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.
Mologen AG has confirmed plans to start a Phase 2 study of its lead compound, MGN1703, in non-small cell lung cancer having shown evidence earlier this year of improved progression free survival of the same drug in colorectal cancer.
Clavis Pharma ASA has suspended all work on a lipid-based drug for pancreatic cancer following the drug’s failure in a pivotal trial. The trial was being conducted by Clavis’s partner, Clovis Oncology Inc.
A candidate malaria vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc has shown efficacy in a Phase 3 trial in infants in Africa. But the results were less robust than expected. Researchers involved in the project said they will continue to analyse the data to clarify how the vaccine might play a role in overall malaria prevention.
After a trial delay that triggered a corporate restructuring, Pharming Group NV of the Netherlands has now reported positive clinical data for Ruconest, its lead drug for hereditary angioedema (HAE). A US regulatory filing is expected in the 2013 first half.
Addex Therapeutics Ltd of Switzerland has reported top-line data from an early trial of an allosteric modulator drug in patients with schizophrenia. The data show that the compound, ADX71149, met its primary objectives of safety and tolerability.