The US Food and Drug Administration has granted priority review status to belimumab, a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, according to the drug’s co-developers, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Human Genome Sciences Inc.
Preclinical research showing that reprogrammed adult stem cells can repair damaged heart tissue in mice has been published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The technology is also being tested in a human trial in Europe.
Building on momentum in the first-half year, SkyePharma Plc said it expects to report an increase in revenue for 2010. Driving the business forward will be the new CEO, Axel Müller, who takes over the top job from Ken Cunningham on 23 August.
The European regulatory review of a ground-breaking gene therapy for the treatment of a protein deficiency linked to pancreatitis is on schedule with a decision expected by mid-2011, according to the developer, Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT).
Intercell AG, the Austrian maker of vaccines for the prevention and treatment of disease, reported a 35.2% decline in revenue to €9.7 million for the second 2010 quarter, mainly due to the absence of milestone receipts from its collaborations.
Total revenues and other operating income of Crucell NV rose by 63% to a record €128.6 million in the second 2010 quarter, mainly due to booming sales of Quinvaxem in the developing world.
Eli Lilly and Company said it is stopping development of semagacestat for Alzheimer’s disease after preliminary data from two Phase 3 studies showed the compound did not slow disease progression and was associated with an increased risk of skin cancer.
H. Lundbeck A/S said its profit before interest and tax (EBIT) increased by 30% to DKK 936 million (€125.6 million) in the 2010 second quarter on revenue of DKK 3.8 billion, up by 6.8%. It expects revenue of DKK 14.3 to 14.8 billion for the year.
Pronova BioPharma ASA, the Norwegian producer of omega-3 derived prescription products, posted a 2.6% decline in revenue in the second 2010 quarter to NOK 443.6 million (€55.9 million) and a 59% drop in net profit to NOK 51.7 million.
Two new approaches for treating Alzheimer’s disease have recently been disclosed. In separate announcements, a privately-owned company in Canada and researchers in Germany have put forward different approaches for disease-modifying therapies.