LSK Biopharma inked an exclusive license agreement with the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) to develop and commercialize HCI-1401, an orally bioavailable, small-molecule, irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). The new asset doubles the cancer pipeline for the Salt Lake City-based biotech, which earlier this year completed a phase I/II trial of its lead compound, apatinib mesylate (YN968D1), in solid tumors. Read More
Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. reported higher-than-expected second quarter revenues, helped by royalties on U.S. sales of obesity drug Contrave (naltrexone and bupropion). Shares rose (NASDAQ:OREX) 35 cents, to $4.17 by Thursday's close as the company settled a dispute with its North American partner Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd. and signed a new distribution deal for South Korea. Read More
HONG KONG – Two stem cell labs in China have independently reported the successful transformation of fibroblasts into functional neurons using only chemicals, with one group using human cells from healthy individuals and Alzheimer's patients, while the other used mouse cells, potentially providing other sources of neuronal cells for drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Read More
TOKYO – Six months after winning PMDA approval, Eli Lilly Japan and Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim (NBI) recently disclosed plans to launch the first insulin glargine biosimilar in Japan, a market in which biosimilars are advancing, albeit slowly. Read More
HONG KONG – Recovering from an acquisition bid in June that ultimately sent its shares down by about 20 percent, Chinese drugmaker Luye Pharma Group Ltd. is back on the deal trail, this time with plans to acquire Singapore-based molecular diagnostics firm Vela Diagnostics Pte Ltd. Read More
NEW DELHI – India deferred its talks with the European Union on a broad-based investment trade agreement "for the present, in response to the European Commission's [EC's] July ban on 700 Indian generics." Trade talks between the EU and India were to resume in August, after a gap of two years. Read More
