DUBLIN – Cashing in on the steep climb in its valuation over the last six months, Gentium SpA agreed to a $57-per-share acquisition deal with Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, which values the company at about $1 billion. Read More
Intrexon Corp.’s $26 million takeover of Medistem Inc. brings aboard endometrial regenerative cells (ERCs), derived from menstrual blood, for use with integrated synthetic biology platforms developed by Intrexon, opening potential for cell-based therapeutic candidates across a range of conditions. Read More
Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. got a nice holiday gift from the FDA allowing for immediate resumption of sales of leukemia drug Iclusig (ponatinib), two months after it was suspended from the market, and pushing shares of the troubled biotech up 16.5 percent Friday. Read More
Biocryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a new drug application (NDA) filing for intravenous perimavir, a drug that failed a Phase III influenza trial just over a year ago. Read More
Researchers have identified how quiescent T cells die during HIV infection and how to prevent their death using drugs that have already undergone early stage clinical testing. The findings showed that immune system responses contribute to disease progression in HIV-infected individuals. Read More
GW Pharmaceuticals plc, of London, said it filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed public offering of American depositary shares, though the number of shares and share price have not yet been determined. Read More
Novogen Ltd., of Sydney, signed a sponsored research agreement with Cornell University. The Weill Cornell Medical College in New York will become the cornerstone of a collaboration across Europe, the U.S., Asia and Australia, involving universities and biotechnology companies seeking a treatment capable of delivering long-term remission for the main form of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Read More
Micurx Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Hayward, Calif., said it started a Phase II trial testing lead compound MRX-I, an oxazolidinone antibiotic, for treating gram-positive infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Read More
Eli Lilly and Co., of Indianapolis, and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, of Ingelheim, Germany, said the FDA has accepted for filing the new drug application (NDA) for LY2963016, basal (long-acting) insulin. Read More
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have used p16INK4a reporter mice to look at the effects of environmental toxins on cellular aging. Read More
