Article Listing - US FDA lowers recommended dose for sleep drugs containing zolpidem
Osteoporosis drug bazedoxifene stops growth of breast cancer cells, even in resistant tumors
17 June 2013
Bazedoxifene, a drug approved in some countries to treat osteoporosis, has now been shown to stop the growth of breast cancer cells, even in cancers that have become resistant to current targeted therapies, according to a Duke Cancer Institute study reported by EurekAlert.
Canadian govt move to plain language for drug labeling
17 June 2013
Canadian Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has announced the launch of the Plain Language Labeling Initiative, which aims to improve the safe use of drugs by making drug labels and safety information easier to read and understand.
Eli Lilly exercises rights to diabetes drug candidate TT-401 from Transition Therapeutics
17 June 2013
Canada's Transition Therapeutics (TSX: TTH) announced this morning (June 17) that US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has exercised its option to assume all development and commercialization rights to type 2 diabetes drug candidate TT-401, under their original deal signed in 2010 (The Pharma Letter March 4, 2010). In conjunction with this assumption of rights, Transition will receive a $7 million milestone payment.
Additional indications in Japan for Roche's Avastin and Astellas' Prograf
17 June 2013
Swiss drug major Roche (ROG: SIX) says that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved the firm's blockbuster cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of malignant glioma, including newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) in combination with radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy, and as monotherapy for treatment of recurrent GBM and certain other types of high grade glioma following prior therapy.
India's NPPA to slash prices of key drugs by up to half
17 June 2013
In India, some key cancer drugs, antibiotics and medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases and tuberculosis are set to become cheaper by up to 50% within the next 45 days. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) will shortly notify prices of as many as 150 packs of essential medicines in line with the new pharma pricing policy, according to official sources quoted by the Indian newspaper the Business Standard.
Positive Ph II results for Gilead's idelalisib in refractory indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
17 June 2013
US biotech firm Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) today (June 17) announced encouraging interim results from a single-arm, open-label Phase II study (Study 101-09) evaluating idelalisib (formerly GS-1101), an investigational, targeted, oral inhibitor of PI3K delta, for the treatment of patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (iNHL) that is refractory (non-responsive) to rituximab and to alkylating-agent-containing chemotherapy.
Elan puts up formal "for sale" notice
17 June 2013
Ireland-based Elan Corp (NYSE:ELN), which has been the subject of a hostile takeover campaign by private equity firm Royalty Pharma, announced on Friday (June 14) that it is proceeding with a formal sale process in light of the expressions of interest to acquire the firm received to date. In its brief statement, Elan did not mention the names of any companies concerned. As part of this process, Royalty Pharma will be invited to participate if they so wish. Accordingly, shareholders are urged not to tender into the current $6.7 billion ($13.00 a share, plus an up to $2.50 contingent value rights) Royalty Pharma hostile offer.
Pricing and reimbursement conditions for InterMune's Esbriet in Italy
17 June 2013
US biotech firm InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN) says that the board of the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) has approved the pricing and reimbursement conditions for Esbriet (pirfenidone), and that the agreement has been published in the Official Gazette, the official journal of the government.
AstraZeneca unit links with NGM Biopharma on diabetes and obesity research
17 June 2013
Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's (LSE: AZN) US biologics R&D subsidiary MedImmune has entered into an exclusive agreement with US venture capital backed NGM Biopharmaceuticals to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapeutics from NGM's enteroendocrine cell (EEC) program for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Immune Design joins forces with academia for novel immunotherapy research
17 June 2013
Privately-held US biotech firm Immune Design, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have a signed a collaboration agreement to advance cancer immunotherapy research. Specifically, the partnership will focus on clinical trials to test novel combinations of immunotherapies, including two investigational drugs from Immune Design's pipeline. Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.
- Takeda debuts three new diabetes drugs, Nesina, Kazano and Oseni, in USA
- Aspen Pharma offers to buy GlaxoSmithKline's thrombosis brands and manufacturing site
- Athera and Boehringer Ingelheim enter option agreement on a novel therapy for atherosclerosis
- It's official: "obesity is a disease," says AMA
- Mixed results for AstraZeneca/B-MS' Onglyza; Newron's safinamide does well in PD
