The outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa and the experimental treatment of two afflicted Americans at Emory University Hospital have brought to the fore ethical questions regarding the wise use of previously untried therapies, as well as a debate about the patients who should get them. Read More
The Ebola epidemic has generated a considerable amount of fear. One medical device company is trying to do its part to help hospitals prevent this and other deadly infections from spreading. These technologies may also have applications for Ebola drug developers concerned with lab infection control. Read More
The FDA granted emergency use authorization to the Department of Defense (DoD) for an assay to help contain the outbreak of Ebola in western Africa. Read More
On the heels of its initial public offering (IPO), Immune Design Corp. lured Sanofi SA to an exclusive discovery, development and commercialization license valued at up to $168 million plus an undisclosed up-front payment for therapeutic agents targeting an unspecified food allergy. Immune Design also is eligible for tiered royalties on sales of products emerging from the collaboration. Read More
Scientists from Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) and PTC Therapeutics Inc., with colleagues in academia, reported on small-molecule drugs that improved the symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) by altering the splicing of the protein SMN2. Read More
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. is investing up to $650 million in a Charleston Laboratories Inc. subsidiary to back development and U.S. commercialization of its hydrocodone combination drug portfolio, including CL-108, a late-stage therapy providing the pain relief of hydrocodone without the common nausea and vomiting associated with the widely prescribed opioid. Read More
Intermune Inc., of Brisbane, Calif., reported Esbriet (pirfenidone), for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in adults in Europe and Canada, revenue in the second quarter of 2014 was $35.7 million, compared with $14.4 million in the second quarter of 2013. Read More
CTI Biopharma Corp., of Seattle, has gained an FDA fast track designation for pacritinib, its late-stage treatment for intermediate and high-risk myelofibrosis. Read More
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Watertown, Mass., said Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland, has advanced EDP-239, Enanta's NS5A inhibitor for hepatitis C virus, into drug combination studies with alisporivir (DEB025), a cyclophilin inhibitor being developed by Novartis. These combination studies are part of Enanta's existing collaboration with Novartis for the development of new combination therapies. Read More
Mallinckrodt plc, of Dublin, said its subsidiary, Cadence Pharmaceuticals Inc., entered settlement and license agreements with Fresenius Kabi USA LLC, part of Fresenius Kabi AG, of Bad Homburg, Germany, to end the patent litigation regarding Ofirmev (acetaminophen) injection. Read More
