Amgen Inc. presented detailed data for the FOURIER cardiovascular outcomes trial of its Repatha (evolocumab) at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting, which showed that those benefits were clinically significant, not just statistically significant. But the magnitude of the effects reported also showed that for it to be cost-effective, Repatha's price will need to be significantly lower than its current list price of roughly $14,500 per year. Read More

LONDON – Pulmocide Ltd. has closed a $30.4 million series B round that will allow it to take two inhaled small-molecule anti-infectives through to phase IIa development. Read More

Researchers have developed a small molecule that could fully reverse resistance to the tuberculosis drug ethionamide, a backbone of tuberculosis treatment that is losing its effectiveness in some multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Read More

Circassia Pharmaceuticals plc has agreed to pay Astrazeneca plc up to $230 million in cash and stock to lead U.S. promotion of two chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) therapies in a deal that Circassia CEO Steve Harris told BioWorld Today will immediately add a second product to its portfolio and drive a short-order doubling of its sales force to 200 reps. Read More

In what CEO Mark Murray told BioWorld Today may signal "the first of a number of deals," hepatitis B virus (HBV)-focused Arbutus Biopharma Corp. is bringing aboard $7.5 million up front and as much as $75 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments from Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. Read More

With multiple phase II studies of lead compound, mipsagargin (G-202), under its belt, Inspyr Therapeutics Inc. (formerly Genspera Inc.) inked an agreement with private equity firm Milost Global Inc. for up to $100 million to fund the next stage of development. Read More

HONG KONG – Malaysia-based CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing biosimilars market in Southeast Asia (SEA), following the success of a phase III trial of its erythropoietin (EPO) biosimilar for kidney dialysis. The Kuala Lumpur-based company is set to commence registration of the drug and further strengthen its position in the Malaysian market. Read More

Omeros Corp., of Seattle, reported that revenues in the fourth quarter 2016 from Omidria, (phenylephrine and ketorolac injection) 1 percent/0.3 percent, were $12.9 million. Read More

Helix Biopharma Corp., of Toronto, announced in its financial results for the quarter ending Jan. 31, 2017, that its wholly owned subsidiary, Helix Immuno-Oncology signed a non-binding letter of intent with KEN Poland LLP for approximately $30 million in support of the proposed European Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy. Read More

Bellus Health Inc., of Laval, Quebec, said it entered into a share purchase agreement with Taro Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Brampton, Ontario, for the sale of their wholly owned subsidiary Thallion Pharmaceuticals Inc., including all the rights to the drug candidate Shigamab, a monoclonal antibody therapy being developed for the treatment of hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Read More

Selvita SA, of Krakow, Poland, said the first patient was dosed with SEL24 in a phase I/II trial for acute myeloid leukemia. SEL24 is a Selvita-developed first-in-class dual PIM/FLT3 kinase inhibitor with a unique activity profile in oral formulation, the company said. Read More