Venture-capital backed SuppreMol GmbH has announced the start of a Phase 2a study of a recombinant protein for systemic lupus erythematosus. This follows FDA approval in March of an antibody therapeutic for lupus from GSK, the first new drug for the disease since 1955.
A novel monoclonal antibody that is said to have the potential to neutralise most group 2 influenza A viruses has been described in a paper in the journal Science. The research was conducted by Crucell NV and The Scripps Research Institute of the US.
Sanofi SA has stopped a Phase 3b trial of its antiarrhythmic, Multaq (dronedarone), in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation following a significant increase in cardiovascular events in those receiving the drug.
A study published in Nature Medicine has suggested that inhibiting a receptor called death receptor-6 may represent a novel approach for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The study was undertaken by researchers at Biogen Idec of the US.
Novartis AG said that its Phase 3 trial of Afinitor (everolimus) for women with advanced breast cancer has been stopped early after interim results showed that the primary endpoint of progression-free survival was met.
AstraZeneca Plc is to make an undisclosed up-front cash payment to PTC Therapeutics Inc for access to technology that regulates the rate and timing of protein production in the cell. The goal is to discover new small molecule drugs for cancer.
A project aimed at developing tools to monitor the neurotoxic effects of environmental pollutants on developmental disorders in children has been funded by the European Commission under its 7th Framework programme for research.
Oxford BioMedica Plc said that its gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration was shown to be safe and well-tolerated following the administration of a first dose in a Phase 1 study at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US.
Roche has reported that its investigational treatment for advanced basal cell carcinoma, vismodegib, shrank tumours in a Phase 2 study of patients with locally-advanced disease and those with metastatic disease.
Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH of Tübingen, Germany has started vaccination of the first patients in a Phase 3 trial of its therapeutic vaccine for renal cell cancer. The primary endpoint is overall survival in combination with sunitinib.