Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. enrolled only 12 patients in the pivotal phase III study of its recombinant human beta-glucuronidase (rhGUS) candidate, also known as UX003, to treat ultra-rare mucopolysaccharidosis 7 (MPS 7), or Sly syndrome. Read More
Five Prime Therapeutics Inc.'s respiratory diseases pact with Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) bore fruit, putting $1.5 million in the pocket of the former by way of a license option fee, with the promise of more if the protein on the table hits milestones. Read More
HONG KONG – Japan could welcome nine biosimilar drugs to the market in the coming years, thanks to a commercialization deal between Amgen Inc. and local company Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. The Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based pharma major said it inked a deal with Daiichi Sankyo to bring nine of its biosimilar drugs, some now undergoing late-stage clinical studies, to the Japanese market. Read More
One of the biggest shortcomings in cancer treatment is the inability, in many cases, to find and attack cancer cells that survive traditional chemotherapy. Biopharma has thrown a variety of weapons at the enemy, from combination regimens to targeted drugs, but with the need still evident, Vivolux AB is taking another approach: eliminating the stray cells by cutting off their power supply. Read More
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded not-for-profit research institution Southern Research a contract for an initial $901,048, with a possibility of increasing the amount up to nearly $3.9 million over the next two years, to expand research on the Zika virus. Read More
Cytrx Corp., of Los Angeles, priced a public offering of about 28.6 million shares at 70 cents apiece, with investors also receiving warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of about 28.6 million shares with an exercise price of 70 cents apiece. Gross proceeds, expected to total about $20 million, will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Read More
Psivida Corp., of Watertown, Mass., said, subject to an employee consultation process required by local U.K. law, it proposes to close its research facility in Malvern, U.K., and locate all research and product development activities in the company's cGMP facility in Watertown. Read More
Revance Therapeutics Inc., of Newark, Calif., said it completed its type B/pre-IND/pre-phase III meeting with the FDA regarding daxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (RT002) for the treatment of glabellar (frown) lines. Read More
In-depth characterization of the immune response to Zika virus infection confirmed that cross-reactive antibodies to dengue and Zika could enhance infection, but also showed that antibodies to E protein domain III (EDIII) were specific to Zika virus and could protect mice from otherwise lethal Zika virus infection. Read More
