One day after disclosing an $840 million licensing deal with Ghent, Belgium-based Ablynx NV for nanobody technology to treat rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, Abbvie Inc. turned to another Belgian biotech – existing partner Galapagos NV – for a global alliance to discover, develop and commercialize potentiator and combination therapies in cystic fibrosis (CF). Read More
With a public offering expected to close later this week that will net the company about $82.6 million for use across its pipeline, Novavax Inc. is moving ahead to finalize cost and timeline details for the next round of trials with its U.S. government-backed quadrivalent seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. Read More
X-Chem Inc., of Waltham, Mass., said it achieved several milestones in a licensing agreement with Astrazeneca plc, of London, established in May 2012. That deal garnered the company an up-front payment and research funding, as well as discovery and clinical development milestones. Read More
LONDON – A protein that has a role in causing the most frequent form of inherited mental retardation has turned out to be a master regulator of a large group of molecules involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Read More
• Chrysalis Biotherapeutics Inc., of Galveston, Texas, received a $1 .5 million contract from the National Cancer Institute to continue its development of Chrysalin, a naturally occurring regenerative peptide, to mitigate radiotherapy-induced damage to normal brain tissue. Read More
• Edison Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., said it started a Phase II trial, titled “Therapeutic Trial of EPI-743 in Patients with Disorders of Energy Utilization or Oxidation-Reduction.” The crossover study will randomize patients to receive either EPI-743 treatment or placebo for six months before being crossed over to the other arm. Read More
• Janssen Research and Development LLC, of Raritan, N.J., a unit of Johnson & Johnson, said results from a 52-week analysis of a Phase III trial of Invokana (canagliflozin) showed substantial improvements in glycemic control for patients with Type II diabetes who are inadequately controlled on metformin and a sulfonylurea therapy. Read More
• Forest Laboratories Inc., of New York, said it and Royalty Pharma Collection Trust jointly filed lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against several companies for infringement of U.S. patents related to fibromyalgia drug Savella (milnacipran HCl). Read More
