News

Pharming gives Ruconest update

Country
Netherlands

Pharming Group NV said that it expects the US Food and Drug Administration to complete its review, or otherwise respond, to its biologics licence application for Ruconest (recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor) by 16 April 2014.

Sanofi forecasts decline in EPS

Country
France

Sanofi SA is forecasting a 7% to 10% decline in earnings per share this year at constant exchange rates as the expirations of patents on key products continue to weigh on results and provisions are made against inventory write-offs in Brazil.

AstraZeneca highlights strategic progress; comments on China

Country
United Kingdom

AstraZeneca Plc said that its five therapeutic and geographical priorities showed growth in the second quarter, even as the financial outlook for the group as a whole will be negatively affected  by the loss of exclusivity on key products.

Actelion to acquire Ceptaris Therapeutics

Country
Switzerland

Actelion Ltd is set to acquire Ceptaris Therapeutics Inc of the US pending Food and Drug Administration approval of that company’s product for mycosis fungoides, a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The upfront payment is $25 million.

Nicox gives portfolio update

Country
France

Nicox SA is preparing to launch four, as yet undisclosed, eye care products in the first quarter of 2014 marking a transition to ophthalmology from its previous focus on osteoarthritis. The update was issued with the company’s first-half results.

Cubist expands its antibiotic portfolio through acquisitions

Country
United States

Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc has taken steps to expand its portfolio of marketed and investigational antibiotics with the acquisitions of Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc and Trius Therapeutics Inc. The deals were announced simultaneously on 30 July.

KU Leuven gains rights to gene technology

Country
Belgium

The Belgian university, KU Leuven, has joined forces with a small company in Finland to develop new immunotherapies using a proprietary gene expression technology. The Finnish partner is FIT Biotech of Tampere.

Celgene invests in epigenetics

The science of epigenetics received a boost on 29 July with the announcement by Celgene Corporation of plans to invest in HDAC inhibitors under development by Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc of the US, with an option to buy the company.