Shares of Exelixis Inc. popped 24.2 percent Monday thanks to impressive results from a Phase III trial of cabozantinib in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), but analysts remained cautious about the drug's potential in the larger prostate cancer indication. Read More
A group of four papers published in Cell has provided further evidence that a new function can be potentially attributed to any RNA molecule, both protein-coding and noncoding. Read More
SAN FRANCISCO – A host of biotech execs and investors converge at the Palace Hotel here Tuesday for the two-day BIO Investor Forum, hoping to spark renewed vigor in a sector that's just come off a bleak third quarter in terms of fundraising, with public and private financings for the industry down 48 percent compared to last year. Read More
DLVR Therapeutics Inc., of Toronto, completed its seed round investment, bringing the total raised to $2 million in cash and in-kind support. MaRS Innovation joined the University Health Network and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) as investors in the privately held company. Read More
PharmaGap Inc., of Ottawa, said it has chosen ovarian cancer as its target for clinical development of GAP-107B8. The company expects to apply for the first Phase I trial by the end of next year. GAP-107B8, a peptide that has been shown to be highly cytotoxic to numerous cancer types, was being considered for bladder and ovarian cancer. Read More
PolyMedix Inc., of Radnor, Pa., presented clinical and preclinical data that showed its defensin-mimetic antibiotic, PMX-30063, may be active against Gram-positive and certain evaluated Gram-negative organisms, including multidrug-resistant species. In a Phase I trial, PMX-30063 also demonstrated antimicrobial activity in human blood plasma against both resistant and susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Read More
Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc., which focuses on the development of drugs to combat conditions prevalent in the hospital setting, will expand its product pipeline with the acquisition of Adolor Corp. in a deal potentially valued at $415 million. Read More
