Articles Published in 2011

Mochida inks license agreement with Merck

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12:00 PM

Mochida Pharmaceutical has entered into a license agreement with Merck, through a subsidiary, relating to a portfolio of drug candidates invented by Mochida for the potential treatment for type-2 diabetes. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck has been granted a worldwide exclusive license to develop, manufacture, use and sell the potential drug candidates. Mochida will receive from Merck an upfront payment and potential development milestone payments, as well as royalties on the sales of any products derived from the collaboration. Mochida has retained an option to co-develop and co-market any products in Japan.

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Prestwick, Pharma Plexus form strategic alliance

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:44 AM

Prestwick Chemical, a chemical services company for the life sciences industry, has formed a strategic alliance with Pharma Plexus Holland, a provider of pharmaceutical optimization and development services. The two companies will work together on a significant lead optimization project recently won from a major pharmaceutical company.

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Baxter to acquire Synovis for $260 million

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:30 AM

Baxter International and Synovis Life Technologies have reported a definitive agreement for Baxter to acquire Synovis, a provider of biological and mechanical products for soft tissue repair used in a variety of surgical procedures. The acquisition complements and will expand the portfolio of Baxter's regenerative medicine and biosurgery franchise, which includes a number of devices and biological products for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adherence.

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Quintiles launches Kun Tuo

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 09:51 AM

Quintiles has launched Kun Tuo, a local contract research organization built to service the unique needs of the Chinese biopharmaceutical industry and multinational biopharma companies operating in China.

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Catabasis receives $8 million in Series A extension financing

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 09:41 AM

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals has received an additional $8 million in Series A financing, bringing the total amount raised to $47.6 million. All current investors participated in the financing, including SV Life Sciences, Clarus Ventures, MedImmune Ventures and Advanced Technology Ventures. The new funding will be used to accelerate the development of CAT-2003, the company’s omega-3 conjugated compound for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, and move the compound into the clinic in 2012.

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Benedyk joins Amarantus as strategic advisor

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 09:29 AM

Amarantus BioSciences has named Mark J. Benedyk, PhD, strategic advisor effective immediately. In this role, he will support the company with strategy and business development issues.

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VAXIMM initiates oral therapeutic cancer vaccine trial

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 09:14 AM

VAXIMM has started the first clinical trial of its investigational oral therapeutic cancer vaccine VXM01. The placebo-controlled phase I dose escalation study intends to enroll up to 45 pancreatic cancer patients at the Heidelberg University Hospital (Heidelberg, Germany). The patients will receive several doses of VXM01, a therapeutic cancer vaccine that targets the tumor vasculature. The results of the initial double blind period of the study are expected in the first half of 2013.

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Wheeler joins Acetylon

Monday, December 12, 2011 02:20 PM

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals has named Catherine A. Wheeler, MD, vice president, clinical development. Wheeler will have responsibility for all clinical development functions of the company, including current and future clinical trials of Acetylon’s HDAC6 selective drug candidate, ACY-1215, in multiple myeloma as well as other potential hematologic and solid tumor disease indications. She will also lead the clinical development of future drug candidates in inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

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Mylan names president of Dey Pharma

Monday, December 12, 2011 01:50 PM

Mylan has named John Thievon president of Dey Pharma, Mylan's pharmaceutical business.

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Abbott, Reata Pharmaceuticals ink $400 million agreement

Monday, December 12, 2011 01:38 PM

Abbott and Reata Pharmaceuticals have entered into a worldwide collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize Reata's portfolio of second-generation oral antioxidant inflammation modulators (AIMs). The agreement is in addition to the partnership between the two companies formed in September 2010 in which Reata granted to Abbott exclusive rights to develop and commercialize its lead AIM compound, bardoxolone methyl, outside of the United States, excluding certain Asian markets.

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