Silence Therapeutics Plc has announced a one-year extension of its three-year old research and development collaboration with AstraZeneca Plc aimed at identifying five siRNA molecules for respiratory and oncology indications.
BTC Plc expects to report data from a Phase 2a study of its oral multiple sclerosis treatment, Pleneva, in the first half of 2011. Meanwhile, it is making plans to take over US sales from Nycomed of two emergency care products in October, 2010.
A novel approach to antibody development has received the backing of the global medical charity, the Wellcome Trust. Kymab Ltd of Cambridge UK has received £20 million in a Series A round to develop its technology platform.
The technology transfer arm of the UK Medical Research Council has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech Inc for access to a series of small molecule drug candidates for neurological disease. Financial terms were not given.
Merck Serono’s new small molecule drug for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, which is an oral formulation of cladribine, has been approved for marketing in Russia, the first government agency to approve the oral disease-modifying therapy.
Carmat SAS has raised €15.5 million in an initial public offering on the Alternext section of the NYSE-Euronext exchange in Paris to continue development of an artificial heart for patients with heart failure.
A group of international scientists has identified three monoclonal antibodies, the strongest of which neutralises more than 90% of the circulating strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The findings were reported in the journal Science.
The European Medicines Agency has announced a review of rosiglitazone-containing medicines for diabetes following new safety data. The review will decide whether or not the marketing authorisations of the drugs should be revoked, suspended or changed.
Evotec starts Phase 2 depression study
The Lyon-based company, Poxel SA, has raised €16 million in a Series A round, enabling it to advance the Phase 2 programme for its lead compound against Type 2 diabetes. The round was led by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners.