News

Novartis acquires neurology company

Country
Switzerland

Novartis is increasing its involvement in neurology with the acquisition of Spinifex Pharmaceuticals Inc, a privately held Australian-American company that is developing a potentially novel treatment for chronic pain and particularly neuropathic pain.

Allergy Therapeutics outlines plans for US trials

Country
United Kingdom

Allergy Therapeutics Plc has outlined plans for the resumption of US clinical trials of its short-course vaccine against grass allergy, Pollinex Quattro Grass, following the submission of trial protocols to the Food and Drug Administration, and new funding.

EMA recommends HDAC inhibitor for myeloma

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has recommended the approval of the first histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a rare cancer of the white blood cells. The drug, Farydak (panobinostat), was developed by Novartis.

Novartis gives update on its oncology strategy

Country
Switzerland

A little more than three months after acquiring GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s marketed oncology drugs, Novartis has outlined a strategy for exploiting these assets, as well as developing its wider oncology portfolio.

FDA approves new brain implant

Country
United States

A new implantable deep brain stimulation device has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with symptoms of both Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, two discrete disorders for which there are no medical cures.

US moves against trans fats

Country
United States

Acting on evidence that trans-unsaturated fatty acids are a risk for heart disease, the Food and Drug Administration has ordered manufacturers of processed foods to reformulate their products to remove these ingredients, also known as trans fats.

Kiadis disclosed details of its IPO in Amsterdam and Brussels

Country
Netherlands

Kiadis Pharma NV said that its previously announced initial public offering on the Amsterdam and Brussels Euronext exchanges will consist of 2,272,727 shares to be priced at between €11 and €13.75 per share with a final price to be announced on 1 July..

Cosmo Pharma plans to list a subsidiary

Country
Luxembourg

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SA, a specialty developer of gastro-intestinal products and a generic drug manufacturer, has announced plans to float a subsidiary on the Swiss Stock Exchange where it has a listing of its own. Terms of the offering are to be disclosed later.

Nordic oncology company created

Country
Norway

Targovax AS of Norway and Oncos Therapeutics Oy of Finland have agreed to an all-share merger to create a Nordic oncology company with a combined portfolio of early-stage cancer vaccines poised to take advantage of new opportunities in immuno-oncology.

First post-IPO results for Abzena

Country
United Kingdom

Bolstered by an initial public offering of its shares in 2014, the year-old Abzena Group Plc ended its first financial year with a cash balance of £15.8 million, up from £2.8 million a year earlier. Revenue growth was supported by the company’s immunology services.