as AKCA on Nasdaq. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company raised $125 million in its IPO by offering 15.625 million common shares – up from its expected offering of 9.62 million shares – at $8, below its intended range of $12 to $14. Read More

Fanconi anemia is a genetic disorder that leads to bone marrow failure, and also predisposes individuals to developing certain types of cancer. Fanconi anemia is caused by mutations in DNA repair genes, though it does not map neatly onto a particular DNA repair pathway. Read More

Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland, said it has confirmed five-year data demonstrating sustained efficacy and safety of interleukin-17 inhibitor Cosentyx (secukinumab) in a phase III long-term extension study in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Detailed results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting. Read More

The biopharma sector has taken advantage of renewed interest from investors and welcoming financial markets, with 25 companies focused on developing new medicines successfully completing their IPOs on U.S., European and Australasia exchanges in the first half of the year – 20 percent more than the total who graduated to the public ranks this time last year. Read More

At this year’s meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a scientific summit intended to highlight the latest advances, what stood out most was the lack of them, Vtv Therapeutics Inc.’s chief scientific officer (CSO), Carmen Valcarce, told BioWorld. Read More

HONG KONG – Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and India’s Biological E Ltd. are collaborating to develop and deliver affordable combination vaccines. Under two licensing agreements, Takeda will transfer its measles and acellular pertussis vaccine technologies to Biological E, which will commercialize them in other markets. Read More

Trovagene Inc., of San Diego, said it entered a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited investors to buy about 6.2 million shares and warrants to purchase up to an additional 4.6 million shares of its common stock for approximately $7.1 million in a registered direct offering. Read More

Emergent Biosolutions Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., is buying Paris-based Sanofi SA’s ACAM-2000 business for $97.5 million up front and up to $27.5 million in near-term contingent regulatory and manufacturing-related milestones. Read More