United States

Vaccine created from patient white blood cells to target brain tumors

Friday, July 27, 2012 08:13 AM

Researchers at Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute (NBTI) are seeking to understand if a vaccine made from a patient's own blood cells may slow the growth of glioblastoma multiformes (GBM), the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor.

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IDX719 receives Fast Track designation for Hep C

Thursday, July 26, 2012 10:29 AM

Idenix Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge, Mass.-based biopharmaceutical company focused on human viral diseases, has been granted Fast Track designation by the FDA for IDX719 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV).

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PCORI seeks input on draft methodology report

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 11:08 AM

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress, has opened a public comment period for its draft Methodology Report,which proposes standards for the conduct of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR).

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Sanofi launches Collaborate Activate Innovation Challenge

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 10:22 AM

Sanofi US has launched the Collaborate Activate Innovation Challenge, which will award a total of $500,000 to teams of patient advocacy groups or medical professional associations who deliver novel approaches to better engage patients in their own health.

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CoreRx opens new Florida facility

Monday, July 23, 2012 02:21 PM

CoreRx, a contract pharmaceutical development organization, has officially opened its new 35,000 square foot facility in Clearwater, Fla.

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PTC Therapeutics raises $30M for ataluren in muscular dystrophy

Monday, July 23, 2012 12:36 PM

PTC Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company based in South Plainfield, N.J., has completed a $30 million round of financing. The round included a number of long-term investors such as Credit Suisse First Boston Equity Partners, HBM BioVentures, Vulcan Ventures, Celgene, Delphi Ventures, The Column Group, Novo A/S and other existing investors.

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Venture capital investment in life sciences down 9%

Friday, July 20, 2012 02:45 PM

Despite venture capitalists investing $7 billion in 898 deals in the second quarter of 2012—a 17% climb in terms of dollars and an 11% rise in the number of deals compared to the first quarter of 2012, when $6 billion was invested in 809 deals—the life sciences sector (biotechnology and medical devices) saw a 9% drop in funding dollars and a 6% drop in deals from the prior quarter, to $1.4 billion going into 174 deals in Q2.

According to the MoneyTree Report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data provided by Thomson Reuters, the total number of early stage deals reached the highest quarterly total since Q1 2001, with $2.1 billion going into 410 deals. That’s an 18% increase in dollars and a 28% increase in deals from the prior quarter. Overall, the software industry took in the highest level of funding of all industries with $2.3 billion invested in Q2, the highest investment total for the sector since the Q2 2001.

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Former HHS assistant secretary joins West Health Policy Center

Friday, July 20, 2012 01:12 PM

Michael J. O'Grady, Ph.D., former HHS assistant secretary for planning and evaluation, has joined the West Health Policy Center as its inaugural president.  Launched by philanthropists Gary and Mary West earlier this year, the Center's mission is to develop common sense reimbursement and regulatory proposals to save the U.S. more than $100 billion in cumulative health care costs within 10 years.

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Patient Recruiters International launches Clinicalstudy.org

Friday, July 20, 2012 01:05 PM

Carlsbad, Calif.-based Patient Recruiters International (PRI), a provider of direct patient access solutions for patient recruitment and retention services, has launched Clinicalstudy.org to host clinical trial web sites and landing pages for the registration of interested research volunteers.

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Taro rejects Sun Pharma offer

Thursday, July 19, 2012 02:25 PM

The special committee of the board of directors of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries unanimously rejected the Oct. 18, 2011, unsolicited, non-binding offer from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries—to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Taro not currently held by Sun Pharma for $24.50 per share—as inadequate and not in the best interests of Taro's minority shareholders.

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