There has been a recent surge in new confirmed cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) associated with the multiple sclerosis drug, Tysabri (natalizumab), with the 24th case reported to the EMEA on 25 October.
The European Medicines Agency is recommending that two new medicines, one of which is a radiopharmaceutical, be granted marketing authorisations. It has also given the go-ahead for new indications for four currently licensed treatments.
The European Medicines Agency has announced a review of the multiple sclerosis drug, Tysabri (natalizumab), in light of reports of 23 cases where patients taking the drug have developed a rare brain infection known as progressive multifocal leukoencaphalopathy (PML).
The German drug discovery and development company, 4SC AG, has announced plans to raise €25 to €30 million in a rights issue to existing shareholders. The new shares are being offered at €3 per share, or at about the current market price.
Novartis International AG has warned that foreign exchange losses could significantly reduce the growth in its reported results in 2009 even as the underlying performance of its pharmaceutical business remains strong.
Evolva SA, a Swiss biotech company with a genetic chemistry platform, is raising CHF 28 million in the first closing of a Series B financing that will support its planned takeover of Arpida Ltd, another Swiss biotech company.
Evotec AG has received a €2.5 million milestone payment from Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) for the identification of a candidate compound in a joint research programme on cardiometabolic risk. This is BI’s seventh milestone payment to Evotec.
Pfizer Inc has raised its revenue forecast for 2009 following the completion of its acquisition of Wyeth. Revenue for the year is now expected to be $49 to $50 billion compared with an earlier forecast of $45 to $46 billion, the company said.
Elan Corporation Plc said that its recent strategic alliance with Johnson & Johnson, under which it divested assets under development for Alzheimer’s disease, helped drive the company into profit for the 2009 third quarter after a loss a year earlier.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $115 million to the non-profit partnership, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), to help it develop its portfolio of anti-malarial medicines. This is the MMV’s fifth grant from the foundation.