The German biotechnology company 4SC AG has expanded its research and development capacity in epigenetics with two deals focused on discovering epigenetic compounds in cancer and cardiovascular disease. The company gave the update in its half-year financial report.
A first human study of a monoclonal antibody targeting the toll-like receptor 4 for the potential treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to be safe and well tolerated, according to the developer Novimmune SA of Switzerland.
GW Pharmaceuticals Plc is advancing development of its cannabidiol, Epidiolex, for the treatment of childhood epilepsy using cash raised during a recent follow-on offering of its American Depositary Shares on the US Nasdaq market.
Roche has agreed to acquire Santaris Pharma A/S of Denmark, an RNA-targeted medicine specialist with whom it already has a strategic alliance. The Switzerland-based company will pay $250 upfront in cash for the company, with contingent payments of up to $200 million.
A Phase 3 trial of a new combination treatment for relapsed multiple myeloma reached its primary endpoint of progression-free survival, demonstrating that carfilzomib with two other agents helped patients live 8.7 months longer without their disease worsening, Amgen announced.
The Switzerland-based life science company Evolva Holding SA has reached an agreement to acquire Prosarix Ltd, a privately-owned biotechnology company in Cambridge UK that works in the area of computer-based drug discovery.
The UK government has enlisted the services of Illumina Inc and a number of public bodies to launch a project aimed at sequencing the genomes of up to 100,000 patients with cancer or a rare disease in order to discover new ways of treating the disorders.
A new therapeutic vaccine intended to alter the course of Parkinson’s disease has passed its first clinical hurdle following a Phase 1 study that showed the agent is safe and well-tolerated in patients. The vaccine has been developed by Affiris AG of Austria.
Sanofi SA reported group sales of €8,075 million for the second quarter, an increase of 0.9% on a reported basis. Progress in the quarter was driven by sales of diabetes medicines and its Genzyme subsidiary which has a portfolio of orphan drugs as well as Aubagio for multiple sclerosis.
AstraZeneca Plc has upgraded its financial guidance for 2014 following an increase in revenue in the second quarter and the successful launch of a new medicine for Type 2 diabetes in the US. Sales in China also rose by 23% on a constant currency basis.