Topotarget A/S of Denmark has engaged ABG Sundal Collier to lead a review of the company’s strategic options that could include a new partnership for its lead product, a merger with an industrial partner or a sale of the company.
Genmab A/S has entered into a licensing deal and equity investment with Johnson & Johnson Inc potentially valued at $1.1 billion for an early-stage antibody that targets CD38, a molecule that is highly expressed on multiple myeloma cells. The deal is the largest partnership in the Danish company’s history.
Eli Lilly and Company has announced a decision to stop Phase 3 development of pomaglumetad methionil for schizophrenia after a futility analysis showed that the second of two studies was unlikely to reach its primary endpoint.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new once-daily combination tablet for HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adults that contains two previously approved HIV drugs plus two new ones, providing a complete treatment regime.
Pascal Soriot of Roche is to become the new chief executive of AstraZeneca Plc on 1 October following the retirement on 1 June of David Brennan. Simon Lowth, the acting CEO, will stay in this job until Mr Soriot joins, after which he will continue as CFO.
The US Food and Drug Administration has told Genzyme (Sanofi SA) to re-do its marketing authorization application for Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for MS to change the presentation of the data. No additional data is being requested, Sanofi said.
Eli Lilly and Company is to seek advice from regulators about the possible next step for its investigative Alzheimer’s treatment, solanezumab, following the failure of two Phase 3 trials in patients with mild-to-moderate forms of the disease.
Zealand Pharma A/S has raised its revenue forecast and is predicting a higher profit for 2012 as its clinical programmes, especially in diabetes, continued to generate healthy milestone payments. Payments in the first half alone amounted to €25 million.
Agennix AG has announced plans to reduce its staff by 55% in order to conserve cash following the failure of a Phase 3 trial of its lead product for non-small cell lung cancer, talactoferrin alfa (talactoferrin).
SkyePharma Plc, which specialises in measured delivery of inhaled and oral drugs, announced a major debt refinancing on 23 August 2012 along with its half-year results.