A multinational team led by scientists from the British Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has systematically tested how frequent loss-of-function mutations are in the human genome – and has come to the conclusion that they are surprisingly common. Read More
YM Biosciences Inc. has enjoyed a sustained boost to its stock value since reporting positive Phase I/II results for JAK/JAK2 kinase inhibitor CYT387 in December 2011. Read More
Nearly three months into its pivotal study of lead immunotherapy candidate rindopepimut in a subset of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients, Celldex Therapeutics Inc. is pulling in about $40.4 million in a public offering to help support that study and advance earlier pipeline programs. Read More
WASHINGTON – Fears of another heparin fiasco and the reality of stolen and counterfeit drugs entering the U.S. supply chain have fueled several new bills in Congress, but the wheels of the legislative process are turning slowly. Read More
One of the oldest conditions known to humans, epilepsy continues to confound drug developers, with nearly one in three patients refractory on one or more antiepileptic drugs. Read More
• CSL Behring LLC, of King of Prussia, Pa., said the first patient was screened in its recombinant coagulation single-chain Factor VIII trial in hemophilia A. The study is part of the AFFINITY Phase I/II trial program, which is testing crossover safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of the product compared to recombinant human antihemophilic Factor VIII (octocog alpha). Read More
• Forest Laboratories Inc., of New York, said it received European approval to market Colobreathe (dry powder colistimethate sodium for inhalation) for treating cystic fibrosis patients, ages 6 and older, with chronic lung infections caused by P. aeruginosa. Read More
• Access Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Dallas, said Rhei Pharmaceuticals HK Ltd., of Hong Kong, its MuGard partner in China, received marketing approval from Chinese regulators for the mucoadhesive oral wound product to treat oral mucositis in cancer patients. Read More
