Researchers at the Japanese National Cancer Center Research Institute have identified an "epigenetic reconditioning" approach that could force liver cancer cells to differentiate, rendering them less aggressive. Epigenetic changes are a frequent feature of liver tumors, which have few therapeutic options. Read More
Imugene Ltd., of Carlton, Australia, disclosed the results of the fully underwritten 1-for-9.5 non-renounceable pro rata rights issue offer to raise about A$8.1 million (US$6 million), before the exercise of any new options. Read More
HONG KONG – Astrazeneca plc has won two new approvals from Japan's PMDA for its Lynparza (olaparib) in breast cancer as well as chemotherapy maintenance drug Imfinzi (durvalumab), a further sign that the country is getting faster in approving these drugs, reflecting an urgency in accessing newer cancer treatments. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Melbourne-based regenerative medicine company Cynata Therapeutics Ltd. is gearing up to take its Cymerus mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) product candidate CYP-001 into phase II trials after reporting solid results in two cohorts of patients in its phase I trial in steroid-resistant graft-vs.-host disease. Read More
LONDON – There are signs that a Brexit effect is hitting the U.K.'s involvement in multinational clinical development, with a marked reduction in the number of companies planning to set up trial sites in the U.K., according to data compiled by the Medicines and Healthcare products Agency (MHRA). Read More
The recent label expansions by the FDA and European regulators for UCB SA's pegylated anti-TNF therapy, Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy turned still more attention to the shifting market, where TNF blockers are still favored for new patients but where other mechanisms of action continue to gain ground. Read More
Lynn Kramer, chief clinical officer and chief medical officer for the neurology business group at Eisai Co. Ltd., said the Tokyo-based company has seen "a very clear path all along" to validating top-line results from the final, 18-month analysis of the phase II study of BAN-2401 in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Read More
Dynacure SAS, a French company developing an antisense drug for a rare genetic muscular disorder, has closed a €47 million (US$55 million) financing intended to help advance its lead program, Dyn-101, into the clinic. Read More
