Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer Inc. (PFE) to develop and commercialize MultiStem(R) for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease ("IBD"). MultiStem is an investigational stem cell therapy currently in development by Athersys for several other conditions, including acute myocardial infarction, bone marrow transplant support, and ischemic stroke.
Athersys Strikes Deal With Pfizer to Develop Stem Cell Technology for Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Roche Licenses First-in-Class Treatments for Chronic Pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals
Pappas, Third Rock, Domain and New Leaf Launch New Company Centered on Novel Pain
Management Technology; Afferent to Initiate Clinical Trials in First Half of 2010
Basel, Switzerland and Palo Alto, Calif., 16 December 2009 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today it has licensed its P2X3i receptor program aimed at developing first-in-class treatments for chronic pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals. Afferent was co-founded by Anthony Ford, Ph.D., Pappas Ventures, and Third Rock Ventures, and is focused on developing compounds that treat chronic pain by targeting a novel biological pathway. In conjunction with this announcement, Afferent successfully closed a $23 million Series A financing, which was led by Third Rock Ventures and Pappas Ventures, and included Domain Associates and New Leaf Venture Partners. Proceeds from the financing will be used to accelerate the development of P2X3 receptor targeted pain therapies.
Roche Licenses First-in-Class Treatments for Chronic Pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today it has licensed its P2X3i receptor program aimed at developing first-in-class treatments for chronic pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals. Afferent was co-founded by Anthony Ford, Ph.D., Pappas Ventures, and Third Rock Ventures, and is focused on developing compounds that treat chronic pain by targeting a novel biological pathway. In conjunction with this announcement, Afferent successfully closed a $23 million Series A financing, which was led by Third Rock Ventures and Pappas Ventures, and included Domain Associates and New Leaf Venture Partners. Proceeds from the financing will be used to accelerate the development of P2X3 receptor targeted pain therapies.
VCs Invest $23M In Roche Holding Spinout Afferent Pharmaceuticals
Venture firms are investing $23 million to spin out a start-up from Roche Holding Ltd. that plans to attack chronic pain in a new way.
This New Technology Simply Saved My Legs
Ahmed Habib, MD is a board certified cardiologist and a member of the medical staff at Moberly Regional Medical Center, and on faculty at the University Hospital in Columbia. He has been practicing in Moberly since 1995. Lately, Dr. Habib has been using an innovative new device for patients who have 100 percent blocked arteries in their legs.
LEAD Therapeutics presents new antibiotic with potent activity against drug resistant bacteria at the 49th ICAAC
LEAD Therapeutics, a privately held drug discovery company, announced the discovery of a novel antibiotic with potent activity against many of the most common antibiotic resistant bacteria. LEAD will present the new glycopeptide antibiotic, LT-29, for the first time at the 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). LT-29 is in preclinical development to treat serious infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other gram-positive bacteria.
CardioDx completes validation study of first-of-its-kind genomic test for coronary artery disease
CardioDx, a cardiovascular genomic diagnostics company, announced today that the company has successfully completed its multicenter validation study for Corus(TM) CAD, the first and only gene expression test to quantify the likelihood of obstructive(1) coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable chest pain. The company expects to present results of the study by the end of 2009, and will publish the results in 2010.
Unlikely treatment identified by Braincells neurogenesis platform improved clinical outcomes in patients suffering from depression
BrainCells Inc., a company leading the scientific research of neurogenesis using its proprietary platform technology to identify novel pathways for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced today results from the first clinical proof-of-concept study of BCI-952, a combination of low dose buspirone and melatonin, for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The data were presented at NCDEU 2009, a meeting co-sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Neurogenesis is the process by which pre-existing stem cells in the hippocampus of the adult brain produce new brain cells, including neurons.
Plaque Piercing Device Relieves Patients' Clogged Arteries
Plaque-piercing device relieves patients' clogged arteries.
CeNeRx Biopharma completes $9 million financing
CeNeRx BioPharma, Inc., a clinical stage company developing and commercializing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system, today announced completion of a $9 million financing. The financing includes a $5 million credit facility from MidCap Financial and $4 million in convertible debt from existing investors Aisling Capital, L Capital Partners and Pappas Ventures. CeNeRx plans to use the proceeds to advance its pipeline of promising clinical and preclinical stage compounds for mood disorders, neurodegenerative conditions and pain and spasticity.
