> PTC Therapeutics has filed for an IPO designed to raise $86 million. Report
> In a rare bout of good news for the gene therapy field, researchers said they used the treatment to cure two people with a rare immune disorder. Researchers said the advances in treating the two German patients with chronic granulomatous disease, or CGD, marked an important proof-of-principle for the therapy. Article
> The FDA has approved CancerVax's IND for D93, a humanized monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated an ability to inhibit tumor activity. Preclinical studies with D93 have demonstrated its ability to reduce angiogenesis and inhibit tumor growth in in vivo models of several types of cancer. CancerVax plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of D93 in the treatment of patients with solid tumors later in 2006. Release
> Merck KGaA has received European approval to market Erbitux for head and neck cancer. Regulators based their approval on Phase III data demonstrating significant gains in median survival times for patients. Report
> Takeda has filed an NDA with the FDA for an extended release version of its diabetes drug. Report
> Medarex is raising $10 million to fund new product development work. Article
> Teva has received approval for marketing a generic version of Novartis' Desferal for injection. Report
> Genzyme has received European marketing approval for Myozyme, an enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease. Release
And Finally…The long controversy over requiring parity in insurance coverage for mental health has been renewed with new data suggesting that equal benefits do not drive up costs of mental healthcare. The issue has been mired in Congress for years. Report