News

Oxford BioTherapeutics out-licenses preclinical antibody

Country
United Kingdom

In yet another example of the fast pace of cancer research, Sanofi-Aventis has signed an exclusive licensing deal with Oxford BioTherapeutics Ltd to gain access to a preclinical antibody programme that can be used to develop antibody-drug conjugate products.

Amgen acquires oncolytic vaccine company

Country
United States

Amgen Inc has made an agreed bid for privately-owned BioVex Group Inc of the US of which has a therapeutic cancer vaccine in late clinical development against metastatic melanoma and head and neck cancer.

Sanofi extends offer for Genzyme to 15 February

Country
France

Sanofi-Aventis SA is extending its offer for Genzyme Corp until 15 February 2011 at an unchanged price of $69 per share. The all-cash offer was previously scheduled to expire on 21 January. In share trading, Genzyme was quoted at $71.48 on 24 January.

MorphoSys says 2010 result will be below forecast

Country
Germany

MorphoSys AG said its preliminary, unaudited financial results for 2010 show revenue of €87 million, up by 7.4% from a year earlier, and an operating profit of €10 million, down by 12.3%. Both figures are lower than the forecasted amounts.

FDA approves new antidepressant

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to treat major depressive disorder in adults. The drug, Viibryd (vilazodone hydrochloride), is a dual-acting modulator of serotonin neurotransmission developed by Clinical Data Inc.

Evotec to collaborate with Takeda on CNS discovery

Country
Germany

Evotec AG has announced plans to collaborate with Takeda Cambridge Ltd, a unit of Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company, to identify small-molecule modulators against GPCR and protease targets involved in neurological and metabolic diseases.

GSK to take 2010 fourth quarter legal charge

Country
United Kingdom

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has announced that it expects to take a 2010 fourth quarter charge of £2.2 billion relating to additional provisioning for a US investigation of its US sales practices and for product liability cases regarding Avandia (rosiglitazone).

Abbott withdraws drug application from the EMA

Country
United Kingdom

Abbott Laboratories Ltd has decided to withdraw its European marketing authorisation application for Ozespa (briakinumab) which was intended to be used for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults, according to the EMA.