Antibodies said to attack viruses within cells
Researchers funded by the UK Medical Research Council have reported that the human body has a system of intracellular immunity by which antibodies can fight viruses from within infected cells.
News
Gain in market share boosts Shire’s Q3 results
Shire Plc reported strong third quarter results, partly because it was able to nearly triple sales of two drugs that compete directly with products that Genzyme Corp is having trouble supplying.
GSK to invest $60 million in US orphan developer
GlaxoSmithKline Plc is to pay approximately $60 million upfront for a licensing agreement and equity investment in the US-listed biopharmaceutical company, Amicus Therapeutics Inc, which is developing a product for Fabry disease.
FDA turns down diabetes drug from Biodel
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a ‘complete response letter’ to Biodel Inc of Danbury, Connecticut rejecting its new drug application for Linjeta, a rapid-acting injectable regular human insulin for Types 1 and 2 diabetes.
US researchers generate hepatic tissue
Researchers from the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University’s Baptist Medical Center have seeded human liver cells in a laboratory and reportedly maintained them in a specialised bioreactor for up to one week.
FDA approves everolimus for benign brain tumour
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the Novartis cancer drug, Afinitor (everolimus), for a new indication which is to treat patients with a benign brain tumour but who are not candidates for surgery.
MorphoSys increases proprietary R&D spending
MorphoSys AG increased its proprietary research and development spending by 40% in the first nine months of 2010 – an indicator of the growing importance of its portfolio of internally-generated therapeutic antibodies.
Sanofi’s diversification strategy appears to be working well
Financial results from Sanofi-Aventis for the third quarter and first nine months indicate that the French pharmaceutical company’s strategy of diversifying into developing countries while cutting costs is working well.
FDA approves new indication for Sprycel
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new indication for the cancer drug, Sprycel (dasatinib), enabling it to be administered to patients with a rare blood cancer when it is first diagnosed.
Novo Nordisk raises guidance after strong Q3 results
Novo Nordisk A/S, the Danish specialist in diabetes products, raised its guidance for 2010 sales and earnings following strong results for the third quarter.