Novartis has released new data on its experimental T-cell immunotherapy which shows that 14 out of 22 paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) achieved complete and sustained remissions of their disease.
Scancell Holdngs Plc said that its lead cancer vaccine that targets dendritic cells has generated a disease-specific immune response in a Phase 1/2 study of patients with late-stage melanoma. There were no reports of serious drug-related side effects.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a second new drug in two weeks to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection – Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) from Gilead Sciences Inc. Sovaldi is the first drug for certain HCV genotypes that won’t need co-treatment with interferon.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc and its partner, Theravance Inc, have announced positive Phase 3 results in asthma for their combination corticosteroid and long-acting beta2 agonist, Breo Ellipta. The companies plan to discuss an asthma filing with the FDA.
The European Medicines Agency has announced the start of an in-depth safety review of Iclusig (ponatinib) in light of reports of cases of blood clots and blockages in the arteries or veins associated with the medicine’s use. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer.
Biocartis NV has joined forces with the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) to develop a new diagnostic test for cancer designed to detect biomarkers of microsatellite instability for several cancers, in particular colorectal cancer.
An experimental cancer therapy that is being developed by Apogenix GmbH has reportedly induced programmed cell death in different animal models of colon cancer, according to an article in the December issue of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
Eli Lilly and Company said that its experimental add-on therapy for depression, edivoxetine, failed to meet the primary endpoint of three Phase 3 studies and that it is ending development of the drug. This will result in a fourth quarter charge of $15 million.
Skyepharma Plc is on course to generate new product and technology platform revenue in the future following positive regulatory and reimbursement reviews for both its flutiform asthma drug and a GlaxoSmithKline Plc product that uses Skyepharma’s delivery technology.
BTG Plc has received the go-ahead from the Food and Drug Administration to market a non-surgical procedure for the treatment of patients with varicose veins, a condition that is estimated to affect more than 30 million adults in the US from the ages of 18 to 70 years.