Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, reported preliminary results of a second Phase IIb clinical trial of A-002, for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this second study, administration of once-daily A-002 lowered both sPLA2 and LDL-C levels confirming the positive effects of A-002 treatment seen in the twice-daily PLASMA study (Phospholipase Levels And Serological Markers of Atherosclerosis) announced in October 2007.
Anthera announces preliminary positive results from once-daily A-002 Phase 2 cardiovascular trial
Anthera receives orphan drug status 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 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Orphan Product Development has granted A-001 orphan drug status for the prevention of acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease.
Dynogen announces positive results in Phase 2 IBS-d study
Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive results from its Phase 2 trial of DDP225 in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-d). The randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial generated statistically significant results for the clinical endpoint of relief from abdominal pain or discomfort associated with IBS-d. Detailed results will be submitted for disclosure in a peer-reviewed journal or at a future medical conference.
FlowCardia launches peripheral CROSSER catheters in the US
FlowCardia, Inc., a medical device company developing a portfolio of endovascular devices for the treatment of coronary and peripheral chronic total occlusions (CTOs), announced FDA 510(k) clearance and immediate U.S. launch of the CROSSER 14P, CROSSER 14S and CROSSER 18 CTO Recanalization Catheters.
Athersys authorized for Phase 1 clinical trial in bone marrow transplant support
Athersys, Inc. (OTCBB:AHYS) announced today that it has been notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that its Investigational New Drug, MultiStem(r), can proceed to a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the safety of MultiStem administration in support of bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of certain cancers of the blood and immune system. This study is the first of several planned clinical trials for MultiStem, which the company believes has broad potential in a number of indications based on its multiple mechanisms of action, its ability to be delivered "off-the-shelf" like a pharmaceutical product, and the safety and effectiveness that have been demonstrated in preclinical studies by the company and its collaborators.
LEAD Therapeutics announces strategic research collaboration with ShangPharma
LEAD Therapeutics, Inc., a chemistry-driven drug discovery company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, today announced it has entered into a strategic research collaboration with Shanghai ChemPartner in China, the wholly owned subsidiary of ShangPharma. In conjunction with this collaboration, China Gateway Life Science (Holding) Ltd., the strategic investment arm of ShangPharma, has made an equity investment in LEAD Therapeutics. Previously announced investors include Pappas Ventures, ProQuest Investments, and Mustang Ventures.
Dynogen begins Phase 2b trial for IBS with constipation drug
Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the first patients have been dosed in a Phase 2b trial of DDP733 (pumosetrag) as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-c). This DDP733 Phase 2b trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study that is enrolling female patients with IBS-c at multiple centers in the U.S. and Canada. The study is assessing efficacy using the Overall Subject Global Assessment (OSGA) of relief of IBS symptoms, as well as the safety and tolerability of the drug.
LEAD Therapeutics raises $17 million in Series A financing
LEAD Therapeutics, Inc., a chemistry-driven drug discovery company, today announced it has raised $17 million in Series A financing co-led by Pappas Ventures and ProQuest Investments. Also participating in this financing round is Mustang Ventures, a China-focused venture firm.
Panacos announces greater than 1 Log10 mean reduction in 300 mg bevirimat cohort
Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANC), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing the next generation of antiviral therapeutic products, today announced preliminary results from the 300 mg cohort of a Phase 2b study of bevirimat (PA-457) in patients failing HIV therapy due to drug resistance. In this cohort, eight patients received 300 mg of bevirimat solution once daily and two patients received placebo for 14 days on top of their failing background regimen.
Anthera announces positive Phase II clinical results from A-002 cardiovascular disease trial
Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, reported results of a Phase II clinical trial of its first compound, A- 002, for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The trial results suggest that treatment with A- 002 resulted in significant reductions in blood levels of total cholesterol, Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (non HDL-C), and Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), known as “bad” cholesterol, coupled with equally meaningful reductions of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a recognized marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk. Decreases in these levels with A- 002 treatment were most significant among patients already on a background of statin therapy.
