Article Listing - Pharmaceutical
Seattle Genetics in deal with GSK for ADC worth up to $402 million
22 December 2009
US biotechnology firm Seattle Genetics has secured an initial $12 million from UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline under which GSK will acquire the rights to utilize the firm’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology with multiple antigens to be named by GSK.
Pfizer licenses MultiStem IBD drug from Athersys for as much as $111 million; sells Vicuron subsid
22 December 2009
US stem-cell specialist Athersys’ shares rocketed almost 200% to $2.96 after it revealed yesterday that it has entered into an agreement with global drug behemoth Pfizer to develop and commercialize its MultiStem for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Pfizer’s stock rose 3% to $18.77 on the news.
Teva gains access to OncoGenex cancer drug in up to $430 deal including stake in the US firm
22 December 2009
Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has entered into a global license and collaboration agreement with USA-based OncoGenex to develop and commercialize OGX-011, as well as an agreement to purchase shares in the company, in a deal worth up to a potential $440 million.
Bayer returns most rights to Recothrom to ZymoGenetics
22 December 2009
German drugs major Bayer has returned most of the rights it acquired in 2007 to US firm ZymoGenetics’ Recothrom (thrombin alfa, topical, recombinant). Effective January 1, 2010, ZymoGenetics regains full promotion rights in the USA and all ex-US rights except in Canada, where Bayer will market and sell the product. The drug is used to control bleeding during surgeries.
Merck & Co names former CDC boss Julie Gerberding president of its $5 billion vaccines business
22 December 2009
US drug giant Merck & Co has announced the appointment of former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Julie Gerberding as president of Merck Vaccines, effective January 25, 2010. Merck's former vaccines chief, Margaret McGlynn, retired November 1 after having headed the vaccine business since 2005.
Sweden’s Biovitrum sells obesity program to AstraZeneca for up to 192 million euros
22 December 2009
Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca has acquired Biovitrum's leptin modulator program, currently in preclinical phase, aimed at treating obesity for an upfront payment of 6 million euros ($8.8 million).
US Senate votes for Health Care Reform Bill, after Democrats agree compromise with dissident
21 December 2009
After weeks of deliberation, the US senate has passed – by a 60 to 40 vote - the highly controversial $849 billion Health Care Reform Bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat, Nevada) and. designed to secure coverage for millions of uninsured Americans, that could lead to significant changes in the country's medical system (The Pharma Letters passim).
Eisai exercises option to buy AkaRx, for $255, along with rights to thrombocytopenia drug AKR-501
21 December 2009
Japanese drug major Eisai has said it will initiate procedures to acquire New Jersey, USA-based AkaRx under a deal valuing the business at $255 million and making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of its US affiliate. Eisai obtained the right to buy AkaRx after it acquired MGI Pharma in January last year for $3.9 billion.
Europe’s CHMP serves up negative opinion for Ark’s Cerepro and calls for ban on benfluorex drugs, but good news for B-MS, Sanofi, GSK, Novartis
21 December 2009
At its meetings last week, Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) gave out doses of disappointing medicine for the UK’s Ark Therapeutics and on the future of benfluorex-containing medicines, but also gave its backing to several new drugs applying for approval, as well as updating on influenza vaccines and sibutramine.
Sanofi-Aventis pulls out of deal with AEterna Zentaris on Cetrorelix in benign prostatic hyperplasia
21 December 2009
French drug major Sanofi-Aventis has pulled out of its deal with Canada’s AEterna Zentaris for the development, commercialization and licensing of cetrorelix in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for the US market. The decision follows the announcement last week of the results for its European Phase III study for cetrorelix in BPH, which failed to meet the trial’s primary endpoint. Termination of the agreement will be effective January 9, 2010.
- Alchemia and Merck Serono collaborate on HA-Irinotecan with Erbitux
- Is the diabetes market facing a blockbuster-free future?
- Positive new data on Novartis' Galvus in elderly type 2 diabetes patients
- AstraZeneca's naloxegol meets endpoints; EMA validates Gilead's sofosbuvir MAA
- Boehringer Ingelheim gets FDA warning letter on cGMP failures
