Molecular Partners AG entered a strategic alliance with Janssen Biotech Inc., under which it will team up with the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary to develop a broad pipeline of drugs, based on its Darpin scaffold technology, for a range of immunology indications. Read More
WASHINGTON – Being the first can be an uphill battle. That's what Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. is finding as it forges ahead with getting the first inhaled antipsychotic approved to treat agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Read More
Findings from Genentech Inc.'s randomized Phase III CLEOPATRA study of pertuzumab in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer suggested the drug, in combination with Herceptin (trastuzumab) and docetaxel chemotherapy, provided a 38 percent improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to Herceptin and docetaxel alone in previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Read More
Affymax Inc. scored a big win on Wednesday when the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 15-to-1 in favor of peginesatide for dialysis patients with anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Read More
• ChemoCentryx Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., began a Phase II trial of CCX140 for diabetic kidney disease. A previous Phase II trial showed safety and tolerability in Type II diabetics on stable doses of metformin. Read More
• Bionovo Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., published preclinical data showing use of either estrogen or Bionovo's botanically derived tissue selective estrogen receptor modulators resulted in weight loss in mouse models of postmenopausal obesity. However, Bionovo's compounds did not adversely affect the breast or uterus, while estrogen stimulated proliferation of cells in the mammary gland and uterus. The data were published in the Journal of the Public Library of Science One. Read More
• Verona Pharma plc, of London, completed a placing, conditional on admission and in part on shareholder approval, to raise gross proceeds of approximately £3.25 million (US$5.08 million). The placing, which was arranged by WH Ireland Ltd., involved the issue of up to 65,020,120 new ordinary shares at 5 pence per share. Read More
