Copenhagen, Denmark-based Zealand Pharma A/S licensed exclusive global development and commercialization rights to its lead glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist drug candidate ZP2929, for the treatment of patients with Type II diabetes and patients with obesity, to Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, of Ingelheim, Germany. Read More
The FDA has added a warning to the label for Actos (pioglitazone) stating that the use of the medication for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. The statement by the FDA followed a review of data from a five-year interim analysis of an ongoing epidemiological study. Read More
By converting the RNA base uridine to pseudouridine, researchers have been able to convince the cellular translation machinery to read through premature stop codons and continue translation. Read More
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., regained worldwide rights to its topical Aganocide compounds for antibiotic-resistant eye, ear and sinus infections after Alcon Inc., of Huenenberg, Switzerland, terminated the companies' collaboration. NovaBay will receive a $2.97 million termination payment. Alcon completed a proof-of-concept trial of NVC-422 in viral conjunctivitis last fall. Read More
Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Irving, Texas, and Abbott, of Abbott Park, Ill., initiated a pivotal Phase III trial of bardoxolone methyl in patients with chronic kidney disease and Type II diabetes. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, 1,600-patient study will have a primary endpoint of time-to-first-event composite event consisting of progression to end-stage renal disease, defined as the need for chronic dialysis or renal transplant, and cardiovascular death. Results are expected in 2013. Bardoxolone methyl is an antioxidant inflammation modulator. Reata and Abbott teamed up last year in an ex-U.S. deal worth $450 million up front. Read More
Cerulean Pharma Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., appointed Edward Garmey chief medical officer and senior vice president. He succeeds John Ryan, who was named chairman of the firm's medical advisory board Read More
