Kythera Biopharmaceuticals Inc. hit the bull's eye in two pivotal European Phase III trials of lead compound ATX-101, a first-in-class injectable drug to reduce what's commonly known as a double chin.
A month after withdrawing its 2011 filing for an initial public offering (IPO), citing poor market conditions, Argos Therapeutics Inc. plied the private pump instead, raising $25 million in a Series D financing to support the launch of its Phase III ADAPT study of AGS-003 in newly diagnosed, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
Changes to the human gut microbiota are linked to serious diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. While evidence has implicated disruptions to the homeostasis of the gut microbiome as playing a role in inflammatory bowel diseases, treatments aimed at reshaping the microbial content have failed to induce stable, long-term improvements in bacterial diversity.
As analysts weighed in on the unsolicited offer by GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) to purchase Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI) for $13 per share in cash, or $2.6 billion, shares (NASDAQ:HGSI) of the biotech reached $14.61 before closing at $14.17 for a gain of 97.6 percent.
The first readily apparent conclusion from Wednesday's FDA workshop on the use of minimal residual disease (MRD) as a surrogate endpoint in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is that technical implementation issues continue to lag and could stifle the obvious clinical interest in developing such efficacy biomarkers.
Over the past year, privately held oncology biotech Eclipse Therapeutics Inc. has been assembling assets from the former cancer stem cell (CSC) franchise at Biogen Idec Inc. The newest piece in the puzzle is an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize fully human antibodies discovered at Biogen Idec using phage display technology from Dyax Corp.
Shire plc pumped up its regenerative medicine business by acquiring all but the oncology assets of privately held Pervasis Therapeutics Inc., which is developing an endothelial cell-based technology, in a deal valued at up to $200 million.
After being drubbed in December 2011 following inconclusive data from a Phase IIb study, Endocyte Inc.'s cancer drug EC145 (vintafolide) made a 180-degree turn, attracting a potential $1 billion deal with Merck & Co. Inc.
Shire plc pumped up its regenerative medicine business by acquiring all but the oncology assets of privately held Pervasis Therapeutics Inc., which is developing an endothelial cell-based technology, in a deal valued at up to $200 million.
MacuClear Inc. has tossed its hat into the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) ring with the first of two pivotal Phase III studies for lead compound MC-1101. The topically administered drug, delivered as an eye drop, is designed to treat and stop the progression of AMD from early stage, or the dry form, to late-stage, or wet AMD, by increasing ocular blood flow in the choroidal vessels.
