Data from two Phase 3 studies of the antibody mepolizumab in severe asthma have shown statistically significant reductions in asthma exacerbations and a reduction in the need for daily oral corticosteroid use, according to the developer, GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
Shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG of Germany began trading on the Nasdaq over-the-counter market in the US on 12 September following an initial public offering of eight million new shares. Priced at $7 per share, the shares were trading at $5.98 on 15 September.
AM-Pharma BV of the Netherlands has raised €12.2 million for the further clinical development of its recombinant human alkaline phosphatase product for acute kidney injury and ulcerative colitis – its second major fundraising in three years
Alizé Pharma SAS has raised €5 million to finance further development of an analog of a metabolic hormone that has the potential to treat type-2 diabetes and a rare children’s disease called the Prader-Willi syndrome.
Genmab A/S is expanding its involvement in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with a new agreement to in-license technology from Seattle Genetics Inc. Under the latest deal, the Danish company will develop an ADC for potential use against solid tumours.
The fall-out from an alleged fiddle of Type 1 diabetes research by an Israeli company has spread to California and then on to Germany.
Results of a Phase 2 study of benralizumab from AstraZeneca Plc for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. The drug is said to be the first biologic to show a marked reduction in inflammation.
Biocartis NV, a Belgian developer of molecular diagnostics, has raised €64.5 million in equity finance to support the commercialisation of its Idylla diagnostic system.
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued its first approval for a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the T cell receptor programmed death 1 or PD-1 for the treatment of advanced melanoma. The drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), was developed by Merck & Co Inc.
In keeping with the trend among European biotechs to finance themselves in the US, Ablynx NV of Belgium has started an open-ended programme of selling its shares on the US over-the-counter market through the creation of American Depository Receipts (ADRs).