A decades-long study of an Ecuadorian population with low growth hormone signaling has shown that compared to their normal relatives, individuals with Laron syndrome, a mutation in a gene that causes dwarfism, were protected from developing both cancer and diabetes. Read More
Two biotech companies are headed to the bank to raise funds for advancement of peptide-based biological therapies. Versartis Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., completed a Series B financing round worth $21 million to advance its recombinant human growth hormone product into human trials, and Discovery Laboratories Inc., of Warrington, Pa., priced an underwritten public offering of 10 million units for gross proceeds of $23.5 million to funnel into its program of developing surfactant and aerosol therapies for lung diseases Read More
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., presented new data from its Phase III bunionectomy study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the intraoperative administration of Exparel (bupivacaine extended-release liposome injection) at the 57th annual meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society in Long Beach, Calif. Read More
Orthovita Inc., of Malvern, Pa., is launching Vitoss Bioactive Foam-2X Bone Graft Substitute (Vitoss BA2X), a nonstructural bone void filler for use in the pelvis, extremities and posterolateral spine. Vitoss BA2X contains Orthovita's Vitoss beta-tricalcium phosphate scaffold and Kensey Nash Corp.'s proprietary collagen material. Along with royalties, Orthovita will pay Kensey Nash, of Exton, Pa., to manufacture the product. Read More
In the end, all it took was more cash now, and a shot at more cash later, for French suitor Sanofi-Aventis SA to win over Genzyme Corp., one of the grande dames of U.S. biotechnology. Read More
AVEO Pharmaceuticals Inc. pulled in a whopping $125 million up front in a deal with Astellas Pharma Inc. for Phase III-stage tyrosine kinase inhibitor tivozanib, proving that strong data and promising market potential can prevail even in a buyer's market. Read More
