BioAlliance Pharma SA has announced a change in leadership with the appointment of Judith Greciet as chief executive officer. She will succeed the company’s co-founder and chief executive, Dominique Costantini, from 29 June 2011.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new antibacterial for the treatment of diarrhoea associated with Clostridium difficile in adults 18 years and older, according to the drug’s manufacturer, Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Cancer Research UK has entered an agreement with Centella Therapeutics Inc of the US to develop a preclinical drug candidatate that is designed to be used in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat solid tumours.
Intercell AG is recalling batch JEV09L37 its Japanese encephalitis vaccine, Ixiaro, because it is less potent than expected. At a result, the CHMP committee of the European Medicines Agency recommended revaccination with a different batch.
Evotec AG has announced the start of a strategic alliance with PsychoGenics Inc of the US to enhance its capabilities in the area of drug discovery for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Novartis said the results of two Phase-3 studies of ACZ885 (canakinumab) indicate that the human monoclonal antibody can slow attacks of severe gouty arthritis by up to 68% when compared with the standard steroid treatment (triamcinolone acetonide TA).
Privately-owned GenKyoTex SA has raised 14.5 million Euro to bring a compound for diabetic nephropathy into the clinic and advance other programmes. The Series C round was led by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners of Paris, France.
Lab21 Ltd, a diagnostic service provider, has announced the acquisition of Myconostica Ltd of the UK which develops molecular tests for the diagnosis of fungal infections. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has given a positive opinion to Benlysta (belimumab), GlaxoSmithKline’s new medicine for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The drug was approved by the FDA on 9 March 2011.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first test for establishing whether a pregnant woman or a person with swollen lymph nodes who tests positive for toxoplasmosis has developed the infection within the past four months.