Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase II proof-of-concept trial of DDP225 for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-d), and the first patients have been dosed. DDP225 is an orally-active compound that targets two key pathways that control the gastrointestinal (GI) system, thus giving it the potential to address multiple symptoms associated with IBS-d. This DDP225 Phase II trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study that is enrolling patients with IBS-d at multiple centers in Canada and is assessing safety and pharmacodynamic efficacy as well as symptom-based endpoints. In September 2005, Dynogen began dosing patients in a Phase II study of DDP733 for the treatment of patients with constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-c), the other common form of IBS.
Dynogen Initiates Phase II Trial of Ddp225 for Treatment of Patients with Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A Better Way to Ambush Aids? Panacos Pharmaceutical's experimental drug opens the door to a new line of attack (Business Week)
In the U.S., AIDS may not seem to be the urgent problem it once was. Powerful drugs introduced since 1996 have slashed the annual death rate in the U.S. from nearly 50,000 in 1995 to 16,000 in 2004. But the picture is still grim. New cases of infection continue unabated, at about 44,000 per year, with more Americans than ever—more than 1 million—infected with HIV. Around the world the epidemic is growing, with more than 40 million people carrying the virus. What's more, HIV increasingly outwits today's drugs even as side effects take a toll.
TargeGen, Inc. Selects Lead Drug for Clinical Development As A Topical (Eyedrop) Treatment For Wet Macular Degeneration and Other Eye Diseases
TargeGen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of edema and angiogenesis related diseases, today announced that TG 100801, a potent, selective, and topically administered multi target kinase inhibitor, has been designated as a lead drug for clinical development in the treatment of major eye diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. Current treatments for wet macular degeneration have demonstrated limited efficacy to date and require injection into the eye, thus increasing the risk of infection and retinal detachment.
BrainCells Gets $8M In First Part Of Committed $17.7M Series A
BrainCells Inc., a neuroscience-focused drug discovery and development company targeting therapies for depression, related neuropsychiatric disorders and other central nervous system diseases, has closed on commitments of $17.7 million for its Series A round.
Spherics Secures $26.4M Financing to Advance Clinical Programs Based on Proprietary Oral Drug Delivery Platform
Spherics, Inc., an emerging pharmaceutical company focused on applying its oral drug delivery platform to develop products with improved therapeutic profiles, today announced that it has successfully completed its Series C round of financing, raising $26.4M. The proceeds from this financing will be used to advance the Company’s pipeline of products based on its proprietary drug delivery technologies, as well as enhance its commercialization and business development capabilities.
Serono and Syntonix Sign Worldwide Agreement to Develop and Commercialize an Inhaleable Interferon-Beta Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Serono (virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA) and Syntonix Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that they have entered into an agreement under which Serono has licensed worldwide exclusive rights to Syntonix’ TransceptorTM and SynFusionTM technologies for the development and commercialization of interferon-beta:Fc products.
Vitex Closes Merger with Panacos Pharmaceuticals $20 Million Financing Also Closed and Funded
V.I. Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: VITX) (“Vitex” or “the Company”), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing the next generation of anti-infective
therapeutics, today announced that it has closed its previously announced merger with Panacos Pharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the merger, Vitex will issue approximately 227.5 million shares to Panacos stockholders to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Panacos.
Plexxikon, Wyeth PPAR Deal: Up to $372M In Diabetes Bid (BioWorld Today)
If there’s anxiety lingering after the FDA’s summer ruling about potential cancer toxicity with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), you wouldn’t know it from Wyeth – which entered a potential $372 mil- lion deal with Plexxikon Inc. to develop treatments for diabetes and metabolic disorders.
Panacos, Vitex Merging In $27M Stock Exchange, Plus Milestones (BioWorld Today)
Bringing together two infectious disease pipelines, Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. entered a definitive merger agreement with V.I. Technologies Inc., also called Vitex.
Plexxikon Gets $15M Investment For Diabetes Drug Development (BioWorld Today)
Plexxikon Inc. raised $15 million in venture financing to complete a Series B extension round.
