Shire Plc has revised upward its sales forecast for 2008 following a strong second quarter in which revenue rose by 35% on the back of robust demand for its five newest products. The company said revenue growth for the year is expected to be “at least” 20%. Previously, it had forecast growth in the mid to high teens.
Ark Therapeutics Group Plc said that a Phase 3 study of its gene therapy for brain cancer reached its primary endpoint. The multi-centre trial was undertaken at the request of the European Medicines Agency to confirm the safety and efficacy of the treatment, which is known as Cerepro.
GPC Biotech AG said that the European marketing authorisation application for its cancer drug, satraplatin, is being withdrawn following a review at the European Medicines Agency which indicated the drug is not approvable.
MorphoSys AG, which specialises in developing antibody-based drugs, reported that its half-year revenues rose by 16% to €33.3 million from the year-earlier period while its net profit tripled to €6.3 million from €2 million.
One of the UK’s most promising vaccine developers, Acambis Plc, has agreed to be acquired by Sanofi Pasteur Holding in an all-cash deal valued at £276 million.
Roche said that it has agreed to pay C$191 million in cash for a Canadian biotechnology company, ARIUS Research Inc, which has developed a new antibody platform.
Roche said that it has reached an agreement to take over the privately-owned Mirus Bio Corporation of Madison, Wisconsin, for $125 million in order to gain access to the company’s RNAi delivery technology.
GlaxoSmithKline has decided to concentrate its research on eight areas, including biopharmaceuticals, and to increase its collaborations with external partners. In the future, up to 50% of the company’s drug discovery programmes could be sourced externally, GSK’s chief executive officer, Andrew Witty, told investors on 23 July 2008.
Galapagos NV of Belgium said that it has received a €1 million payment from Eli Lilly and Co for reaching the first milestone in a collaboration in osteoporosis.
Novartis AG has extended its research collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals relating to the development of therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi) for one year through October 2009.