Bavarian Nordic A/S, the Danish vaccine developer, reported a 25% increase in revenue to DKK 556 million (€74.5 million) in the first-half year as a result of continuing US sales of its smallpox vaccine, Imvamune, and recognition of previous deliveries.
Ablynx NV, which makes antibody fragments for itself and others, reported a 22.3% decline in revenue in the first half year to £12.9 million. However, its operating loss contracted by 24% to €10.9 million, mainly as result of lower research expenses.
TiGenix NV, the Belgian developer of cell therapies, reported a 7.5% increase in sales to €2.3 million in the first half as it continued to roll out the cell therapy, ChondroCelect. In response to an auditor's note, it announced plans to raise working capital.
Medivir AB has announced plans to discontinue development of one type of hepatitis C virus drug in order to concentrate exclusively on nucleotide-based polymerase inhibitors. It will discontinue work on NS5A replication complex inhibitors.
SkyePharma Plc has started to achieve commercial momentum from the roll-out of its asthma treatment flutiform – illustrated by a 58% increase in sales for the first half of 2013. The revenue increase was primarily due to flutiform sales.
Eli Lilly and Company said that a Phase 3 study of its-antibody therapy, necitumumab, has met its primary endpoint of overall survival in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Necitumumab is designed to block the ligand binding site of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for HIV-1 infection developed by ViiV Healthcare. Tivicay (dolutegravir) is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor to be used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.
Researchers from Ireland have reported that the probiotic B. infantis 35624 relieved symptoms in three inflammatory disorders underscoring the role that the gut microbiota plays in human health. The study appears in the July/August issue of Gut Microbes.
Addex Therapeutics Ltd has raised gross proceeds of CHF 3.2 million ($3.5 million) in a private placement of shares enabling it continue operations beyond its next important clinical event – the reporting of data from a study in anxious depression.
Novo Nordisk A/S said it expects to start a cardiovascular outcomes trial for the diabetes drug Tresiba (insulin degludec) late this year in order to satisfy requirements by the US Food and Drug Administration which turned down the drug in February.