Scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute in the US have reported the successful construction of a self-replicating, synthetic bacterial cell, technology that could have future application to pharmaceuticals.
TPP Global Development Plc, a newly formed investor in spin-outs from research institutes and universities, has received a £9.6 million investment from the Scottish Venture Fund and other investors.
Astellas Pharma of Japan is paying $4 billion in cash to acquire the US biotechnology company, OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc, giving it rights to the cancer drug, Tarceva (erlotinib). The purchase price is a sweetened $57.50 per share.
The Belgian and Swedish developers of a new cancer antibody that targets the placental growth factor (PIGF) are set to receive a €10 million from Roche following the start of a new trial of the drug in patients with colorectal and ovarian cancer.
Pharming Group NV has reached a deal with former shareholders of its wholly-owned subsidiary, DNage BV, under which the shareholders will forego €10 million of earn-out payments due to them in return for 49% of DNage and 5 million Pharming shares.
Crucell NV is accelerating the development of its pipeline amid plans to increase spending on research and development by more than one-third in 2010. Overseeing the company’s R&D strategy is the new CMO, Jerald Sadoff.
Intercell AG is investing €15 million to acquire antibody technology directed at discovering new therapies for infectious disease including hospital-acquired infections. It is buying the technology from Cytos Biotechnology Ltd.
NicOx SA’s candidate product for osteoarthritis, naproxcinod, has failed to get the support of a joint US Food and Drug Administration advisory committee which said the French’s company’s new drug application needs more data.
SkyePharma Plc said that it has applied to have its asthma treatment, Flutiform, approved for marketing in Europe, while preparations are underway to test the drug in Phase 3 trials in Japan. The UK company gave the product update on 12 May 2010.
Galapagos NV said that it has expanded a risk-sharing deal with Roche aimed at discovering new therapies against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to increase the number of targets for antibody drugs. The deal dates from January 2010.