News

Ablynx NV expects that its heavy-chain-only antibody technology will show clinical progress in 2010 from its own and partnered programmes. It also expects to report progress on new delivery technologies.

The clot-dissolving investigational drug, desmoteplase, still has potential for treating patients with acute ischaemic stroke up to nine hours after the onset of symptoms, the drug’s developer, H. Lundbeck A/S, told an international conference.

After reviewing 50 possible acquisitions, and carrying out detailed negotiations with three, MorphoSys AG has concluded that there are no takeover opportunities that would significantly enhance its own antibody portfolio.

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd has partnered its Phase 3 antifungal agent, isavuconazole, with Astellas Pharma Inc of Japan, making it eligible for an upfront payment of CHF75 million (€51 million).

Three large pharmaceutical companies have set up a new not-for-profit company to conduct research into the most commonly-diagnosed cancers in Asia. The initial focus of the research will be on lung and gastric cancers.

The US Food and Drug Administration has accelerated its review of a new product for Fabry disease produced by Shire Plc as supply shortages of the only currently marketed treatment for the disease continue.

Following the failure of its lead compound for migraine, Addex Pharmaceuticals Ltd is refocusing its clinical development and partnering efforts on a candidate treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Shire Plc, the British specialty pharma company, produced 2009 revenues of $3 billion, little changed from the previous year. This was an accomplishment because sales of its best-selling drug fell 43% after it lost its US patent protection in the 2009 first quarter.

In a boost for the emerging field of epigenetics, privately-owned CellCentric Ltd of Cambridge, UK has negotiated access to one of its cancer discovery programmes to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. The deal is valued at about $200 million.

The ReNeuron Group Plc has raised £4.7 million, before expenses, from a private share placement with existing and new institutional investors in order to finance its ground-breaking, first-in-man study of a stem cell therapy for stroke.