Crucell NV of the Netherlands said the US government has agreed to fund further clinical studies of its adenovirus-based vaccine technology against the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
NicOx SA has confirmed its plans to submit regulatory applications in the US and Europe by the end of 2009 for its anti-inflammatory agent, naproxcinod, which has been developed to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SpA booked a profit after tax of €2 million in the 2009 first half, after a year-earlier loss of € 0.8 million, as demand for Lialda/Mezavant (mesalazine), its treatment for ulcerative colitis, grew.
Sanofi-Aventis said that it is on course to realise savings of €2 billion by 2013 while promoting a research culture that is flexible and entrepreneurial. The company is predicting that earnings per share will increase by about 10% in 2009.
AstraZeneca Plc achieved higher sales and pre-tax profit in the 2009 second quarter, and at the same time moved three late-stage products into registration. The UK-based multinational has also raised its earnings-per-share guidance for the year.
Addex Pharmaceuticals Ltd has taken steps to expand its discovery platform while keeping costs in check in the first half of 2009. It also expects Phase 2b data from its lead product for GERD in the fourth quarter.
York Pharma Plc, a British company that develops dermatological products for the hospital market, has gone into administration because of a shortage of cash.
The Swedish speciality pharmaceutical company, Biovitrum AB, said revenue before licensing income increased by 52% to SEK 675.1 million in the 2009 first half as the company expanded its pharmaceutical sales beyond the Nordic region.
Alizyme Plc, a UK company that mostly in-licensed medical products and out-sourced their clinical development with a view to eventually selling the products to another company at a profit, has gone into administration because of a lack of funds.
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s decision to acquire Medarex Inc for $2.1 billion has lifted the shares of antibody companies in both the US and Europe including that of Genmab A/S which was founded in 1999 on the basis of Medarex technology.