Half of all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the nearly $16 billion (and growing) market will be taking oral drugs two years from now, and they'll cycle from one to another, just as they've done in the past with other therapies, predicted Receptos Inc. CEO Faheem Hasnain. Read More
HONG KONG – A number of relatively young biopharma companies plan to issue shares on China's stock markets over the next few months, prompted by the lifting late last year of a ban on new issues. Read More
Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc., primed by a recent $25 million milestone payment on an unrelated program, is starting a pivotal phase III study to test the ability of ADS-5102, its experimental extended-release formulation of generic drug amantadine, to quell involuntary movements tied to Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. Read More
SHANGHAI – Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.'s DP-VPA, a modified valproic acid (VPA) treatment for epilepsy, has received fast track status from the CFDA. The drug was first licensed from D-Pharm Ltd., of Rehovot, Israel, in 2011 and holds promise for its targeted technology to be more potent and safer than other forms of VPA, the leading therapy for seizures. Read More
Whether to imitate the tortoise or the hare is a constant challenge in drug development. A go-slow approach enables more methodical evaluation of technology, targets and potential applications, with the prospect that precious funds might not be wasted going down a blind alley. Read More
HONG KONG – A comprehensive catalogue of proteins manufactured in specific parts of Purkinje neurons that was obtained using sophisticated new techniques may improve the understanding of diseases associated with those cells, such as ataxias and autism, possibly leading to the development of badly needed treatments for such disorders, reported researchers from the Riken Institute in Japan. Read More
Ardelyx Inc., of Fremont, Calif., set terms for its initial public offering, disclosing plans to raise $50 million by offering 3.6 million shares priced in a range of $13 to $15. Read More
Beactica AB, of Uppsala, Sweden, and Medivir AB, of Huddinge, Sweden, signed an agreement under which Beactica will use its discovery platform to identify novel hits against a disease-relevant protease of therapeutic interest to Medivir. Read More
Alkermes plc, of Dublin, said it started the FORWARD-3 and FORWARD-4 trials, two of the three planned phase III core efficacy studies for ALKS 5461, a once-daily, oral adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Read More
The FDA issued a draft guidance on implementing provisions in the 2013 Drug Supply Chain Security Act dealing with the identification and notification of suspect drugs. Read More
Allergan Inc., of Irvine, Calif., said its board, after consulting with independent financial and legal advisors, unanimously determined that the revised unsolicited proposal dated May 30, 2014, by Pershing Square Capital Management LP and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., of Laval, Quebec, substantially undervalues the company, creates significant risks and uncertainties for the stockholders of Allergan and is not in the best interest of the company and its stockholders. Read More
