Exposure to a sequence of rationally designed antigens could speed the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV in one strain of engineered mice, while a different strain could be used to rapidly test HIV vaccination strategies. Read More
Vaccinex Inc., of Rochester, N.Y., said a pre-planned interim analysis of the six-month, double-blind portion of the phase II SIGNAL trial was completed, with no safety signals identified that warranted stopping or modifying the study. Read More
Hologic Inc., of Marlborough, Mass., said the FDA expanded the emergency use authorization for the company's Aptima Zika virus diagnostic assay to be used with urine samples (collected alongside patient-matched serum or plasma specimens). Read More
Diamedica Inc., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, closed the second tranche of a nonbrokered private placement with an investment of $3 million by Hermed Capital Healthcare Fund to secure 15 million common shares priced at 20 cents apiece. Proceeds will be used to advance Diamedica's R&D programs, including an upcoming trial of DM199, a purified form of the kallikrein known as KLK1, and for other corporate purposes. Read More
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a rule to establish consistent emergency preparedness requirements for health care providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid, increase patient safety during emergencies and establish a more coordinated response to natural and man-made disasters. Read More
Long-time Alzheimer's disease researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU) are partnering with three biopharmas – Abbvie Inc., Biogen Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co. – in a two-year program to investigate the buildup and clearance of tau protein in the brains of patients with the disease. Read More
Top-line results showing that type 1 diabetics treated with the dual SGLT inhibitor sotagliflozin achieved statistically significant reductions in A1C at 24 weeks in a pivotal phase III trial drew fresh enthusiasm for Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Friday, pushing shares 16.6 percent higher and encouraging partner Sanofi SA. Read More
DUBLIN – Newly formed startup Inflazome Ltd. has secured up to $17 million in series A funding to take forward a series of small-molecule inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is implicated in a wide range of chronic conditions with an underlying inflammatory component. Read More
HONG KONG – Scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have successfully synthesized teixobactin, a recently discovered antibiotic that is considered to be a breakthrough in antibacterial drug research. Read More
The summer is over and industry executives and investors alike will be getting back to work in earnest for the final four months push until the end of the year. Both groups will be hoping for a much better period going forward. By all metrics the sector has struggled to build any sustained momentum that provides any confidence that it will close its books on 2016 in positive territory. What can we expect – more of the same, or a sudden resurgence in fortunes for the sector? Read More
