Article Listing - Biotechnology
Silence Thera receives takeover approach from unnamed drug firm
7 September 2010
UK-based drug developer Silence Therapeutics (AIM: SLN) saw its share price skyrocket 76% to 12.75 pence by close of London trading yesterday, after the firm revealed that it has received a takeover approach from an unnamed company.
European and international experts prepare for the evaluation of future nano-medicines
7 September 2010
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) hosted the first international scientific workshop on nano-medicines on September 2-3. Some 200 European and international participants from 27 countries including Australia, Canada, India, Japan and the USA discussed benefits and challenges arising from the application of nanotechnologies to medicines. Participants included representatives from patients' organizations, health care professionals' organisations, academia, regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical industry.
Seattle Genetics gets milestone as Astellas unit moves cancer drug into Ph I
3 September 2010
US biotechnology firm Seattle Genetics (Nasdaq: SGEN) has achieved a milestone under its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration with Agensys, which was acquired by Japan’s Astellas Pharma in 2007 for a consideration of $537 million. The milestone was triggered by Agensys’ initiation of a Phase I trial for AGS-16M8F, an ADC for the treatment of cancer utilizing Seattle Genetics’ technology.
US Justice Dept appeals ruling against embryonic stem cell research
2 September 2010
The USA’s Department of Justice has appealed a district judge's ruling to ban federal funding of embryonic stem cell in the US District Court in Washington DC, declaring that it wanted Judge Royce Lamberth to lift the injunction he imposed last week (The Pharma Letters August 26 and 31).
PDL BioPharma sues Roche’s Genentech over royalties
2 September 2010
US drug developer PDL BioPharma (Nasdaq: PDL) said yesterday that it has filed suit in a Nevada state court to compel commercial partner Swiss drug major Roche (SIX: ROG.VX) and its US subsidiary Genentech to continue paying royalties on certain Roche products that infringe upon PDL's biotechnology patents.
Lonza acquires viral vaccine and vector manufacturer Vivante GMP Solutions
1 September 2010
Switzerland’s active pharmaceutical ingredients and specialty chemicals firm Lonza (LONN.VX) says it has acquired closely-held US firm Vivante GMP Solutions, in order to broaden its biologics custom service offering for the growing viral vaccine and gene therapy markets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Genzyme snubs Sanofi-Aventis’ $18.5 billion offer; French drugmaker reports good data for MS drug teriflunomide
31 August 2010
It was a bad and a good news day yesterday for French drug major Sanofi-Aventis (Euronext; SAN), when its $18.5 billion takeover offer for troubled US biotechnology firm Genzyme (Nasdaq: GENZ) was rejected (The Pharma Letter August 30), but the firm reported positive preliminary Phase III results for its multiple sclerosis drug candidate teriflunomide.
US Congressman, CSHL president urge quick action to reverse judicial embryonic stem cell research ban
31 August 2010
Against a backdrop of some of the world's most sophisticated biological research labs, US Representative Steve Israel (Democrat, Huntington) last week issued a challenge to his colleagues in Congress: immediately upon their return from summer recess, he urged, they should pass legislation that would reverse a recent federal court decision that has brought embryonic stem cell research in the USA to a screeching halt (The Pharma Letter August 26).
Pharming plans to file Rhucin BLA with US FDA by end 2010
31 August 2010
Netherlands-based biotechnology company Pharming Group NV (NYSE Euronext: PHARM) says that it intends to submit the Biologic License Application the US Food and Drug Administration to obtain marketing approval for Rhucin (recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor) for the treatment of acute angioedema attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). Following pre-BLA discussions with the FDA, Pharming says it is preparing the BLA dossier for submission towards the end of this year but no later than January 2011.
Sanofi-Aventis breaks silence on Genzyme acquisition, offering $18.5 billion for the troubled US biotech firm
30 August 2010
Following nearly two months of rumor and speculation French drug major Sanofi-Aventis (Euronext: SAN and NYSE: SNY; The Pharma Letters passim) on Sunday revealed that it has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire the troubled USA-based rare diseases drug specialist Genzyme (Nasdaq: GENZ) in an all-cash transaction valued at around $18.5 billion, thus paving the way for a hostile bid for the biotechnology company.
- GlaxoSmithKline’s Avandia still available in UK, despite MHRA call for its suspension
- Israel relaxes restrictions on medical marijuana; scientists develop new HIV/AIDS treatment
- Tough road ahead for some generics after USA’s Federal Circuit Patent Use Code decisions
- Bausch & Lomb moves to acquire Miochol-E from Novartis as required by US competition authority
- German drug price curbs will hamper orphan drug development, says BIO Deutschland
