Round-up of Early Clinical Trials
Evotec starts Phase 2 depression study
News
French diabetes specialist raises €16 million in Series A
The Lyon-based company, Poxel SA, has raised €16 million in a Series A round, enabling it to advance the Phase 2 programme for its lead compound against Type 2 diabetes. The round was led by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners.
Royalty-free license agreement for drug development
The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development has reached an agreement with the Geneva-based Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) under which it will grant royalty-free rights to DNDi to develop drugs against neglected diseases.
EMA says Fabrazyme supply problems continue
The European Medicines Agency has issued a second warning about supply problems for the Genzyme Corp drug, Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta), for Fabry disease. It is recommending that, where possible, an alternative treatment be used.
AstraZeneca and MRC to share compound libraries
AstraZeneca Plc and the technology transfer arm of the UK Medical Research Council have reached an agreement to share their respective compound libraries in order to increase the prospect of finding new treatments for serious diseases.
Eli Lilly to acquire Alnara Pharmaceuticals
Eli Lilly announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the privately-held US biotechnology company, Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc which is developing protein therapeutics for metabolic diseases. Financial terms were not disclosed.
GSK to develop ofatumumab in autoimmune indications
GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Genmab A/S have altered their co-development agreement for ofatumumab (Arzerra) with the result that GSK will develop the antibody for autoimmune indications. The companies will continue their collaboration in cancer.
Celgene’s acquisition will expand its oncology franchise
Celgene Corp is set to expand its oncology franchise with an agreed cash and stock offer for Abraxis BioScience Inc of California which has a marketed treatment for metastatic breast cancer. The deal will establish Celgene in solid tumours.
EMA proposes new fee structure
The European Medicines Agency is proposing a new method for calculating the fees that it charges to industry for its services. The fee structure would be simplified, with fewer fees charged for applications for a marketing authorisation.
Sanofi acquires US firm developing kinase inhibitors
Sanofi-Aventis SA is acquiring TargeGen Inc, a privately held US company that specialises in developing small-molecule kinase inhibitors for treatment of haematological malignancies.