Roche signals cutbacks

The Roche Group has launched a review of its staffing levels and other expenses in light of pressure on revenue from healthcare reform in the US and Europe and set-backs in its late-stage drug pipeline. Details will be announced before the end of 2010.

Country: Switzerland

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Forbion Capital raises €190 million for life-science ventures

Forbion Capital Partners has raised €190 million for investment in the life sciences in what the managing partner described as conditions that have never been more challenging.

Country: Netherlands

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Experts says size matters in defining nanomedicine

In the realm of nanotechnology, size matters. But exactly what is meant by ‘nanoscale’ and ‘nanomedicine’ is still open for discussion. This was one of the themes to emerge from the first day of a two-day workshop on nanotechnology which is being hosted by the European Medicines Agency in London.

Country: United Kingdom

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FDA rejects motavizumab again

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued its second ‘complete response letter’ to the AstraZeneca unit, MedImmune, rejecting its application to market motavizumab, a new monoclonal antibody for respiratory syncytial virus disease.

Country: United Kingdom

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Roche invests in peptide technology

The Roche Group has announced plans to invest $25 million upfront for access to new peptide technology that locks peptides into their biologically active shape, mimicking the structures found in nature.

Country: Switzerland

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Genzyme rejects Sanofi offer

Genzyme Corp has rejected an unsolicited cash takeover bid from Sanofi-Aventis which values the company at $69 per share or $18.5 billion. The rejection was communicated in a letter to the Sanofi CEO Christopher Viehbacher.

Country: United States

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Researchers identify genetic link to migraine

 

 

Investigators working for a Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute-funded study have found that patients with a particular DNA variant may experience a build-up of glutamate in nerve cell junctions of the brain, a process that is thought to lead to migraine attacks.

 

Country: United Kingdom

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FDA approves Novartis blood pressure drug

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for high blood pressure from Novartis which combines the renin inhibitor, aliskiren, with the calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, in a single pill.

Country: United States

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New drug development company set up in the Benelux

A new company has been set up in the Benelux to discover and develop small molecule drugs for treating bone and joint diseases. It combines assets from TiGenix NV of Belgium and Therosteon BV of the Netherlands.

Country: Belgium

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CRT and Bayer to investigate new approach to gynaecological diseases

Cancer Research Technology of the UK has signed an agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG to evaluate new leptin antagonist peptides as potential treatments for gynaecological diseases, including cancer.

Country: United Kingdom

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