Vaccines-focused Genocea Biosciences Inc. added the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to its backers as part of a $30 million Series C round that will help advance malaria work, along with programs in herpes simplex virus-2 and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Read More
In a report issued early Thursday morning, the independent Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues warned that whole genome sequencing – likely available in the near future for as little as $1,000 – could raise enormous ethical dilemmas not only in patient care but also in the conduct of clinical trials. Read More
According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the upcoming lame duck session of Congress is unlikely to have time to consider the High Technology Small Business Research Incentive Act sponsored by Sens. Olympia Snow (R-ME) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Richard Neal (D-MA), leaving it for the 113th Congress in the new year. Read More
• Immunovaccine Inc., of Halifax, Nova Scotia, reported interim results from its Phase I trial of DPX-Survivac, an ovarian cancer vaccine, showing that, to date, all nine patients receiving the vaccine in combination with low-dose oral cyclophosphamide produced a targeted immune response following only one or two vaccine administrations. Read More
• Autism Therapeutics LLC, of New York, had a Type C Guidance Meeting with the FDA regarding Phase III development of Zydis ODT Fluoxetine for autism. Read More
• Almirall SA, of Barcelona, Spain, said it granted Invida Holdings Private Ltd., part of the Menarini Group, of Florence, Italy, the commercial rights for Aclidinium, a long-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonist, in Australia and New Zealand, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Read More
• Pierre Fabre Dermatolgie Laboratories, of Castres, France, a subsidiary of Pierre Fabre Laboratories, reported Phase III data showing that propranolol oral solution in infantile hemangioma resulted in complete or nearly complete resolution of the hemangioma for a sizeable majority of the infants who were treated, compared to an almost complete lack of effect from placebo. Read More
