News

TB alliance tests novel tuberculosis regime

Country
Germany

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development has launched a clinical trial to test a novel three-drug regime for tuberculosis which, it says, shows promise for treating both drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant forms of the disease.

Sanofi warns Genzyme against poison pill defence

Country
France

Sanofi-Aventis SA has warned the management of Genzyme Corp that its shareholders’ interests could be put in jeopardy if certain defensive measures are put in place to stop Sanofi-Aventis’s bid for the company.

FDA approves Kombiglyze for Type 2 diabetes

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Kombiglyze, a new Type 2 diabetes drug that combines saxagliptin and metformin XR in a single tablet, according to the drug’s sponsors, AstraZeneca Plc and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

New partnership in molecular diagnostics

Country
France

Privately-owned Biocartis SA of Switzerland and bioMerieux of France have entered into a strategic collaboration to co-develop assays for use in a number of healthcare-associated infections, sepsis and oncology.

FDA approves Cymbalta for chronic musculoskeletal pain

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new indication for Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain, including discomfort from osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain.

4SC reports on vidofludimus

Country
Germany

The German biotech company, 4SC AG, has reported preliminary Phase 2a data for its small molecule drug for inflammatory bowel disease that showed a total response rate of 88.5% in patients who had been dependent on corticosteroids.

New German CNS company created

Country
Germany

A new German company with a pipeline of early central nervous system assets and a phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitor platform, has been spun out of Biotie Therapies Corp of Finland. Called Biocrea GmbH, it has start-up capital of €4.8 million.

Wilex to acquire antibody-drug conjugate platform

Country
Germany

Wilex AG as become the latest company to invest in antibody-drug conjugate technology with the proposed acquisition of Heidelberg Pharma AG, a privately-held German company with a conjugate platform.

Lundbeck gives medium-term forecast

Country
Denmark

H. Lundbeck A/S has taken the unusual step of issuing minimum revenue and profit forecasts for the period 2012 to 2014, a time during which it will face increased generic competition and higher product sales and promotion costs.

Antibodies said to attack viruses within cells

Country
United Kingdom

Researchers funded by the UK Medical Research Council have reported that the human body has a system of intracellular immunity by which antibodies can fight viruses from within infected cells.