Thrombogenics NV is entering the most crucial year of its existence, with decisions from both the U.S. and European regulators due over the coming months on its filing for ocraplasmin as a treatment for symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) including macular hole. Read More

Biotie Therapies Oyj closed out the year exactly as planned – with a product undergoing regulatory review in Europe. Development partner H. Lundbeck A/S disclosed on Dec. 21 that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had accepted for review its marketing authorization application (MAA) for nalmefene to treat alcohol dependence. Read More

LONDON – The discovery of a new mechanism by which cancer cells evade stresses, which may mimic the stresses that some anticancer therapies put them under, could lead to the development of new combination treatments for some types of cancer. Read More

LONDON – Genmab A/S is close to outlicensing its second major antibody program – daratumumab – after presenting positive Phase I/II results and said it is determined to avoid the pitfalls that have to date muted the success of its first product, ofatumumab (Arzerra). Read More

LONDON – The £400,000 (US$626,624) milestone payment Vernalis plc triggered last week in its drug discovery collaboration with H. Lundbeck A/S may look modest. But added to two other milestones reached in the past four months, the company has made £1.2 million, demonstrating that in addition to providing validation of the company's fragment and structure-based discovery technology, those early stage collaborations can provide a meaningful resource. Read More

• Arecor Ltd., of Cambridge, UK, entered into a collaboration agreement with Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. to assess Arecor's advanced protein formulation technologies for possible use with Lilly's growing pipeline of biological-based drugs. Arecor will develop stable aqueous or higher concentration formulations of emerging protein and peptide drug candidates developed by Lilly. In addition, Arecor will work with Lilly to potentially offer improved formulations of Lilly's existing therapeutic proteins in several therapeutic areas. Arecor specializes in stabilization of biologic molecules. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Read More