Two out of the three patients with chronic lymphoid leukaemia (CLL) who were treated with a novel immunotherapy in 2010 remain healthy and in full remission more than two years after treatment, according to University of Pennsylvania researchers.
Sanofi SA has reported data from a Phase 2 trial of a Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor in myelofibrosis which showed the therapy achieved reductions in spleen size and other disease symptoms in 31 randomised patients.
Another potential therapy for patients with melanoma has emerged with the disclosure on 6 December of preliminary results of a therapeutic cancer vaccine in which four patients showed an immune response. The vaccine has been developed by Scancell Holdings Plc.
TxCell SA of France, which is developing cell-based immunotherapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, has raised €12.4 million from existing shareholders and a new investor to finance a proof-of-concept study of its lead product for Crohn’s disease.
Pharming Group NV has received a $10 million milestone payment from its partner Santarus Inc following the successful Phase 3 trial of Ruconest, its lead drug for hereditary angioedema (HAE). The trial result was reported on 7 November.
A new vaccine technology based on messenger RNA is reported to be effective in animals with influenza A. Data from the studies has been published online in Nature Biotechnology. The vaccines were developed by CureVac GmbH.
The Belgian drug regulator has approved the start of a Phase 3 trial of an autologous cell therapy for patients with chronic heart failure – understood to be the first such trial ever. The therapy was developed by Cardio3 BioSciences SA and the US Mayo Clinic.
Medivir AB of Sweden expects to start a Phase 2 study early next year of a new combination treatment for hepatitis C, as part of its ongoing efforts to build a franchise around its protease inhibitor, simeprevir (TMC435).
Oxford BioMedica Plc has given a clinical update on its gene therapy programmes for ocular diseases, highlighting the safety of its early-stage therapy for a subtype of the deaf-blindness disorder, Usher syndrome. Sanofi SA has in-licensed the programme.
Algeta ASA said it is on course to complete a US regulatory filing for the radium-223 product, Alpharadin, for advanced prostate cancer patients with bone metastases by the end of 2012. The drug is partnered with Bayer Pharma AG.