News

Intercell to launch vaccine in India

Country
Austria

With the launch of its Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in India imminent, Intercell expects to report higher product sales in 2012 compared with a year earlier. However the company’s net loss for the year will probably be at the high end of €15 to €20 million.

Nanobiotix secures collaboration for lead product

Country
France

Nanobiotix SA of France has secured a development partnership for its lead product, a nanoparticle device that is intended to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy, with PharmaEngine Inc of Taiwan. The upfront payment is $1 million.

Bapineuzumab AD programme discontinued

Country
United States

Johnson & Johnson Inc and Pfizer Inc have announced the termination of their jointly-run investigation of the drug, bapineuzumab, for patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This follows the failure of two Phase 3 studies.

Novartis andUPenn to work on cellular therapies

Country
Switzerland

Novartis has announced plans to invest in a new Center for Advanced Cellular Therapies at the University of Pennsylvania in the US to research immunotherapies for patients with cancer using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technologies.

Wilex plans rights offering

Country
Germany

Wilex AG has announced plans to raise approximately €17.3 million in cash, and to convert an existing loan into equity, ahead of a meeting with the FDA to discuss a further development strategy for its cancer diagnostic Redectane.

FDA approves Zaltrap for colorectal cancer

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new angiogenesis inhibitor, Zaltrap (ziv-aflibercept), for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA are co-developers.

Galapagos sees higher revenue in 2012

Country
Netherlands

On the strength of its new collaboration with Abbott Laboratories Inc in rheumatoid arthritis, Galapagos is predicting that revenue this year will climb to €150 million- above the €115.3 million reported in 2011 – and that the group will show a net profit.

FDA lifts clinical hold on Allergy Therapeutics trial

Country
United Kingdom

The US Food and Drug Administration has lifted a clinical hold – imposed in 2007 – on an allergy vaccine trial that was being conducted by Allergy Therapeutics Plc, paving the way for further testing and commercialisation of the product.

GSK completes HGS acquisition

Country
United Kingdom

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has announced the completion of its acquisition of Human Genome Sciences Inc (HGS) for $3.6 billion, or approximately $3 billion net of cash and debt. All of the outstanding shares of HGS were bought for $14.25 per share in cash.

MorphoSys confirms guidance despite first-half loss

Country
Germany

MorphoSys AG has confirmed its guidance for revenue and profit this year despite a drop in income and a loss for the first six months. The first-half figures compare unfavourably with a year earlier when the company received a huge technology payment.