Global News

AB-Biotics, Scienta Farma partner to sell pharmacogenetic test in Mexico

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 01:18 PM

Spanish biotech company AB-Biotics and Scienta Farma reached an agreement to sell the pharmacogenetic test Neurofarmagen in Mexico. This test, developed by AB-Biotics, identifies the most optimum medication for each individual patient with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or epilepsy by analyzing DNA, extracted from a saliva sample.

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Quest Diagnostics completes sale of Enterix to Clinical Genomics

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 01:15 PM

Quest Diagnostics, a provider of diagnostic information services, has completed the sale of its Enterix colorectal cancer screening test business to Clinical Genomics Technologies, an Australian life sciences company.

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Viroclinics Biosciences launches clinical trial operations group

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 01:10 PM

Global CRO Viroclinics Biosciences has started a specialized group for clinical trial operations. Activities involve preparation of virology sampling kits, on-site sampling handling instruction, courier transport, sample tracking and tracing and management of sample processing labs.

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Amgen completes Onyx merger

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 01:01 PM

Amgen has successfully completed its previously announced tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Onyx Pharmaceuticals for $125 per share in cash. As announced Aug. 25, the purchase price is $9.7 billion net of estimated Onyx cash.

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Xention, Servier collaborate for atrial fibrillation treatment

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 12:59 PM

Xention, a Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in discovery and development of ion channel-modulating drugs for atrial fibrillation (AF), and Servier, an independent French pharmaceutical company, have entered  a multi-year agreement for  development and commercialization of XEN-D0103, a selective Kv1.5 modulator discovered and developed by Xention for the treatment of AF.

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ACRES, PharmaTrain form alliance

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 12:56 PM

The Alliance for Clinical Research Excellence and Safety (ACRES), a Cambridge, Mass.-based global nonprofit, and PharmaTrain Federation, an international nonprofit organization for improving education and training of professionals in medicines development, have allied to promote the adoption of new and reliable global standards for high-quality postgraduate education and training for individuals pursuing careers in discovery, development, regulation and marketing of new medicines.

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Merck to cut another 8,500 jobs, sharpen pipeline, shutter facilities

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 12:37 PM

In a move to create greater efficiencies, Merck announced the elimination of another 8,500 positions, in addition to previously reported reductions of 7,500 jobs, with a goal of paring annual operating expenses by approximately $2.5 billion by the end of 2015.

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inVentive Health names president for Europe and executive VP for Asia

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 12:00 PM

Global CRO inVentiv Health has created two new positions to lead its business in Europe and Asia.

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Olivier Brandicourt appointed chairman of Bayer HealthCare

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 11:00 AM

Olivier Brandicourt has been appointed chairman of the board of management of Bayer HealthCare and member of the Bayer executive council effective Nov. 1. Since March, professor Wolfgang Plischke has led Bayer HealthCare on an interim basis in addition to his existing duties as a Bayer board member.

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Merck to continue development of Tecemotide in phase III trial

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 10:30 AM

Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, has decided to continue clinical development of the investigational MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy tecemotide  (also known as L-BLP25 and formerly known as Stimuvax). Merck Serono, which is developing tecemotide under a license agreement with Oncothyreon, will conduct a new phase III trial called START2 for patients with unresectable, locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

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