Itero raises $21M; Immunicon files for Chapter 11; AVI cuts staff;

> San Mateo, CA-based Itero has formed a collaboration with India's Biological E. Limited and raised $21 million in a Series A. Release [1]

> Three months after announcing plans to cut 40 percent of its staff, Immunicon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Release [2]

> AVI BioPharma is cutting 16 percent of its staff after discontinuing development of AVI-5126 in patients undergoing heart bypass surgery. Story [3]

> Centocor says that its drug golimumab successfully hit its endpoints in three late-stage studies of rheumatoid arthritis. Release [4]

> Noxxon Pharma has inked a licensing and drug discovery agreement with Eli Lilly on the discovery and development of Spiegelmers for the treatment of migraine. Under the terms of the agreement Noxxon grants Lilly an exclusive worldwide license to a novel pre-clinical Spiegelmer, and will use its Spiegelmer technology to identify follow-on inhibitors. Release [5]

> ApoCell and Reata Pharmaceuticals have launched a Phase II trial of Reata RTA 402 for diabetic renal disease. Report [6]

> Neuro-Hitech is acquiring MCR American Pharmaceuticals and AMBI Pharmaceuticals. Release [7]

> In addition to electing a new president, U.S. voters would like to see the price of prescription drugs come down, according to a survey that the Alliance of Minority Medical Associations has conducted. Report [8]

> Ethypharm, Takeda Pharmaceutical and TAP Pharmaceuticals are suing Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. for patent infringement, Barr confirms. Report [9]

And Finally... New research by scientists at the University of Cambridge suggests that the neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as a chemical messenger between nerve cells, plays a critical role in regulating emotions such as aggression during social decision-making. Release [10]