Elan Corp. has committed as much as $50 million in a new approach to neurodegenerative disease being pioneered by Cambridge, Mass.-based Proteostasis Therapeutics Inc. The alliance will make use of Proteostasis assets and expertise in protein folding to identify and advance molecular entities that prevent misfolding of protein. Read More
In back-to-back papers, scientists from Genentech Inc. reported two potential advances in the fight against Alzheimer's disease: They have managed to make an antibody that inhibits beta-secretase and to deliver that antibody into the brain to lower amyloid beta. Read More
San Diego-based Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharma and diagnostics company that has spent nearly four years in the initial public offering (IPO) queue, will become the latest acquisition of Nestle Health Sciences SA, as the Swiss firm expands its efforts in the new area of science-based nutrition. Read More
WASHINGTON – Citing as their prime evidence Sanofi's strategy to prevent approval of Lovenox biosimilars, two senators are building a case for more disclosure of biopharma's financial ties with nonprofit medical groups, especially when those nonprofits intervene on drug approvals and safety issues. Read More
Pathway Therapeutics Inc., a San Francisco-based company built largely on research from New Zealand and funding from Australia, raised $7.5 million from two Australian venture investors and will advance its PWT33597 to a Phase I trial for treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors. Read More
PolyMedix Inc., of Radnor, Pa., reported preclinical data showing its defensin-mimetic antimicrobial compounds are active against oral mucositis, malaria and other pathogens. The data were presented at the American Society of Microbiology annual meeting. Read More
Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., began dosing in a Phase I trial of ACH-2684, a pan-genotypic protease inhibitor in development for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The study is designed to test the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic profile and antiviral activity of the drug in three segments: a single ascending dose segment in healthy volunteers, a 14-day multiple ascending doses segment in healthy volunteers and evaluation of three days of oral ascending repeat doses in subjects with either genotype 1 or genotype 2 HCV. Up to 78 healthy volunteers and 40 HCV-infected patients will be enrolled. Read More
