Company News

4SC AG chief executive steps down

Country
Germany

Ulrich Dauer, a co-founder and the current chief executive and chair of the management board of 4SC AG, will be stepping down from his positions effective 31 March. Announcing the move on 6 March, the German company cited “personal reasons.”

MorphoSys to raise R&D spending

Country
Germany

MorphoSys AG expects to increase spending on its proprietary antibody programmes this year after a reduction in investment in 2012 in order to push forward an in-licensed compound for cancer. It is also in active discussions to partner its antibody for RA.

Trajenta won’t be launched in Germany - BI

Country
Germany

The Type-2 diabetes drug Trajenta (linagliptin) won’t be launched in Germany following a decision by the county’s reimbursement authority that it doesn’t provide any additional benefit compared with medicines already on the market.

Australia strikes down AZ’s Crestor patents

Country
United Kingdom

The Federal Court of Australia has upheld a challenge to AstraZeneca’s patents for the cholesterol medication, Crestor (rosuvastatin). The company said that it is reviewing its legal options which could include filing an appeal.

Humer to step down at Roche

Country
Switzerland

The Roche Group has announced that its former chief executive and current chairman of the board of directors, Franz Humer, will not be standing for re-election to the board in 2014. The company will nominate a successor in the autumn of 2013.

Reaction to Elan’s dividend announcement muted

Country
Ireland

After the directors of Elan Corporation proposed a dividend based on 20% of the company’s royalty revenues from its sale of the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri to Biogen Idec, the stock market reaction was muted.

Diabetes project gets money

Country
United States

A stem-cell encapsulation product designed to treat people with insulin-dependent diabetes has received fresh funding, and according to the developer, could enter the clinic in 2014.

Ablynx share issue oversubscribed

Country
Belgium

Ablynx NV has announced that its private placement of shares was oversubscribed with the result that it raised €31.5 million by way of an accelerated bookbuilding procedure announced on 27 February.

Santhera explores strategic options

Country
Switzerland

Switzerland-based Santhera Pharmaceuticals said that it is exploring its strategic options which could include a merger or acquisition. This follows its voluntary withdrawal of Catena, a product for Friedreich’s Ataxia, from the Canadian market on 27 February.

New products lift UCB

Country
Belgium

UCB SA reported revenue growth of 7% to €3.46 billion in 2012, a year during which net sales of three new products exceeded for the first time those of the legacy product for epilepsy, Keppra (levetiracetam). The revenue outcome was in line with the company’s revised forecast in August.