The Roche Group said its candidate antibody for haematological cancers, obinutuzumab, met its primary endpoint in the first stage of a Phase 3 trial and will now move on to be compared directly with MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), the standard of care for leukaemias and lymphomas.
The licensed Amgen Inc medicine Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) failed to meet its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial that was investigating the drug in a new heart failure indication. There were no new safety findings identified in the study.
ArGEN-X BV has announced the initiation of a Phase 1b clinical study in cancer patients of a new antibody targeting CD70, a member of the tumour necrosis factor superfamily. The company also announced an expansion of its discovery alliance with Shire Plc.
ISA Pharmaceuticals BV of the Netherlands has secured €8 million in funding from the Aglaia Oncology Fund and private investors to finance a Phase 2 study of its lead therapeutic vaccine candidate in cervical cancer. This a follow-on to an earlier Series A round.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc of the UK said that top-line results from a Phase 3 trial of an experimental drug for Fabry disease failed to meet its primary endpoint of clearing a lipid substra
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.