FlowCardia, Inc., a medical device company developing endovascular devices for coronary and peripheral chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization, announcedFDA 510(k)clearance of the CROSSER(TM) 14 CTO Recanalization System. The CROSSER 14 is designed to facilitate the placement of guidewires beyond CTOs in coronary arteries.
FlowCardia, Inc. announces 510(k) clearance for its chronic total occlusion recanalization system
Biogen Idec to acquire Syntonix Pharmaceuticals
Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Syntonix Pharmaceuticals today announced that the companies have signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Syntonix by Biogen Idec. Syntonix, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing long-acting therapeutic products to improve treatment regimens for chronic diseases, has multiple pre-clinical programs in hemophilia.
Cerexa to be acquired by Forest Laboratories for $480 million plus potential $100 million milestone payment
Cerexa Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Forest Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: FRX) for $480 million plus a potential $100 million milestone payment.
TargeGen initiates Phase I clinical trial of topical AMD drug TG100801
TargeGen, Inc. has announced that the Company has initiated a single site Phase I clinical trial involving TG100801, a small molecule, topically applied multi-targeted kinase inhibitor for the treatment of macular degeneration and other debilitating diseases of the eye. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults. The trial, involving approximately 45 subjects, is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2007. The Company hopes to initiate Phase II studies with TG100801 in mid 2007.
Cerexa expands portfolio of novel anti-infective therapies through in-licensing agreement with Meiji Seika Kaisha
Cerexa Inc. today announced it has expanded its portfolio of novel anti-infective therapies through an in-licensing agreement with Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd.
BrainCells and Organon to collaborate in discovery and development of CNS drugs
BrainCells Inc. (BCI) and Organon, the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel (Nasdaq: AKZOY), today announced they will collaborate in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Anthera Pharmaceuticals secures $36m venture financing to initiate clinical programs
Anthera Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company developing therapies for the treatment of serious inflammatory diseases, today announced it closed an initial $36 million in venture financing. The funding was co-led by VantagePoint Venture Partners and Sofinnova Ventures and are joined by Pappas Ventures, Mitsubishi International Corporation, along with Series A-1 investors Sears Capital Management and SIM Equity. Eli Lilly and Company and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. also received equity as part of Anthera’s obligations under the recently announced license agreement. Annette Bianchi, Managing Director, and co-Head of VantagePoint’s Healthcare Practice Group and Jim Healy, General Partner of Sofinnova Ventures were named to the Board of Directors.
Dynogen initiates phase 1b trial of DDP733 in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that dosing has begun for a double-blinded, placebo controlled Phase 1b trial designed specifically to examine DDP733 on the functional changes associated with gastroesophageal reflux. In addition to examining safety, the trial will be powered to yield important efficacy data to support the use of DDP733 as a treatment for nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (NGERD). Dynogen is developing DDP733 for NGERD as an adjunctive treatment with current GERD therapies. DDP733 is also being studied by Dynogen for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-c) in a Phase 2 clinical study.
Anthera licenses anti-inflammatory products from Eli Lilly and Shionogi
Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. under which Anthera has obtained worldwide (except for Japan) development and commercialization rights to an entire platform of clinical and preclinical inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) developed by Lilly and Shionogi as part of their collaboration. Inflammation plays a central role in a number of life-threatening diseases including acute lung injury, atherosclerosis, and psoriasis. PLA2 consists of a family of enzymes upstream in the arachidonic acid pathway of inflammation, which is responsible for production of leukotrienes, oxidants and other pro- inflammatory mediators. A substantial evidence base specifically implicates PLA2 in each of the disease states addressed by Anthera’s development programs -- the most advanced of which is an early intervention therapy in acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease.
Panacos Announces Study Elucidating PA-457's Mechanism of Action Published in Journal of Virology;Findings Corroborate Novel Target and Support Further Maturation Inhibitor Development
Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PANC), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing the next generation of antiviral therapeutic products, today announced the publication of an article authored by Panacos scientists and Dr. Michael Sakalian and colleagues at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the June 2006 issue of the Journal of Virology. The article describes the results of a study elucidating the mechanism of action of PA-457, Panacos' lead drug candidate. PA-457 is the first in a new class of HIV drug candidates called Maturation Inhibitors that are designed to prevent the release of a key viral protein called Capsid from its precursor protein, Gag.
