Two new approaches for treating Alzheimer’s disease have recently been disclosed. In separate announcements, a privately-owned company in Canada and researchers in Germany have put forward different approaches for disease-modifying therapies.
Algeta ASA is increasing manufacturing capacity for its lead product, a radiopharmaceutical, as recruitment continues in a pivotal Phase 3 trial of the product in patients with bone metastases arising from hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Evotec AG has reported a small operating profit for the 2010 first half – the first in its 17-year history. The profit, amounting to €0.3 million compared with a year-earlier loss of €29.1 million, comes a little more than a year into a major restructuring programme.
4SC AG expects to report data for its lead investigational compound, vidofludimus, in separate Phase 2 studies in inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis by the end of 2010. On 30 June, the German company had cash of €26.5 million.
Active Biotech AB, a listed Swedish drug development company focused on manipulating the immune system to treat major diseases, said its net loss for the first half of 2010 narrowed to SEK 108.1 million from SEK 118.6 million a year earlier.
BioAlliance Pharma SA posted record revenue of €15.2 million in the 2010 second quarter in what was an illustration of how the fortunes of a small European company can be transformed by a single regulatory approval in the US.
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, reported a 2.8% decline in sales in the first half of 2010, mainly due to generic competition in the US. But it said new product sales would help it achieve a high, single-digit increase in 2011.
The safety and efficacy of the monoclonal antibody, ofatumumab, in the treatment of patients with refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia has been demonstrated in a pivotal clinical trial, according to its developers.
Galápagos NV has paid an undisclosed sum to GlaxoSmithKline Plc to re-acquire rights to a candidate drug for rheumatoid arthritis which inhibits a family of enzymes known as Janus kinase (JAK). It will start a Phase 1 study on 9 August.
A new preclinical antibiotic that is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc has been shown in an image fighting bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics.