Prima Biomed Ltd.'s quest to divest its one-time lead program, Cvac, has ended with the cell therapy's adoption by biotech entrepreneur Joseph Hernandez, who will carry it ahead under the banner of Sydys Corp., a repurposed public company that will seek to fund new trials to build on earlier data in ovarian cancer. The deal includes more than A$400 million (US$293 million) in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, but no up-front cash. Read More
LONDON – The head of the EMA, Guido Rasi, has weighed in on the drug pricing row, saying public concern about clinical toxicity of drugs has given way to concerns about their financial toxicity. Read More
Scientists have discovered a broadly neutralizing antibody to HIV that binds to its fusion peptide. The antibody, which goes by the prosaic name of VRC34.01, is the first known broadly neutralizing antibody targeting that particular region of the virus. Read More
With the U.S. drug pricing system as transparent as the darkest shadows, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have stayed out of the political spotlight on the escalating cost of many drugs. Read More
Biostage Inc., formerly Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology Inc., or HART, said preclinical data from a collaborative large animal study with the Mayo Clinic showed complete regeneration of a segment of the esophagus using its Cellspan organ implants. Read More
In an era of ever-tightening patent standards, President Obama signed legislation that would up the ante for theft of trade secrets, including a provision for expanded civil action for alleged theft of such information. Read More
Sirona Biochem Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said it closed a private placement of about 4.1 million units at 20 cents per unit for gross proceeds of $829,500. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one transferable share purchase warrant. Proceeds will be used for research and development purposes and for general working capital. Read More
Dipexium Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, said it completed patient enrollment in the OneStep-2 pivotal phase III trial and said the OneStep-1 pivotal study passed the 98 percent enrollment mark and is expected to reach the 180-patient objective shortly. Read More
