Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) and the direct-to-consumer genetic testing firm 23andme Inc. kicked off a four-year collaboration – with an option to extend into a fifth year – that includes a $300 million equity investment by the pharma player. Read More
A successful phase IIb trial testing the power of Restorbio Inc.'s oral TORC1 inhibitor to prevent respiratory tract infection (RTIs) in high-risk elderly patients has put it on track to complete a pivotal phase III program in 2019 and a new drug application in 2020, assuming all goes well. Top-line results of the study showed that, relative to placebo, RTB-101 reduced the percentage of patients with one or more lab-confirmed RTIs by nearly a third during a 16-week window, an outcome that drove company shares (NASDAQ:TORC) 49.5 percent higher to close at $13.47. Read More
Despite the allure of the public markets, Alector LLC elected to continue its upward trajectory of private financings, hauling in $133 million in an oversubscribed series E – the target was raised twice before the round closed – that pushed its five-year fundraising efforts to about $215 million. Read More
Following the lead of several states and the administration, Congress is getting set to finally remove the gag that has kept many pharmacists in the U.S. from letting consumers know about cheaper options for their prescription drugs. Read More
HONG KONG – Shanghai Green Valley (Group) Co. Ltd. is gearing up to file for approval in China later this year after its sodium oligomannurarate (GV-971) capsules significantly improved cognition among patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in phase III trials. Read More
New understanding of how the brain and the lymphatic system interact is about to take drug discovery and development in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases in a fresh direction – and has implications for the current approach of trying to treat AD by mopping up amyloid deposits. Read More
Nabriva Therapeutics plc, of Dublin, acquired Zavante Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego, for up-front consideration of about 8.2 million of Nabriva's ordinary shares (which includes an indemnity holdback) to Zavante's former stockholders upon completion of the acquisition. Read More
In its search for ways to bring competition to Medicare Part B, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing a request for information on how best to develop an Innovation Center model leveraging its authority under the Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) to allow price negotiations for drugs administered in a doctor's office. Read More
Inversago Pharma Inc., of Montreal, said it closed a $7 million series A financing to support the development of new generations of cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor blockers. The round was co-led by Genesys Capital and Amorchem, with participation from the JDRF T1D Fund, Accel-Rx, Anges Québec Capital, Anges Québec, Tarnagulla Ventures and angel investors. Read More
