Biotech Day

Genentech's Avastin back in front of FDA for breast cancer decision

2010-12-16T08:34:00.001-08:00

SF's Mission Bay coming of age

2010-12-14T07:08:00.000-08:00

California controller: Suspend process of selecting chair of stem cell agency

2010-12-13T22:27:00.001-08:00

Out of stealth, Sequenta grabs $13M

2010-12-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

Faster, cheaper and finer DNA sequencing — and a big investment from some well-known venture capital and angel investment names — is positioning an early-stage molecular diagnostics company in San Francisco’s Mission Bay to offer a test providing a much earlier peek at immune system problems.

StemCells wins OK for spinal cord trial

2010-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

A Swiss researcher will lead a Phase I/II trial using neural stem cells from Palo Alto's StemCells Inc. to repair spinal cord injuries that are less than a year old.

Life sciences chip developer Fluidigm files for $86M IPO

2010-12-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

Fluidigm Corp., a South San Francisco company that makes microfluidic systems for the life science and agricultural biotech markets, filed paperwork late Friday for an $86.25 million initial public offering.

Klein tabbed by Schwarzenegger to lead CIRM, again

2010-12-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Robert Klein to lead California's stem cell research funding agency for another six-year term.
The nomination is the latest chapter in an ongoing saga revolving around the lay leadership of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a semi-independent agency that could award as much as $3 billion for stem cell research.
Schwarzenegger is one of four executive officers of the state — along with Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Controller John Chiang — to nominate candidates for the chair position. A decision could be made by the board at its Dec. 15 meeting at Stanford University.

GE, UCSF technology IDs aggressive tumors

2010-12-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

Technology developed out of a partnership between the University of California, San Francisco, and GE Healthcare is giving prostate cancer patients a real-time look into the aggressiveness of their tumors, potentially changing the course of treatment and lowering health care costs.
The technology, now in an early-stage trial at UCSF's Mission Bay campus, could reduce the time it takes to diagnose prostate cancer and prevent some of the roughly 200,000 men diagnosed each year with the disease from undergoing surgery that may not be necessary.

Report: Stem cell agency chair candidate withdraws

2010-12-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

A handpicked candidate to head California stem cell research funding agency has reportedly withdrawn from consideration.
Alan Bernstein, who outgoing California Institute for Regenerative Medicine chair Robert Klein was pushing to lead the agency as executive chairman, withdrew his nomination, according to the California Stem Cell Report blog.
Klein would not confirm that Bernstein had withdrawn. “That’s possible,” he said, adding that he was waiting for a call from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office regarding the governor’s nomination for chair.

Hana Biosciences digs in to new Talon name

2010-12-01T16:12:00.000-08:00

What’s in a name? For the newly dubbed Talon Therapeutics Inc., it’s all about the independent claws.

CIRM leaders push Canadian for chairman post

2010-12-01T13:41:00.001-08:00

Backroom politics could vault a relatively unknown and unqualified nominee to the top of the list to head California’s $3 billion stem cell research funding agency, according to a longtime member of the board overseeing the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Pearl Therapeutics COPD drug passes test

2010-12-01T06:20:00.000-08:00

A mid-stage trial of Pearl Therapeutics Inc.’s combination therapy to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is helping the company and COPD patients breathe easier.

Neuraltus ALS drug results 'encouraging'

2010-11-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

An experimental drug from Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals Inc. was effective against a biomarker of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in an early-stage study.
Although the clinical study by the privately held, Palo Alto-based company was only Phase I, involved just 32 people and assessed the drug’s effect on the biomarker only 24 hours after dosing, the result is significant because Neuraltus’ drug is believed to be the first to provide a statistically significantly improvement in blood levels of the biomarker.
The finding also could garner more attention for Neuraltus — particularly from investors — as it tries to raise money to undertake a more extensive Phase II study.

Stem cell agency, BioTime strike deal

2010-11-30T17:30:00.001-08:00

BioTime Inc. will make five clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines available to California researchers, according to a deal between the Alameda company and California’s stem cell research funding agency, that could smooth the translation of stem cell science into actual therapies.

Sorry for the disapperance …

2010-11-30T14:50:00.000-08:00

Google shut me down. Apparently, its computer thought this blog was spam.

I do not like spam, and spam I am not.

After a couple of months, I finally noticed the appeal button, and within a couple of days Google restored the blog. I will try keeping up this site and my alternate site (specifically with San Francisco Bay Area links) at http://biotech-day.blogspot.com/.

And if that isn't confusing, I don't know what is.

By the way, you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rleuty_biotech.

Talecris shares rise as profit tops Street

2010-04-28T16:44:00.001-07:00

Shares of Talecris Biotherapeutics rose more than 6 percent in after hours trading Wednesday after the company released first quarter results that beat analyst estimates.

Titan Pharmaceuticals to sell 9.7M shares

2010-04-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc. hopes to resell 9.7 million shares — an estimated $16.8 million in common stock — for a group of shareholders.
The South San Francisco company (OTC: TTNP.PK), which developed a Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for schizophrenia and is working on a late-stage implantable device for delivering the opioid addiction drug buprenorphine, said it would not receive the proceeds of the stock sale. It could, however, receive up to $12.4 million from the exercise of warrants.

Cardiac Science loses $8.6M in Q1

2010-04-28T16:41:00.001-07:00

Cardiac Science Corp., which Tuesday was warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that 280,000 of its external defibrillators may not work to rescue people suffering sudden cardiac arrest, reported a first quarter loss of $8.6 million, or a loss of 36 cents per share.

KV Pharmaceutical keeps Ethex CEO as consultant

2010-04-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

Michael Anderson is resigning his job Friday as head of KV Pharmaceutical’s closing generics subsidiary but he won’t be out of work.
The drug maker has hired Anderson, the president and chief executive of its Ethex Corp. as a consultant for a year and agreed to pay him his annual base salary of $344,300 for 25 hours a week of work or less.

Midmark partners on new heart products

2010-04-28T16:38:00.001-07:00

Midmark Corp. has partnered with Mortara Instrument on a new product line of electrocardiogram products.

BioCryst narrows 1Q net loss to $2.6M

2010-04-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. cut its first quarter 2010 net losses by 72 percent from the same period in 2009 thanks in part to a 600 percent increase in total revenues.

Xlumena device gets FDA approval

2010-04-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Xlumena Inc. on Wednesday said it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its advanced endoscopy device.

FDA delays approval of Salix drug

2010-04-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

Salix Pharmaceuticals will have to wait a little longer before it can start selling a stronger version of its ulcerative colitis drug Colazal.
The Morrisville, N.C., company said Wednesday that it had received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding Salix’s New Drug Application for Giazo, which is the same drug as Colazal but delivered at a higher dose.

AVI BioPharma gets $4M more from U.S. Defense Dept.

2010-04-28T16:28:00.001-07:00

AVI BioPharma Inc. said it’s receiving another $4 million from the U.S. government to develop drugs targeting swine flu.

Austin biopharmaceutical company wins $913K grant

2010-04-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

Selenium Ltd. was awarded a two-year, $912,943 grant from The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, officials announced Wednesday.

Moffitt Cancer Center gets $2.8 million grant for Project Quit Read more: Moffitt Cancer Center gets $2.8 million grant for Project Quit - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

2010-04-28T15:45:00.001-07:00

The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute received a $2.8 million research grant from the National Cancer Institute to test the effectiveness of smoking cessation booklets.

FDA approves Teva’s generic for Flomax

2010-04-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

The Food and Drug Administration granted marketing approval Wednesday to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for a generic version of Flomax, a drug used to treat enlarged prostate.

Discovery Laboratories gives report on Surfaxin progress

2010-04-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

Discovery Laboratories Inc. said Wednesday it is continuing to make progress on addressing the sole remaining issue needed to gain potential Food and Drug Administration approval next year for Surfaxin.
The drug is the biopharmaceutical’s company’s experimental treatment for respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

CEO Witty pleased as GlaxoSmithKline grows 1Q profit, revenue

2010-04-28T15:41:00.001-07:00

GlaxoSmithKline, the British pharmaceutical giant with North American headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C., posted a higher profit Wednesday, driven by higher drug sales in non-U.S. markets.
GSK reported profit after taxation of almost $1.4 billion pounds, or nearly $2.2 billion. That’s up from first quarter 2009 profit of 1.17 billion pounds.

Delta raises $1M for breast cancer research

2010-04-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Delta Air Lines Inc. customers and employees raised $1 million for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in 2009.

Michael J. Fox Foundation backs Amarantus

2010-04-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

Amarantus Therapeutics Inc. said Wednesday it received a research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Amarantus Therapeutics will use the funding to study the efficacy of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF), a highly potent, neurotrophic factor currently in pre-clinical development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

FDA approves Asthmatx asthma device

2010-04-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Asthmatx Inc. said Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System for the treatment of severe persistent asthma.

TomoTherapy sees sales rise, losses drop

2010-04-28T15:36:00.001-07:00

TomoTherapy Inc., the Madison developer and marketer of a targeted radiation cancer therapy system, said revenue for the first quarter increased 37 percent and that its net loss for the period dropped 64 percent.

Jennerex adds Affymax executive to board

2010-04-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

Cancer treatment company Jennerex Inc. put Paul Cleveland on its board of directors.
Jennerex, based in San Francisco and Ottawa, plans a Phase III test of a liver cancer treatment later this year.

Synergetics, Alcon ink $32M licensing deal, settle suit Read more: Synergetics, Alcon ink $32M licensing deal, settle suit - St. Louis Business Journal:

2010-04-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Synergetics USA Inc. has struck a $32 million deal giving Alcon Laboratories Inc. the right to sell Synergetics products.
The agreement also settles all litigation between Synergetics and Alcon.

Lycera gets $11M tranche

2010-04-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

Lycera Corp. of Cambridge has received an $11 million second tranche of its Series A round, the company announced.

Gilead: HIV combo drug set for FDA review

2010-04-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Data from a study of a potential once-a-day HIV medication — a combination of Gilead Sciences Inc.’s Truvada and an experimental drug from Johnson & Johnson-owned Tibotec Pharmaceuticals — showed that the drugs can work together, Gilead said.
Foster City-based Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) could submit its application for the combined once-a-day, fixed-dose pill to the Food and Drug Administration within months, after the FDA agrees to review Tibotec’s own new drug application.

Seattle Genetics reports Q1 net income of $11.5M

2010-04-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Seattle Genetics Inc. reported first-quarter net income of $11.5 million, or earnings of 11 cents per share, which compares with a loss of $27.3 million, or a loss of 33 cents a share a year earlier.

FDA warns of Cardiac Science defibrillators; shares dive

2010-04-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that 280,000 external defibrillators made by Cardiac Science Corp. may not work to rescue people suffering sudden cardiac arrest.

Judge rejects $296M plea deal by Boston Scientific unit

2010-04-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

A federal judge in Minneapolis has rejected a $296 million plea deal to settle criminal charges against Boston Scientific Corp.'s Guidant division over claims that the company failed to report possible defibrillator defects.

AstraZeneca to pay up to $520M to settle Seroquel marketing allegations

2010-04-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Department of Justice said Tuesday that AstraZeneca has agreed to pay the federal and state governments up to $520 million to resolve allegations that the pharmaceutical company illegally marketed the anti-psychotic drug Seroquel for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration.

Read more:
AstraZeneca settlement nets Oregon $5.6M

Hana Bio rolls on with cancer drug NDA

2010-04-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hana Biosciences will submit a rolling new drug application for its experimental treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
After completing a pre-application meeting with the Food and Drug Administration, the South San Francisco penny stock (OTC BB: HNAB) said it will continue with the “rolling NDA” for its lead product candidate, Marqibo. That should speed the FDA’s review of the drug, allowing the agency to look at sections of the application as they are submitted.

Sigma-Aldrich Group plans $6.25M expansion of Lenexa biosciences facility Read more: Sigma-Aldrich Group plans $6.25M expansion of Lenexa biosciences facility - Kansas City Business Journal:

2010-04-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

The Sigma-Aldrich Group on Tuesday announced a $6.25 million expansion of an affiliated plant in Lenexa, Kan.
The expansion, scheduled for completion by the end of the year, comes at the SAFC Biosciences manufacturing facility.

Boston Scientific expects to miss sales, profit estimates by wide margins

2010-04-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Boston Scientific Corp. said it expects to badly miss prior revenue and earnings estimates for the full year ended Dec. 31 due to costs and lost market share stemming from its recent decision to freeze production and recall certain lines of implantable defibrillators.

Hanger Orthopedic net sales increase 5.4%

2010-04-28T15:10:00.001-07:00

Bethesda, Md.-based Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc. reported net sales increasing 5.4 percent to $178.3 million in the first quarter, while net income dropped, primarily due to $2.1 million worth in moving costs.

Joule Biotech raises $30M venture round

2010-04-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

Joule Biotechnologies Inc., a developer of alternative-fuel technologies, has raised $30 million in a venture capital round led by Flagship Ventures.

Univ. of Miami partners with Ideal Life

2010-04-28T15:05:00.001-07:00

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is partnering with Toronto-based Ideal Life on a pilot program to improve access to health technology for residents of rural Florida communities.
Patients suffering from hypertension will use Ideal Life’s wireless remote health monitoring system to manage their high blood pressure.

KCI earnings jump in first quarter

2010-04-28T15:03:00.001-07:00

Kinetic Concepts Inc. saw a 33 percent increase in net income for the first quarter of 2010.
KCI reported net income of $52.7 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, on revenues of $485.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. This compares to net income of $39.7 million, or 57 cents per diluted share, on revenues of $470 million for the same period a year ago.

FDA panel snubs Genentech lung cancer drug

2009-12-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

An FDA advisory panel recommended against expanding the use of a lung cancer drug from Genentech and OSI Pharmaceuticals.
The 12-1 decision by the panel of outside experts is not binding, but the Food and Drug Administration typically follows its panels’ recommendations.
South San Francisco-based Genentech and OSI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OSIP) are asking the FDA to approve the once-a-day pill Tarceva as a maintenance treatment, following chemotherapy, to delay the progression of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Martek Biosciences sales dip but profit increases to $11M

2009-12-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

Quarterly sales dropped 3 percent at Martek Biosciences Corp., which the company blamed on declining U.S. birth rates and retailers clearing out their infant formula inventory.
The Columbia, Md., company, which supplies nutritional oils used in infant formula, drew $88 million in revenue for the period ending Oct. 31, its fiscal fourth quarter. That compares with $90 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

Arbovax gets North Carolina Biotechnology Centerr loan

2009-12-16T15:40:00.001-08:00

Arbovax, an early-stage vaccine technology company, has received a $250,000 loan from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
The Raleigh, N.C.-based company is developing a technology for creating vaccines against insect-borne viruses.

Hawaii Biotech ousts dissident board member

2009-12-16T15:39:00.001-08:00

Hawaii Biotech’s shareholders voted to oust dissident board member William Ardrey on Wednesday.
At a closed shareholders’ meeting, the privately held company removed Ardrey, CEO of Acuvax Ltd., an Australian company that owns 28 percent of Hawaii Biotech, from the five-member board.
Ardrey had requested the special meeting, where he had said he planned to remove board members Debra Guerin Beresini and Elliot Parks. He was critical of the company’s current management team, claiming they have not been aggressive enough in generating income from the company’s vaccines for West Nile virus and dengue fever.

EntreMed misses its revenue estimates for third quarter

2009-12-16T15:38:00.000-08:00

EntreMed Inc. had severely overestimated the amount of revenue it planned on receiving in royalty payments for the third quarter this year, a revelation that could turn a slight quarterly profit into a $1.5 million loss.
The Rockville, Md., biotech has reported receiving $1.7 million, almost half the expected amount, in royalties from sales of a cancer drug that is based on some of its patented technology and had been licensed out more than a decade ago to Celgene Corp., based in Warren, N.J. When disclosing its third-quarter earnings last month, EntreMed had expected to receive $3.3 million in royalty revenue from the Celgene drug, more along the lines of the $3.5 million the local company received in royalty payments in the same period last year.

GlaxoSmithKline, NanoBio in $54.5M deal for cold-sore drug

2009-12-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

GlaxoSmithKline, which has North American headquarters in North Carolina, has signed a deal to license a new over-the-counter, cold-sore treatment from NanoBio Corp.
The deal calls for London-based GSK (NYSE: GSK) to pay Ann Arbor, Mich.-based NanoBio $14.5 million. NanoBio also is eligible for milestone payments worth up to $40 million, plus single-digit royalties on future sales.
The drug, NB-001, targets herpes labialis, the virus that causes cold sores. The drug has gone through phase II clinical trials, and phase III testing is scheduled to begin soon.

Startup Afferent lands Roche program, $23M

2009-12-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

Startup Afferent Pharmaceuticals raised $23 million and licensed a chronic pain treatment from Swiss drug maker Roche.
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Afferent, cofounded by Anthony Ford, Pappas Ventures and Third Rock Ventures, said proceeds of the Series A financing would accelerate the development of P2X3 receptor programs, including lead compound AF-219.
Details of the Roche licensing deal were not disclosed.
The drug will be tested in several indications in early 2010, said Ford, a former vice president of research at Roche.

Medizone to buy back technology rights

2009-12-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

Medizone International Inc. plans to buy back all the marketing rights to technology it developed from the joint venture that now owns them.
Medizone, which gets its mail at a Stinson Beach P.O. box, owns half of Medizone New Zealand Ltd., which owns the rights for much of southeastern Asia and the South Pacific. The boards of both businesses have blessed a plan to end the joint venture and return the rights to the AsepticSure hospital room sterilizing technology to Medizone International.
The company is developing the technology for sterilizing operating rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care units and other similar spaces. It plans to test the procedures in full-scale trials in January in Canada.

Ouroboros spine product wins European OK

2009-12-16T11:55:00.001-08:00

Medical device company Ouroboros Medical Inc. won approval from European regulators for its spinal fusion product.
The privately held Pleasanton company, focused on developing minimally invasive spine products for degenerated disc disease, said the system should offer spine surgeons a safe, effective way to link together segments of the spinal column to decrease back pain.

Ivy Foundation funds $9.8M to fight brain cancer that killed Ted Kennedy

2009-12-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

The Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation said Wednesday that it’s funding $9.8 million for four new patient-focused research projects at the University of California, San Francisco; Stanford University; Duke University and Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The focus is on the type of brain cancer that killed Sen. Ted Kennedy earlier this year.

Tyco executive elected to Boston Scientific board

2009-12-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

Boston Scientific Corp. said Wednesday that the company’s board of directors had elected a Tyco International executive as a director.
With the selection of Nelda Connors, the Natick, Mass.-based medical device company has increased its board of directors to 14 members.

GenomeQuest closes $3.1M venture round

2009-12-16T11:50:00.001-08:00

GenomeQuest Inc., a developer of genome-sequencing technologies, has closed a $3.1 million round of venture capital.
The Westborough, Mass.-based company said nine investors participated in the investment round, according to regulatory filings.

Combinent closes $500k equity round

2009-12-16T11:49:00.001-08:00

Drug-technology developer Combinent BioMedical Systems Inc. has closed a $500,000 round of venture capital.
The Lexington, Mass.-based company, which specializes in the development of trans-vaginal drug-delivery technologies, said three investors participated in the equity round.

Cohera Medical begins tissue glue clinical trial

2009-12-16T11:47:00.001-08:00

Pittsburgh's Cohera Medical Inc. announced on Wednesday that the first patient had been treated with its surgical glue product as part of a clinical trial in Germany.
The randomized trial is investigating the safety of TissuGlu and its effect on wound drainage and associated complications from “tummy tuck” surgeries. The study will compare standard wound closure techniques using TissuGlu in 40 patients at three sites. Cohera received the go-ahead for the trial in October.

GlaxoSmithKline boosts arthritis-drugs deal with Galapagos to $291M

2009-12-16T11:46:00.001-08:00

GlaxoSmithKline, the U.K.-based pharma giant with North American headquarters in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, has extended its agreement with Belgian-drug maker Galapagos to develop new arthritis drugs.
Under terms of the extension, London-based GSK (NYSE: GSK) has agreed to pay Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG) another 6.5 million euros ($9.45 milllion) and will increase the success-based milestones and royalty payments Galapagos is elligible to receive.

InSite to advance cataract surgery drug

2009-12-16T11:44:00.001-08:00

InSite Vision Inc. will advance a new eye drug to reduce the pain and swelling associated with cataract surgery.
The Alameda, Calif., company (OTC: INSV) said the topical anti-inflammatory — called ISV-303 — will head into clinical studies after toxicology studies are completed in the first half of 2010.

Facet Bio cuts shareholder deal as Biogen promises proxy fight

2009-12-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

A battle for control of Facet Biotech Corp. is coming down to the 11th hour, with Facet protecting itself from hostile bidder Biogen Idec through a deal that gives its largest shareholder the right to buy additional shares.
The deal between Redwood City-based Facet (NASDAQ: FACT) and Biotechnology Value Fund LP of Chicago allows BVF to increase its ownership in Facet to between 15 percent to 20 percent without becoming an “acquiring person.”
BVF currently holds nearly 3.7 million shares of Facet common stock — about 14.7 percent — and told Facet it does not intend to tender its shares for Biogen Idec's $17.50-per-share offer. Led by Mark Lampert, BVF has increased its Facet stake from 1.8 million shares, or 7.36 percent, in mid-May.
The Facet-BVF agreement would raise the stakes for Biogen, which in advance of a midnight Wednesday deadline to tender shares, said it is prepared to launch a proxy fight for control of Facet’s board.
Biogen, the Cambridge, Mass.-based developer of multiple sclerosis drugs (NASDAQ: BIIB), told Facet shareholders Tuesday that it would replace most of Facet’s board if they tendered a majority of shares and the board “refuses to listen to the explicit wishes of its stockholders.”

Hana Bio names Deerfield exec to board

2009-12-15T16:12:00.001-08:00

Hana Biosciences Inc. named Howard Furst of Deerfield Management — part of a firm that two years ago agreed to loan the South San Francisco company up to $30 million — to its board of directors.
The cancer drug developer (NASDAQ: HNAB) also said Arie Belldegrun will resign as a director, effective Dec. 31. He has worked on the board since April 2004.

Post-bankruptcy Vermillion to add to board

2009-12-15T14:15:00.001-08:00

Vermillion Inc. said IDEXX Laboratories’ chief scientific officer will join the board of directors if Vermillion’s bankruptcy reorganization plan is confirmed next month.
The Fremont, Calif.-based molecular diagnostics company (NASDAQ: VRML), which in September won approval for its OVA1 ovarian cancer test, said William Wallen brings more than 20 years of research and development experience in diagnostics and biotech.

GenSpera launches first Phase I clinical study for cancer drug

2009-12-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

GenSpera Inc. said Tuesday that the University of Wisconsin in Madison will conduct a Phase I study of the company’s G-202 experimental cancer drug.
GenSpera (OTCBB: GNSZ) is a development stage oncology company that has created a drug that is designed to be activated inside solid tumors by an enzyme present in the tumor’s blood vessels. The drug is intended to destroy the tumor’s blood supply.

Genocea Biosciences lands STD grant

2009-12-15T14:12:00.000-08:00

Genocea Biosciences has been awarded a grant from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to develop vaccines to prevent the spread of chlamydia.
The Cambridge, Mass.-based vaccine maker declined to disclose the amount of the grant.

Acton Pharma closes tranche in VC round

2009-12-15T14:10:00.001-08:00

Drug developer Acton Pharmaceuticals has closed a $500,000 tranche in a planned $10 million preferred-stock sale, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday.
The Marlborough, Mass.-based company was founded in 2008 and is engaged in the acquisition, development and commercialization of potential therapies to treat respiratory illnesses, according to the company’s Web site.
The company did not disclose the reasons behind its planned venture round, other than to confirm it was not triggered by a merger or by a specific transaction.

SRI gets patent for ‘needle-free’ drug system

2009-12-15T14:09:00.001-08:00

SRI International got a patent for a drug delivery system that uses a gel applied to mucous membranes rather than a needle.
The Menlo Park, Calif., research nonprofit got U.S. patent 7,595,021 for the system, which is most likely to be used in the nose. Putting drugs into the body via the nose’s mucous membranes, rather than taking them orally, is more effective, SRI said, since they enter the body without first being filtered and processed through the liver.

Kanterman leaves KV Pharmaceutical board

2009-12-15T14:08:00.001-08:00

Ronald Kanterman has resigned from KV Pharmaceutical Co.’s board of directors, according to a regulatory filing.
Kanterman stepped down as the company’s chief financial officer in September but had remained on the board.
The Brentwood, Mo.-based drug company entered into a consulting agreement with Kanterman, which provides for annual compensation of $330,000, the same as his old base salary as CFO, according to a filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Genentech wants lung cancer drug expanded

2009-12-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

The use of Genentech’s lung cancer drug Tarceva could be expanded to more patients, but Food and Drug Administration staff has questioned whether the drug is better than currently available treatments.
South San Francisco-based Genentech and partner OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIP) are asking the FDA to approve Tarceva as a maintenance treatment, following chemotherapy, to delay the progression of advanced lung cancer.
A panel of outside experts will consider the request Wednesday.

HGS seeks European approval for hepatitis drug

2009-12-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

Human Genome Sciences Inc., which submitted an application to market its experimental hepatitis drug in the United States to the Food and Drug Administration last month, says marketing partner Novartis has filed a similar application in Europe.
The Marketing Authorization Application was submitted to the European Medicines Agency. If approved, Novartis will sell the drug in Europe under the brand name Joulferon.
Rockville, Md.-based Human Genome Sciences is seeking to market the same drug under the brand name Zalbin in the United States.

Gilead blood pressure drug fails trial

2009-12-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

An experimental blood pressure treatment from Gilead Sciences Inc. failed in a Phase III study, the company said.
The 849-patient study of darusentan, designed to treat resistant hypertension, did not hit either of its primary goals, and the Redwood City company (NASDAQ: GILD) indicated it might discontinue research on the drug.

Mirna Therapeutics taps external directors to board

2009-12-15T14:02:00.000-08:00

Mirna Therapeutics Inc. today appointed three external directors to its board.
Austin, Texas-based Mirna, a biopharmaceutical research and development company, named as directors entrepreneur Christopher Earl, venBio LLC co-founder Corey Goodman and PTV Sciences founder Evan Melrose.
The appointments come one week after Mirna received $5 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

Millennium inks $365M deal with Seattle Genetics

2009-12-15T13:59:00.000-08:00

Drug developer Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Co. has agreed to pay up to $365 million in a deal to develop and commercialize a potential cancer therapy being tested by Seattle Genetics Inc.
The deal gives Cambridge, Mass.-based Millennium the right to commercialize brentuximab vedotin, Seattle Genetics’ drug target for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and systematic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, outside of the U.S. and Canada. Seattle Genetics will retain the licensing rights to sell the drug candidate in the U.S. and Canada.

Investors pour $656,157 in Savara Pharmaceuticals

2009-12-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

Savara Pharmaceuticals Inc. received $656,157 of a $777,000 round of financing.
Austin, Texas-based Savara accepted the funds from 13 investors, according to a filing Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company, which moved from Kansas last year, is developing an inhalation-based drug delivery system. Last June, it collected $833,000 of a $1.4 million Series A financing round.

Array BioPharma, Amgen reach deal on diabetes drug

2009-12-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Colorado research biotech Array BioPharma Inc. has reached a deal with industry giant Amgen Inc. that gives $60 million to Array and separately funds research jobs at the company.
The Boulder-based company licensed continued development of an experimental Type II diabetes drug, ARRY-403, to Amgen in exchange for the $60 million up front. Amgen also agreed to pay for an undisclosed number of research jobs at Array for two years.
The deal could eventually mean as much as $666 million for Array Biopharma if ARRY-403 meets certain milestones and Array’s research yields another potential compound for Amgen to sell, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing by the company Tuesday.

Celldex breast-cancer drug trials advance

2009-12-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

Celldex Therapeutics Inc. has announced positive results from a clinical trial targeting hard-to-treat breast cancers.
The Needham, Mass.-based biotechnology company said the phase 2 study showed significant anti-tumor activity for a sub-set of patients whose tumors express a certain protein. In addition, Celldex found encouraging results for patients with “triple-negative disease,” an extremely difficult to treat form of the disease that disproportionately affects African-American women.

Stanford taps medical school development chief

2009-12-15T13:50:00.001-08:00

Stanford Medical School hired Laurel Price Jones to lead its money-raising efforts.
Price Jones starts her new job in January, replacing Douglas Stewart, who left earlier this year to work for Marts & Lundy, a private consulting business.

Bio-Path gets funding boost

2009-12-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

Drug developer Bio-Path Holdings Inc. said Monday it has raised $650,000 in a private placement funding round.
Ogden, Utah-based Bio-Path Holdings develops cancer drugs and delivery systems. The company’s development operations are located in Houston.

Nektar director resigns, another named

2009-12-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

Nektar Therapeutics Inc. director Michael Brown resigned for personal reasons, and the company said it had appointed former Applera Corp. CFO Dennis Winger for a board term ending in 2011.
Brown, the chairman of Line 6, a supplier of musical instruments, amplifiers and audio gear, had worked on Nekar’s board since September 2002.
Winger, 62, was CFO at Applera from 1997 to December 2008. He previously was CFO at Chiron Corp. and The Cooper Cos.

ZymoGenetics marketing partner pulls back in Europe

2009-12-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

Seattle biotechnology company ZymoGenetics Inc. said that drug giant Bayer has decided to withdraw its application to market ZymoGenetics' surgical bleeding control product, Recothrom, in Europe.

Summit Biosciences to expand in Kentucky

2009-12-15T13:44:00.000-08:00

Summit Biosciences Inc., a company that develops generic prescription and over-the-counter nasal sprays, will invest more than $5 million and add 22 jobs in Lexington, Ky.
Summit plans to submit the first of several planned applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by mid-2010 for approval to make and market its products beginning in 2011 and 2012, according to a news release issued by Gov. Steve Beshear’s office.
It also hopes to begin production in the first quarter of 2010 on a line of over-the-counter nasal spray products.

Trod Medical establishes U.S. base in Florida

2009-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

Trod Medical S.A. has opened its United States headquarters in the Lakewood Ranch area of Manatee County, Fla.
The company, a medical equipment manufacturer based in Paris, will launch its new device from the Manatee location in the summer of 2010, a release said.
Trod is planning to hire distribution and office staff for the Manatee facility next year and also will assemble a team of regional sales directors.

Retired general joins Oxygen Biotherapeutics board

2009-12-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Oxygen Biotherapeutics has expanded its board of directors to nine, having added retired Army Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck to the board.
Blanck, chairman of Martin, Blanck & Associates, a health services consulting firm in Falls Church, Va., brings experience in managing large medical facilities and in military medical needs. Those are two areas that likely will prove beneficial to the Durham company, which is working to commercialize pharmaceuticals and medical devices in the field of oxygen therapeutics and “defense medicine.”

Cubist to pay up to $402M for Calixa

2009-12-15T13:38:00.001-08:00

Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. has agreed to pay up to $402 million to acquire San Diego-based drug developer Calixa Therapeutics Inc.
Lexington, Mass.-based Cubist (Nasdaq: CBST) plans to make an upfront payment of $92 million in cash, making Calixa a wholly owned subsidiary. If certain milestones are reached, payments to Calixa stockholders could eventually total an additional $310 million, Cubist officials said.

Valeant buying lab in Quebec

2009-12-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International's Canadian subsidiary, Valeant Canada Limited, is buying cosmeceutical company Laboratoire Dr. Renaud for about CA$23 million.

Syngenta Bio plants seeds for major growth

2009-12-07T12:00:00.001-08:00

Syngenta is expanding its Research Triangle Park operations by leasing an additional 100,000 square feet of office space and purchasing 50 acres intended for future growth, the company announced Monday.

Infinity Pharma promotes Perkins as CEO

2009-12-07T11:59:00.000-08:00

Drug maker Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. has promoted President Adelene Q. Perkins to the role of CEO, effective Jan. 1.

Amgen ups buyback program

2009-12-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Amgen Inc. has increased its stock buyback program by $5 billion, the company said Monday.

Calypte Biomedical in danger of closing

2009-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

If Calypte Biomedical Corp. is not able to obtain more funding, the Portland biotech may not be able to continue operations, it disclosed on Friday.

Zogenix boosts second VC round to $71M

2009-12-07T10:49:00.000-08:00

Zogenix Inc. added $20 million to its second round of venture funding, boosting it to $71 million total.
The San Diego drug company is focused on neurological treatments and pain medicine.

Cubist halts trial enrollment over death-rate concerns

2009-12-07T10:47:00.001-08:00

Drug developer Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday has prematurely ended enrollment in a Phase 2 trial for a potential therapy to control bleeding in high-risk cardiac surgery patients, citing disparities in trial data that may indicate unexpectedly high mortality rates.

Vertex underwriters exercise share option

2009-12-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. said the underwriters of its planned stock offering have exercised an option to acquire an additional 1.5 million shares.
That move, which closed Dec. 3, brought the Cambridge, Mass.-based company’s total offering to 11.5 million shares.

PharmAthene reports positive early phase results for Protexia

2009-12-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Early clinical trials by PharmAthene Inc. testing a potential treatment for exposure to chemical nerve agents have generated positive results.
That was the word from the Annapolis, Md., biodefense company Monday, which said a Phase I trial for Protexia shows the drug to be safe and effective, with no serious side effects.

Immunogen lifted by cancer-drug trial

2009-12-07T10:43:00.001-08:00

Drug developer Immunogen Inc. said preliminary Phase 1 testing for its BT-062 cancer therapy has produced “encouraging” results that merit a new round of trials featuring a more frequent dosing regimen.

Cell Biosciences acquires Protein Forest

2009-12-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

Cell Biosciences Inc. said Monday it acquired Protein Forest Inc., which focuses on sample preparation technology for proteomic analysis and biomarker discovery.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based Cell Biosciences did not disclose terms of the deal, but said in connection with the all-stock acquisition, it raised an additional $4 million in equity financing led by Denmark-based Novo A/S.

5AM raises $200M for life science fund

2009-12-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

5AM Venture Management LLC said Monday it raised $200 million for a third life science venture capital fund.
The firm, which has an office in Menlo Park, Calif., said capital was raised from a broad range of current and new institutional investors including endowments, family offices, foundations, funds-of-funds and pension funds.