Plexxikon Inc. today announced data from preclinical studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) demonstrating significantly reduced kidney disease following treatment with Plexxikon’s novel drug candidate. Plexxikon’s novel small molecule kinase inhibitor is a highly selective and potent inhibitor of Raf kinase, a critical mediator of PKD pathology. These data were recently presented at the ISN Forefronts Symposium on Polycystic Kidney Disease in Montreal, Canada by Stefan Somlo, M.D., CNH Long Professor of Internal Medicine and Genetics and Chief of Nephrology at the Yale University School of Medicine.
Plexxikon announces preclinical data demonstrating dramatic improvement in key symptoms of polycystic kidney disease
Dynogen presents results of its positive Phase 2 IBS-d study with DDP225
Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the presentation of positive results from its Phase 2a trial of DDP225 in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-d) at the Digestive Disease Week 2008 (DDW) scientific meeting. The randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial established clinical proof-of-concept with statistically significant results for the endpoint of relief of abdominal pain or discomfort associated with IBS-d. Dynogen previously reported top-line results from this Phase 2a trial in December 2007. The DDW abstract was co-authored by Dynogen and a team of investigators from leading clinical centers in Canada. The DDP225 results were presented yesterday in a Distinguished Abstract Plenary session on Neurogastroenterology and Motility by Steven B. Landau, M.D., a member of Dynogen’s Scientific Advisory Board.
BrainCells expands Series B financing to $50 million
BrainCells Inc. (BCI), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing its platform technology to identify and develop compounds that promote the growth of new neurons for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced today that it raised an additional $20 million in an extension of its Series B financing, bringing the total to $50 million. New investor, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), along with current investors and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. participated in the extension. Other investors that participated in the Series B included MedImmune Ventures, Bay City Capital, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Technology Partners, Pappas Ventures and NeuroVentures. The financing will be used to continue clinical development of BCI’s product candidates including a Phase 2 trial with BCI-540, and to identify additional assets to further expand its pipeline.
BrainCells Inc. initiates Phase 2 clinical trial with BCI-540 for depression with anxiety
BrainCells Inc. (BCI), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing its platform technology to identify and develop compounds that promote the growth of new neurons for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced today that it has initiated a Phase 2a clinical trial with its lead product candidate, BCI-540, for the treatment of depression with anxiety.
MethylGene initiates Phase 1 clinical trial for its multi-targeted (c-Met) kinase inhibitor, MGCD265, in solid tumor cancers
MGCD265 Targets c-Met, VEGFs, Tie-2 and Ron Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
Initial Compound from Portfolio of Potent Multi-targeted Kinase Inhibitors
Montreal, Quebec. April 16, 2008 – MethylGene Inc. (TSX:MYG) today disclosed preclinical data for MGCD265, an oral, multi-targeted (c-Met) kinase inhibitor for cancer that targets the c-Met, Tie-2, Ron and VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases. The data were presented in a poster session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego.
DSMB supports continuation of Anthera Phase 2 impacts trial for the prevention of acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease
Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs, announced today that after completing its review of safety and efficacy data currently available, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has recommended that Anthera’s Phase II clinical trial, known as the IMPACTS (Investigation of the Modulation of Phospholipase in Acute ChesT Syndrome) Study can continue under the current protocol, without change.
Panacos Attracts $18.3M Round To Fund HIV Drug Development (BioWorld Today)
Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. raised $18.3 million in its Series C round of financing.
UCSD, TargeGen team-up on blood disease treatment
A one-year scientific collaboration that included the University of California San Diego and the tiny local biotechnology company TargeGen has moved a treatment for a potentially fatal blood disease into human trials at record speed.
LipoScience: LDL particle measurement by NMR recognized in consensus statement by the ADA and the ACC
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) issued a consensus statement today that states the measurement of LDL particle number by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is one of the more accurate ways to evaluate cardiometabolic risk (CMR). The study, published in the April issue of Diabetes Care, reinforces that LDL cholesterol may not be the best way to quantify a patient’s risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
BioSyntech announces positive preliminary interim data for BST-CarGel® clinical trial
BioSyntech, Inc. (“BioSyntech” or “the Company”) (TSX: BSY), a biotechnology company developing novel products in regenerative medicine, today announced it has received positive preliminary results from a prospectively planned six-month interim analysis of its Canadian-European pivotal clinical trial for BST-CarGel®. Results drawn from a 20 subject subset of the trial indicate evidence of a positive effect of BST-CarGel®treatment on cartilage structure when compared to the surgical control. The interim analysis also showed the safety of BST-CarGel® to be comparable to the control. The sole purpose of this interim analysis was to obtain pilot data for submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a pilot study in support of an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for a U.S. pivotal trial for this medical device.
