In research spanning cell lines to humans, researchers have demonstrated that the hormone neurotensin is necessary for a high-fat diet to lead to obesity. Mark Evers, director of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, told BioWorld Today that neurotensin may be one of the links between obesity and an increased risk of cancer. The team reported its results in the May 12, 2016, issue of Nature. Read More
SHANGHAI – In China's evolving regulatory and pricing environment, Sciclone Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Foster City, Calif., has managed to keep growing its bottom line with lead drug Zadaxin (thymalfasin), an imported drug manufactured in Italy for the treatment of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, certain cancers and as a vaccine adjuvant. In the first quarter, the firm raked in $33.6 million, growing 7 percent from the year prior and beating China's average pharma growth rate by 1 percent. Read More
TOKYO – Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has formed a new venture in the U.S. backed with $50 million to search for oncology start-ups in which to invest. Taiho Ventures said it will look for companies that "discover and develop innovative therapeutic products and/or drug-enabling platform technologies that demonstrate a clear potential to benefit cancer patients." Read More
Scynexis Inc., of Jersey City, N.J., said the FDA granted orphan drug designation to its structurally distinct glucan synthase inhibitor, SCY-078, for the treatment of invasive Candida infections, including candidemia. Read More
Neuralstem Inc., of Germantown, Md., said it entered a definitive agreement to sell 2.7 million shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase 2.7 million shares of common stock in a private placement, priced at 40 cents for one share and one warrant. Net proceeds are expected to be about $1.03 million. Read More
The FDA issued an advisory notice that serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh benefits for patients with sinusitis, bronchitis and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options, recommending that a fluoroquinolone should be used to treat these conditions only when patients have no therapeutic alternatives. Read More
Hutchison China Meditech Ltd., of London, said it completed patient enrollment in the phase III FRESCO trial of fruquintinib (HMPL-013) in third-line locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer in China. The pivotal study is enrolling patients who have failed at least two prior systemic antineoplastic therapies, and the primary endpoint is overall survival. Read More
LONDON – Ziarco Pharma Ltd. announced positive top-line results from the first phase IIa proof-of-concept study of ZPL-389, as a once-a-day oral treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). Read More
DUBLIN – Asit Biotech SA put a little color into Europe's anemic IPO market, raising €23.5 million (US$26.5 million) on the Euronext Exchange in Brussels and Paris last week. Read More
Last September, Brean Capital LLC reflected Wall Street's generally sour sentiment by downgrading from "buy" to "hold" shares of Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals Inc. pending "a clearer path forward," after the failure of the phase III study called IGNITE2 with eravacycline as an intravenous (I.V.)-to-oral transition therapy for complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI). Read More
