After two earlier rejections, a once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes, Bydureon (exenatide extended-release), has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration. The sponsors are Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc and Alkermes Plc.
Transgene SA of France has further advanced its strategy for penetrating the market for biopharmaceuticals in China with the setting up of a wholly-owned subsidiary in Shanghai that will conduct early-stage research and development.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Inlyta (axitinib) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, the seventh drug to be authorised for this indication since 2005, the agency said. The developer is Pfizer Inc.
The first embryonic stem-cell derived therapy for the eye has been safely transplanted into two patients with no signs of inflammation, rejection or tumourigenicity, according to a report published online in The Lancet on 24 January 2012.
A research consortium, led by investigators at St George’s, University of London, has reported discovering a new gene, the fourth in a series, to be associated with lymphoedema, a swelling that arises from an impaired lymphatic system.
A novel immune mechanism that could play a role in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases has been described in the journal Science. The finding was made by a team led by Eric Vivier, scientific co-founder of Innate Pharma SA of France.
James Murdoch has decided to stand down from the board of directors of GlaxoSmithKline Plc at the company’s annual general meeting on 3 May 2012, GSK announced. Mr Murdoch is one of 12 non-executive directors of company.
Two papers in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry have highlighted technology developed by scientists at Heptares Therapeutics Ltd aimed at generating new leads for drugs that target the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family of proteins.
Novartis expects to see a squeeze on margins this year as prices fall for drugs that have recently lost patent protection and more money is invested in new product development. This follows a particularly difficult fourth quarter during which operating income was hit by product cancellations and the suspension of production at a manufacturing site in the US.
Amgen Inc has agreed to pay $1.16 billion in cash to acquire Micromet Inc, a developer of bispecific antibodies. Micromet’s key asset is blinatumomab, an antibody in early clinical development against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.