MediGene AG has announced plans to stop early-stage research in order to focus on more advanced drug development projects. This includes continuing work on its liposome technology and finding a partner for the drug candidate, EndoTAG-1.
Solvay SA has become the latest European company to alter its business strategy with a decision to sell its pharmaceutical business to Abbott Laboratories for €4.5 billion. It will reinvest the proceeds in chemicals and plastics.
Crucell NV said that it has entered a strategic collaboration with a Johnson & Johnson unit to develop a universal monoclonal antibody for the treatment and prevention of influenza. J&J has also paid €301.8 million for an 18% stake in Crucell.
The European Medicines Agency is recommending that four new drugs be allowed onto the market in Europe including a new therapy from Sanofi-Aventis for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
The European Medicines Agency has recommended that two vaccines for influenza A (H1N1), known as swine flu, be granted a European Union-wide marketing authorisation. The vaccines are Focetria from Novartis and Pandemrix from GlaxoSmithKline.
NicOx SA said it has filed a new drug application (NDA) with the US Food and Drug Administration for naproxcinod for the treatment of osteoarthritic pain.
The pharmaceutical industry must move quickly to change its business model in order to be able to deliver new products in the future, Jean-Claude Muller of sanofi-aventis told a meeting of industry executives.
Qiagen NV, a Dutch provider of sample and assay technologies, has acquired DxS Ltd, of Britain in a transaction that will expand Qiagen’s market position in molecular diagnostics for personalised medicine.
The European Commission’s research partnership with industry aimed at finding new ways of making drug development more efficient is preparing to launch a new series of projects valued at €156.3 million
Cell Medica Ltd, an early-stage cellular therapeutics company, has received £1.95 million in new funding in order to commercialise its lead product, a cell therapy technique which protects patients from infection following a bone marrow transplant.