Article Listing - Biotechnology
HIV vaccines: small biotech and government-funded organizations will step in where Big Pharma has fallen short, says analyst
20 May 2013
While the risks involved in HIV vaccine development have turned Big Pharma away from pursuing a preventative vaccine, government-funded organizations and smaller biotech firms may provide the answer, a GlobalData analyst has said in a research note as World AIDS Vaccine Day approaches.
Neovacs moving forward in rheumatoid arthritis, say analysts
17 May 2013
French biotech firm Neovacs (Alternext Paris: ALNEV) intends to initiate a Phase IIb trial with its lead product TNFalpha-Kinoid in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The strategy is designed to maintain momentum of the programme while it seeks a partner.
Merck KGaA ups commitment to MS Ventures to 100 million euros
16 May 2013
Germany's Merck KGaA says that it will increase its commitment to its strategic corporate venture capital fund MS Ventures to 100 million euros ($130 million). MS Ventures was originally established in March 2009 with a 40 million euros commitment to invest in emerging biotechnology companies.
Improved voluntary harmonization procedure delivers significant benefits for multinational clinical trials in Europe
16 May 2013
The new Voluntary Harmonization Procedure (VHP), a voluntary procedure agreed by the Clinical Trials Facilitation Group (CTFG), a working group of the EU Heads of Medicines Agencies, provides a major breakthrough in getting a harmonized regulatory decision on a clinical trial to be performed in more than one European Union member state.
Australia's revised code to benefit ASX-listed life science companies
16 May 2013
Australia's Minister for Technology, Gordon Rich-Phillips, this week joined forces with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Australia's biotechnology industry association, AusBiotech, to launch a revised edition of the industry code of best practice that will support capital formation by ASX-listed life science companies.
Merck Serono Ph III trial of L-BLP25 fails endpoint in NSCLC
16 May 2013
Merck Serono, a division of Germany's Merck KGaA (MRK: DE), announced detailed results from the randomized Phase III START trial of its investigational MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy L-BLP25 (formerly referred to as Stimuvax) in patients with unresectable, locally advanced Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), showing the drug failed to meet its primary endpoint.
US FDA approves Janssen's Simponi to treat ulcerative colitis
16 May 2013
The US Food and Drug Administration late yesterday (May 15) approved a new use for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) subsidiary Janssen Ortho Biotech's Simponi (golimumab) injection, to treat adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Strong initial data on Genentech's obinutuzumab in most common blood cancer
16 May 2013
Genentech, the biotech subsidiary of Swiss drug major Roche Group (ROG: SIX), has announced positive first results from CLL11, a Phase III study of the investigational drug obinutuzumab (GA101), which is being conducted in collaboration with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG).
US Senate confirms appointment of Marilyn Tavenner as CMS Administrator
16 May 2013
US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the US Senate has confirmed Marilyn Tavenner as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Merck Serono and Quintiles enter novel clinical development partnership
16 May 2013
Merck Serono, the biotech division of Germany's Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) and Quintiles (NYSE: Q) have announced a new, five-year clinical development agreement. This strategic collaboration is the first-of-its-kind between a biopharmaceutical company and a biopharmaceutical services provider, creating a comprehensive process that integrates the expertise and experience from both organizations into a single, well-aligned clinical development engine, the German firm says. Financial terms of the accord were not revealed.
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