LONDON – Pending positive results from an ongoing phase II trial of its human recombinant alkaline phosphatase in acute kidney injury (AKI), AM-Pharma NV is to be acquired by Pfizer Inc. for $600 million. Read More
CEO Maurits Geerlings told BioWorld Today that Formula Pharmaceuticals Inc. may have found a way around the drawbacks of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) methods that deploy autologous T cells, thanks to the worldwide exclusive license the firm has gained to an allogeneic, nonviral CAR platform that leverages instead cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells as immune effectors. Read More
HONG KONG – In a move that could lead to more and easier access to better medicines at the local level, China plans to eliminate fixed prices for drugs next month. And, despite public concerns, the regulator said drug prices will not shoot up even after price caps are taken away. Read More
In animal studies, researchers have tied levels of the G protein-coupled channel subunit, GIRK3, in a midbrain area known as the ventral tegmental area (VTA), to the propensity to binge drink. Read More
Privately held Curemark LLC launched an additional phase III trial of its chymotrypsin modulator, CM-AT, that will enroll a broad population of children with autism, ages 3 to 8, after a previous phase III of the compound met the endpoints in the same age group of children with autism who had low levels of chymotrypsin, a digestive enzyme. Read More
With rising royalty revenue boosting its first quarter earnings, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. added rights to potential future milestone and royalty payments on 15 biologic development programs from its existing partner, Selexis SA, for $4 million in cash. Read More
Precision Biosciences Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., closed a $25.6 million series A financing led by Venbio. Fidelity Biosciences, Amgen Ventures, Baxter Ventures, Osage University Partners, the Longevity Fund and unnamed investors also participated in the oversubscribed financing. Read More
Isarna Therapeutics GmbH, of Munich, Germany, disclosed preclinical data for its lead candidate, ISTH0036, a locked nucleic acid-modified antisense oligonucleotide, in phase I development for the treatment of advanced-stage glaucoma. Read More
Heat Biologics Inc., of Durham, N.C., said it launched a phase Ib trial of viagenpumatucel-L (HS-110) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, aimed at combining the therapy with multiple immune-modulating strategies. Read More
