R&D Trends

Bristol-Myers Squibb to acquire Inhibitex

Monday, January 9, 2012 03:59 PM

Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed to acquire Inhibitex, a biopharmaceutical company, for $26 per share, or approximately $2.5 billion, in cash.

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Oncodesign and Ipsen collaborate to battle Parkinson’s target

Monday, January 9, 2012 09:34 AM

Ispen, a global specialty-driven pharmaceutical company, and Oncodesign, a drug discovery company, are collaborating to discover and develop innovative LRRK2 kinase inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents against Parkinson’s disease.

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Metamark, Janssen ink $365 million research agreement

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 01:12 PM

Metamark Genetics has entered into a research, collaboration, and license agreement with Janssen Biotech. The agreement is based on Metamark's discovery platform for the identification and characterization of specific proprietary cancer targets demonstrated to play a causal role in promoting tumor progression and spread. The collaboration will focus on the evaluation and validation of several of Metamark's Prognosis Determinants. Upon selection of the targets, Janssen Biotech will receive a limited exclusive license under Metamark's intellectual property and know-how and will thereafter be responsible for the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic inhibitors targeting the specific Prognosis Determinants.

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Access launches initiative to fund early-stage therapeutic companies

Monday, December 19, 2011 02:56 PM

Access Industries has established Access BridgeGap Ventures, a new life sciences venture investment initiative to fund early-stage companies in the therapeutics space. Access BridgeGap will fund early-stage startups and also create de-novo spinoffs around potential high-impact technologies, many of which are still in academic labs.

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Biogen Idec, UCB partner in ALS research

Monday, December 19, 2011 02:39 PM

The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) has formed a research agreement with Biogen Idec and UCB to investigate the use of an anti-CD40L antibody as a potential therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's or Motor Neuron Disease. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

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Researchers look to disease-modifying therapy to ward off, possibly prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Monday, December 19, 2011 10:25 AM

Just as statins help lower high cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of heart attacks, researchers are seeking a comparable approach for people with large amounts of beta amyloid, an abnormal protein in the brain commonly found in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Medicines would clear those proteins before any signs of memory loss or other early symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear. 

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Linegen, Fast Forward collaborate to develop gene and biomarker assays for MS

Friday, December 16, 2011 08:04 AM

Lineagen and Fast Forward, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, have formed an alliance to fund the clinical development and validation of a blood-based assay for multiple sclerosis (MS). The goal of the program is to develop a test that can aid clinicians in diagnosing MS, distinguishing it from other neurological disorders, and providing the prognostic information needed to help guide treatment decisions and response to therapies.

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Ipsen expands presence in US market

Friday, December 16, 2011 07:48 AM

Ipsen's US-based subsidiary, Biomeasure, and its North American Operations group announced that it will further expand its commitment, investment and commercial presence in the US market. Ipsen will make a multi-million dollar capital investment in its Milford, MA research and development and technical operations facility, and will relocate US Operations headquarters from Brisbane, CA, to Bridgewater, NJ, in order to enhance the North American commercial organization.

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Soligenix, Harvard University partner to develop next generation anthrax vaccine

Thursday, December 15, 2011 04:15 PM

Soligenix, a development stage biopharmaceutical company, has initiated a next generation anthrax vaccine development program pursuant to a field-exclusive option agreement with Harvard University to negotiate a license under patent rights that cover prophylactic uses of a modified anthrax toxin protein. Initial development work will be covered pursuant to a previously issued $9.4 million National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) grant enabling development of thermo-stable ricin and anthrax vaccines.

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CHIN to accelerate development of new vaccines and therapies

Thursday, December 15, 2011 09:05 AM

Seven universities, led by The University of Western Ontario, have been awarded a $600,000 catalyst grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to create a national network to promote and enhance research on the body’s immune system. 

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