Following the recent spate of scaled-back initial public offerings (IPOs) from the likes of Radius Health, Agile Therapeutics Inc., Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. and Scynexis Inc., this week's IPO pricing by ZS Pharma Inc. – and its warm reception on Wall Street – is impressive by comparison. Read More
Endocyte Inc. shares plummeted Tuesday as Merck & Co. Inc. pulled the plug on its $1 billion vintafolide partnership, returning global rights to Endocyte's most advanced small-molecule drug conjugate (SMDC). Read More
Inducing T cells to be more active against tumor cells is currently one of the most exciting areas of tumor biology. (See story this issue, and BioWorld Today, Dec. 12, 2014.) Read More
Insmed Inc.'s eventful ride with Arikayce (inhaled liposomal amikacin) took an upswing with word from the FDA that the compound has achieved breakthrough designation in nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, despite missing its primary endpoint in a phase II trial in that indication. Read More
HONG KONG – A joint effort by 3SBio Inc. and its new partner Selecta Biosciences Inc. could lead to better treatments for patients with refractory and tophaceous gout. The two companies will work together to combine two products developed independently into one drug that could be distributed globally. Read More
TOKYO – Representatives of various U.S. organizations are urging Japan to reconsider a proposal that would revise reimbursement prices for pharmaceuticals on an annual, rather than a biennial, basis. Read More
LONDON – The UK government has taken a practical step in its pledge to support a global plan of action in dementia research, announcing the formation of a €16 million (US$27.2 million) public private partnership, bringing together seven universities with three biotech and three big pharma companies, to create what it said will be the world's largest ever study group in neurodegenerative disease. Read More
Cleveland Biolabs Inc., of Buffalo, N.Y., said it entered a securities purchase agreement with Mikhail Mogutov, chairman of the board of Incuron LLC and one institutional investor, for a private placement of $3.5 million worth of the company's common stock, par value $0.005 per share and warrants to purchase common stock. Read More
MRC Technology Ltd., of London, sold its melanocortin receptors program, which includes a set of small molecules, to Pfizer Inc., of New York, for an undisclosed amount. Read More
Asmacure Ltd., of Quebec City, reported top-line results from a combined phase I and IIa trial evaluating its lead compound, ASM-024, in moderate asthma patients. Read More
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., of Laval, Quebec, has commenced an exchange offer for the common stock of Allergan Inc., of Irvine, Calif., taking its May 30 proposal directly to Allergan stockholders. Read More
