Could 2017 be a pivotal year for RNAi? According to Ali Mortazavi, the chief executive of Silence Therapeutics Plc, this is a strong possibility if upcoming data from the trial of a short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule being developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc are positive.
Mereo BioPharma Group Plc has announced a private share placement intended to raise £15 million to support development of a treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder characterised by bones that break easily.
The Norwegian oncology developer BerGenBio ASA is making an initial public offering of its shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange in order to support development of a Phase 2 compound targeting three cancer indications.
A monoclonal antibody developed by Genentech (Roche) for multiple sclerosis (MS) has been approved for marketing in the US, the first therapy to show a delay in disability for those with progressive forms of the disease. In clinical trials, Ocrevus performed better than Rebif, the standard of care.
Evotec increased its revenue by 29% to €164.5 million in 2016, meeting its financial targets and poised to expand further this year. The Germany-based company is forecasting revenue growth in 2017 of more than 15% and a significant increase in operating income. The operating profit in 2016 was €31.3 million, up from €11.6 million a year earlier.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for women with ovarian cancer whose disease has recurred despite treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. The drug, Zejula (niraparib), is a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor.
Adaptimmune Therapeutics Plc has raised $61.8 million, net of expenses, in a public offering of its American Depositary Shares (ADSs) to advance its T cell receptor products for cancer.
Novo Nordisk A/S has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its new treatment for haemophilia B, a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective factor IX, a blood clotting protein.
An antibody checkpoint inhibitor has become the first drug to be approved in the US for Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer where fewer than half of patients survive more than one year.
Two years after launching in Europe, the Parkinson’s disease drug Xadago (safinamide) has been approved in the US as an add-on treatment to the combination therapy levodopa/carbidopa. The new approval means it will be available in both regions for treating symptoms of the disease such as tremor and impaired mobility.