A month ago, scientists reported that they identified a way to predict which of the thousands of potential short hairpin RNAs will be best at silencing their target gene. (See BioWorld Today, March 1, 2011.) Read More
The FDA has approved Polaris Group's special protocol assessment (SPA) for a Phase III trial of the company's lead candidate, pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or primary liver cancer. Read More
OncoSec Medical Inc., of San Diego, raised $1.09 million through the issuance of about 1.46 million units priced at 75 cents apiece to three institutional investors. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and one share purchase warrant for an additional share priced at $1 each. Read More
Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, began Phase I trials of PRT062607, a spleen tyrosine kinase-specific inhibitor being developed for chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and certain cancers. The multiple ascending dose study will assess safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug in 40 healthy subjects. It is expected to be competed in mid-2011. Read More
to-BBB Technologies BV, of Leiden, the Netherlands, said that the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation has granted the company an Innovation credit of about $1.7 million to support a Phase I/II study of the company's lead compound, 2B3-101, in women with brain metastases of breast cancer. Read More
Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, reported 24-week interim data from a Phase II trial showing that CTS-1027 in combination with standard of care (SOC) peginterferon-alpha-2a and ribavirin resulted in sustained viral response at week 12 in 51 percent of null responder patients with hepatitis C virus. Complete data from the 24-week study are expected later this year. Read More
A merger between Worcester, Mass.-based RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. and Apthera Inc., of Scottsdale, Ariz., will round out RXi's portfolio of investigational immunotherapies, and give the company a much-needed boost into clinical development. Read More
Development partners Biogen Idec and privately held Knopp Biosciences LLC have enrolled the first patient in EMPOWER, a multinational Phase III study evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of the drug candidate dexpramipexole (KNS-760704) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and motor neuron disease. Read More
