Biogen Idec Inc.'s immune modulator BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) yielded better-than-expected top-line data in its first Phase III trial, news that bodes well for the Cambridge, Mass.-based firm's foray into the oral multiple sclerosis (MS) drug market and may help stave off competitive threats to its lucrative MS franchise. Read More
LONDON – Heptares Therapeutics Ltd. signed a deal worth a potential £65 million (US$106.3 million) with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., to characterize the structure and deliver early leads against a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is involved in schizophrenia. Read More
Third Rock Ventures has funded its largest ever Series A for new start-up Blueprint Medicines, based in Cambridge, Mass. Blueprint was established to develop cancer therapies based on the company's Insights-to-Validation platform and its chemical library. Blueprint's approach is to use cancer genome data to create kinase-targeted cancer therapies using a personalized medicine approach. Read More
Shares in Intercell AG plunged 25 percent Monday after an independent data monitoring committee called for a halt in recruitment for a pivotal Phase II/III trial of a vaccine designed to prevent nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus infection. Although the vaccine, which is partnered with Merck & Co. Inc., did not meet pre-specified futility criteria in an interim analysis, the committee wants additional risk-benefit analyses to be conducted before dosing can resume. Read More
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., said researchers found that a fragment of Tbeta4 has the ability to inhibit a type of liver cell responsible for fibrosis and scar formation by blocking the binding of AKT to actin. Those data make possible the development of a therapeutic that can specifically identify and target cells responsible for the excessive scarring seen in liver diseases such as cirrhosis, as well as potential pathologies of the lungs, kidneys and other organs. Read More
Vivus Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., said detailed results from the 56-week CONQUER study published in The Lancet showed that obesity candidate Qnexa (phentermine/topiramate) produced an average weight loss of 28 pounds and 22 pounds with the top and mid doses, respectively, compared to four pounds in the placebo group. Data also showed a systolic blood pressure reductions of 4.7 mm Hg (p = 0.0008) and 5.6 mm Hg (p < 0.0001), respectively, vs. 2.4 mm Hg in the placebo group. And Qnexa improved HDL cholesterol by 5.2 percent (p < 0.0001) and 6.8 percent (p < 0.0001), respectively, compared to 1.2 percent for placebo. Read More
