News

Roche acquires RNAi delivery technology

Roche said that it has reached an agreement to take over the privately-owned Mirus Bio Corporation of Madison, Wisconsin, for $125 million in order to gain access to the company’s RNAi delivery technology.

GSK and Cambridge University in research collaboration

GlaxoSmithKline has signed its first ever research agreement with the University of Cambridge in the UK to develop a novel, centrally-acting agent with therapeutic potential for obesity and addictive disorders. Financial terms were not disclosed.

GlaxoSmithKline changes its research focus

GlaxoSmithKline has decided to concentrate its research on eight areas, including biopharmaceuticals, and to increase its collaborations with external partners. In the future, up to 50% of the company’s drug discovery programmes could be sourced externally, GSK’s chief executive officer, Andrew Witty, told investors on 23 July 2008.

Roche bid for Genentech runs into resistance

Shareholders of Genentech Inc initially looked like they would not accept Roche’s cash bid of $89 per share for all the shares of Genentech that it doesn’t already own. Following the takeover announcement on 21 July 2008, Genentech shares were trading above the bid price with an early quote at $93.50.

Power to the FDA

There is at least one forum every year where biopharmaceutical executives can pose questions directly to the management of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. This is the ‘CDER Town Meeting’ at the annual meeting of the Drug Information Association (DIA).

4SC raises €29.45 million to finance oncology acquisition

The German drug developer, 4SC AG, said that it has raised €29.45 million from existing and new shareholders in order to finance its acquisition of eight oncology projects from Nycomed, a privately-owned, Zurich-based pharmaceutical company. The capital increase was supported by Santo Holding (Deutschland) GmbH, which is 4SC’s largest shareholder.

Actelion and GSK to co-develop insomnia drug

The Swiss biopharmaceutical company, Actelion AG, will receive CHF 150 million (£66 million) up-front and up to CHF 3.15 billion in future milestone payments from GlaxoSmithKline as part of a co-development and co-commercialisation deal for Actelion’s treatment for primary insomnia, almorexant.