Pfizer Inc. has signed a collaboration agreement with Karo Bio AB, of Stockholm, Sweden, for the development of small-molecule modulators of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (ROR-gamma), an enticing newer target with relevance for autoimmune disease. Read More
Immunomedics Inc. and development partner UCB SA revised their development, collaboration and license agreement for the exclusive worldwide rights to develop, market and sell Immunomedics' epratuzumab for autoimmune disease indications. Read More
Ask most folks in biotech about their notion of a typical antibody, and it will probably be an antibody that blocks a receptor to fight cancer, or maybe autoimmune disease. Read More
Tumor suppressor genes and proteins have been tantalizing targets for cancer drug development ever since they were first identified in the 1970s. Read More
BioWorld's offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 30, and Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of the New Year's Day holiday in the U.S. No issues will be published those days. Read More
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., reported preclinical data published in Experimental Neurology showing that a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the huntingtin gene resulted in widespread distribution of the siRNA when administered by intrastriatal infusion using convection-enhanced delivery and demonstrated significant silencing of the huntingtin mRNA throughout the striatum. Read More
• Emergent BioSolutions Inc., of Rockville, Md., said it started a Phase II study of TRU-016 in combination with bendamustine in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia, triggering a $6 million milestone payment to Emergent by Abbott, of Abbot Park, Ill. The study is designed to compare the combination of the anti-DC37 monospecific protein therapeutic plus bendamustine to bendamustine alone in about 100 randomized patients, with a primary endpoint of overall response rate defined by 2008 International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia criteria. Read More
• Prana Biotechnology Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, received a notice of allowance for a patent, titled "Neurologically Active Compounds." It covers the composition of matter for selected 8-hydroxy quinazolinone compounds, including lead Parkinson's disease candidate PBT434. Read More
