News

NicOx withdraws application for naproxcinod

Country
France

NicOx SA has decided to withdraw its European marketing authorisation application for naproxcinod, a candidate drug for osteoarthritis, following feedback from the CHMP that more data would be required in order to get a positive opinion.

Novartis generates $3.1 bln from new products in Q1

Country
Switzerland

Novartis generated $3.1 billion in net sales from recently launched products in the 2011 first quarter, a period that was otherwise marked by a flat operating income and a decline in the company’s operating margin.

Circassia raises £60 million for allergy products

Country
United Kingdom

Privately-held Circassia Ltd of the UK has raised £60 million to be paid over two years from Imperial Innovations Group Plc and other investors in order to finance the development of its T-cell vaccines to treat a range of allergies.

Novartis withdraws EMA application for lumiracoxib

Country
United Kingdom

Novartis has decided to withdraw its marketing authorisation application for Joicela (lumiracoxib) from the European Medicines Agency, the EMA announced. Joicela was intended to be used for symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis.

FDA approves Actemra for juvenile arthritis

Country
Switzerland

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Actemra (tocilizumab), given alone or in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children aged two or over. Roche is the developer

EMA recommends Avastin plus capecitabine for breast cancer

Country
United Kingdom

In another twist to the long-running Avastin saga, the European Medicines Agency has reversed an earlier opinion and its now recommending that Avastin (bevacizumab), plus capecitabine, be approved for first-line metastatic breast cancer.

Roche first quarter sales mixed

Country
Switzerland

The Roche Group released mixed sales figures for the first 2011 quarter but said that it is still on target to achieve its sales projection for the full year of a low single-digit rise expressed in local currencies. The projection excludes sales of its influenza drug, Tamiflu.

4SC licences HDAC inhibitor to Japanese company

Country
Germany

4SC AG has licensed, on an exclusive basis, its investigational pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor for oncology, resminostat, to Yakult Honsha Co Ltd for development and commercialisation in Japan.