Vernalis Plc said it has achieved a research milestone in its drug discovery collaboration with H. Lundbeck A/S, triggering a payment of £0.3 million. The UK company is identifying candidate compounds targeting the kinase, LRRK2.
Merck & Co has out-licensed its gene therapy portfolio to a new Finland-based company, FKD Therapies Oy, that was founded in early 2011 to source and develop gene-based medicines. Merck has taken an undisclosed equity stake in the company.
Apogenix GmbH said it has finished recruiting patients for its ongoing Phase 2 study of a new agent for glioblastoma. The experimental treatment is an inhibitor of the CD95 ligand, which is thought to play a growth-promoting role in tumours.
Merck Serono has taken steps to expand its franchise in multiple sclerosis by acquiring exclusive rights to an experimental drug described as a second-generation peptide copolymer. Teva Pharmaceuticals’ Copaxone is also a peptide copolymer.
A supplemental new drug application for the AIDS medicine, maraviroc (Celsentri/Selzentry), has been withdrawn by its developers pending further studies of the drug’s efficacy as a once-daily treatment.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved two new indications for the osteoporosis drug, Prolia (denosumab), enabling it to be used for cancer treatment-induced bone loss, according to Amgen Inc, the developer.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc has taken the unusual step of tapping the engineering expertise of a sports car manufacturer, the McLaren Group, in order to improve the way it conducts clinical trials, and manufactures pharmaceuticals.
Privately-held Humabs BioMed SA of Switzerland has been launched as an independent company in order to commercialise antibody technology that includes a prospective broadly neutralising antibody against Groups 1 and 2 influenza A viruses.
The US Food and Drug Administration has reorganised the office that deals with oncology drug products in order to take a more disease-specific approach to the evaluation of these medicines. Richard Pazdur will continue as director.
GE Healthcare has announced plans to allocate $1 billion over five years to expand its diagnostic and imaging capabilities in oncology as well as to improve its manufacturing technologies. This will include new spending on biomarkers.