Eli Lilly and Co., of Indianapolis, said the randomized, double-blind, global phase III REVEL study of ramucirumab in combination with chemotherapy in second-line non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) in the ramucirumab-plus-docetaxel arm compared to the control arm of placebo plus docetaxel. Read More
Active Biotech AB, of Lund, Sweden, said partner Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Jerusalem, decided not to proceed to the randomization stage of the planned Libretto trial for Laquinimod (nerventra), an oral immunomodulator, in the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as the current design is no longer aligned with the regulatory strategy. Read More
Omeros Corp., of Seattle, reported the first patient was dosed in a second phase II trial of OMS824, the company’s phosphodiesterase 10, or PDE10, inhibitor in development to treat schizophrenia, Huntington’s disease (HD) and other cognitive disorders. Read More
Covagen AG, of Zurich, Switzerland, said it added Baxter Ventures as an investor in its series B financing round, raising the total of CHF44.9 million (US$50.6 million). Read More
NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bedminster, N.J., reported net global product sales of $15.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 and $31.8 million for the full year, for Gattex (teduglutide [rDNA origin]), which was launched in the U.S. in February 2013 for the treatment of patients with adult short bowel syndrome who are dependent on parenteral support. Read More
Signaling the RNAi space remains a hot ticket, Arrowhead Research Corp. priced an underwritten offering of 5.5 million shares of common stock at $18.95 apiece, seeking to raise $104.225 million. The Pasadena, Calif.-based company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 825,000 shares, potentially increasing the deal size by $15.6 million. Read More
The FDA has cleared 13 drugmakers for the test run of its Secure Supply Chain Pilot Program. Each company along for the ride will get expedited entry for up to five approved drugs or APIs imported into the U.S. over the next two years. Read More
Versartis Inc., which holds worldwide rights to the long-acting recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) VRS-317, last year suggested it could potentially move the treatment for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) all the way to approval and marketing on its own. Read More
With a launch expected in the second half of this year, Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. is firming up other plans for Northera (droxidopa), just approved by the FDA for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH), or a sudden drop in blood pressure when the patient stands up. Read More
