News

Nicox reports higher revenue at 9 months

Country
France

France’s Nicox SA, a developer of eye-care products, saw its revenue more than double to €7 million in the first nine months of 2015 from €3.2 million a year earlier following increased product sales. The year-earlier figure excludes revenue from Nicox Inc which was divested in late 2014.

FDA approves first Factor X concentrate

Country
United States

A new coagulation factor replacement therapy has been approved in the US for patients with hereditary Factor X deficiency, a condition that is characterised by the failure of the blood to clot normally. 

Novartis expands oncology portfolio

Country
Switzerland

Novartis has announced plans to acquire one oncology developer and in-license experimental compounds from two other companies in order to bring three new technologies into its immuno-oncology portfolio. 

Biotest takes €84 million in impairments

Country
Germany

Biotest AG of Germany is taking impairments totalling €84 million against its results following a plunge in US sales of Bivigam, an immunoglobulin product for the treatment of patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency.

Basilea to list in the US

Country
Switzerland

Switzerland-based Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd has filed a registration document with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in preparation for a listing of its shares on the Nasdaq over-the-counter market.

Series A funding for Minoryx Therapeutics

Country
Spain

Spain-based Minoryx Therapeutics sl, which is developing drugs for rare diseases, has raised €19.4 million in a Series A funding round to progress its lead candidate into the clinic for multiple disorders of the central nervous system.

Complete response letter for Shire drug

Country
United States

A proposed treatment for dry eye disease has been turned down by the US Food and Drug Administration pending more clinical data and information on product quality, according to the sponsor Shire Plc. Shire announced receipt of a complete response letter on 16 October.

Complete response letter for AZ drug

Country
United States

 A proposed treatment for Type 2 diabetes that combines saxagliptin and dapagliflozin has been turned down by the US Food and Drug Administration, the drug’s sponsor AstraZeneca Plc announced on 16 October. The refusal was in the form of a complete response letter.

FDA approves anticoagulant reversal agent

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug, Praxbind (idarucizumab), that can be used in emergencies to reverse the effects of a blood-thinning medicine that is commonly administered to patients with atrial fibrillation.

German start-up receives Series A funding

Country
Germany

Luxendo GmbH, a start-up medical technology company, has raised €6 million in a Series A funding round to commercialise new microscope technology that enables researchers to create high-resolution images of tissue and living organisims.