Circassia Pharmaceuticals Plc continued to build revenue in the third quarter following the acquisition in the summer of asthma diagnostics and therapeutics companies, a move that also gives it a commercial platform from which to launch its future allergy products.
Novartis reported a decline in net income in the third quarter and for the first nine months due to provisions for the conditional settlement of a lawsuit in the US and the impact of a one-time financial gain the previous year.
Ireland-based Shire Plc achieved a 4% increase in revenue in the third quarter of 2015. But a 17% rise in expenses to $1,199 million caused operating profit to decline by 20.3% to $456 million on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
France-based TxCell SA plans to outsource the manufacture of its experimental cell therapies, and make new investments in process development to increase efficiencies and make way for the introduction of a second technology platform using engineered regulatory T cells.
A new treatment for melanoma, which is based on a genetically engineered virus, has received a positive opinion from the European Medicine Agency – the first step towards marketing authorisation in Europe.
Symphogen A/S has reached agreement with its investors on a €67.5 million convertible debt facility that will help finance the clinical development of an antibody drug candidate for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The funds will also support development of two preclinical cancer compounds.
A new therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, one of the most difficult-to-treat diseases, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The combination therapy has been approved for patients who have previously received gemcitabine.
Roche has raised its financial forecast for 2015 and announced plans to increase its Swiss franc dividend following solid growth of its pharmaceutical business in the first nine months, led by the CD20 antibody rituximab (MabThera/Rituxan).
France’s Nicox SA, a developer of eye-care products, saw its revenue more than double to €7 million in the first nine months of 2015 from €3.2 million a year earlier following increased product sales. The year-earlier figure excludes revenue from Nicox Inc which was divested in late 2014.
A new coagulation factor replacement therapy has been approved in the US for patients with hereditary Factor X deficiency, a condition that is characterised by the failure of the blood to clot normally.