Irritable Bowel Syndrome

ALSO NOTED: Cancer-sniffing dog being cloned; Investment spurs Bioton shares; Genetic Chemistry wins $23M contract; Tioga touts

Wed, 21 May 2008 06:59:50 -0400

> The world's top cancer-sniffing canine has been cloned, and her owners are planning a pack of clones to join the hunt for canine cancer detection. Researchers have been testing dogs' ability to detect early-stage cancer cells in urine and breath. Report

> Shares of Poland's Bioton surged on the news that one of the country's richest men, Zygmunt Solorz-Zak, bought a 10 percent stake in the company worth $89 million. Report

> Genetic Chemistry has won a $22.8 million contract from the U.S. Army Research Office to develop novel compounds that act against bacterium that is classified as a Category B bioterror threat. Report

> Tioga Pharmaceuticals says that a recent Phase IIb study of its oral kappa opioid receptor agonist, asimadoline, produced statistically significant results in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Release

> Sunesis Pharmaceuticals has launched a Phase II trial of voreloxin (SNS-595), the company's lead anti-cancer therapeutic. Report

> The news that the FDA had put a 'clinical hold' on Geron's plans to launch the first U.S. clinical trial of a stem cell therapy is attracting considerable scrutiny from researchers. Geron report

> Twenty-five years after the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus, top scientists from around the world gathered at the Pasteur Institute to mark major advances in the field and come to terms with some of the grim realities that now afflict their work. Report

> Perrigo has formed a joint development agreement with Cobrek Pharmaceuticals and taken a minority stake in the new drug company. Report

> Merck made a $58 million deal to settle claims of deceptive Vioxx advertising with a 29 attorneys general. Report

> Fresh on the heels of their DTC hearing, Congressmen John Dingell and Bart Stupak have issued letters to four top pharma execs--CEOs at Merck, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, and Johnson & Johnson--asking them to commit to honest-Abe advertising. DTC report

Special Report: The top 17 salaries in Big Pharma. List

And Finally… The National Institutes of Health has created a new research program that is devoting itself to studying patients with mystery diseases. Report

ALSO NOTED: Endo buys Novartis' Voltaren; Microbia, Forest produce positive Phase III data; and much more...

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Endo Pharmaceutical is buying Novartis' Voltaren gel for $85 million upfront and a one-time sales milestone of $25 million. Release

> Researchers for Microbia and Forest Laboratories have produced positive Phase II data from two studies of linaclotide in patients with chronic constipation as well as patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Release

> MorphoSys has inked a deal to supply genetically engineered antibodies to Spain's Proteomika SL for use in research into diagnostics and novel treatments. Release

> After some arm-twisting from the FDA, Roche has added stronger warnings to its Tamiflu label. Report

> A new study shows that costlier drugs may work better. Report

> Another prominent South Korean biomedical researcher stands accused of faking data that appeared in prestigious scientific journals. Report

> Leaders in the nanotech field have been beating a path to Congress, asking lawmakers to significantly boost federal support of research into molecular-level advances. Report

> Hormones produced by the heart could play a remarkable role in controlling and perhaps even curing cancer. Report

> Forget those studies of long-lived Italian shepherds and Greek fishermen. It's not fresh air or exercise or a simple whole-foods diet that causes certain people to live past 100, a new study shows. Instead, it's a set of genetic mutations thought to interfere with normal cell growth and thus slow aging. Report

And Finally... Several of the world's top biomedical research institutes--including a couple run by biopharma giants--have made this year's list of the best places for postdocs to work. Report

Ocera gins $35.5M in third venture round

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:59:55 -0500

San Diego-based Ocera Therapeutics has lined up $35.5 million in its third venture round to push the further development of its lead--and only--therapy: AST-120, which was in-licensed from Japan's Kureha in 2005. The drug is in Phase III for fistulizing Crohn's disease as well as a range of other trials for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Hepatic Encephalopathy and PPI-resistant GERD.

"This latest round takes us well into 2009," CEO Laurent Fischer, MD, told FierceBiotech, "and we're anticipating positive data in Crohn's Phase III. This gives us the opportunity to evaluate partnerships and tap the public markets--if they open up." Fischer also says that the company is examining new in-licensing options.

Montagu Newhall Associates is leading the round and is joined by InterWest Partners; AgeChem Venture Fund; Cross Creek Capital, an affiliate of Wasatch Advisors; FinTech and CDIB BioScience. Previous investors, Domain Associates, Sofinnova Ventures, and Thomas, McNerney & Partners, also participated in the round.

- read the release for more

ALSO: Affimed Therapeutics says it's bumped up its second venture round to $45 million in a second close. Release

Related Articles:
Ocera lands $12M in VC. Report
Ocera pockets $14.5M in first round, prepares drug trial. Report

ALSO NOTED: Dynogen goes public; Alpharma sells ingredients unit for $395M; Arizona launches new venture fund; and much more...

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Dynogen Pharmaceuticals is going public in a buyout deal with Apex Bioventures Acquisition Corp. Dynogen shareholders will initially receive $98 million in the deal, with Dynogen merging with a subsidiary of Apex. Dynogen will be left with about $65 million in cash on hand for development work. Dynogen has been focused on irritable bowel syndrome, nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux disease and overactive bladder. Release

> Alpharma plans to sells its active pharmaceutical ingredients unit to 3i for $395 million and use the proceeds to grow its drug and animal health business. Release

> A group of Arizona biotech leaders has created the state's first venture fund for early-stage developers. Translational Accelerator gets started with $20 million for the biotech field, with the money slated for developers either in the state or coming to the state. Companies engaged in research for cancer and central nervous system diseases and diagnostics can qualify for loans of $500,000 to $2 million. Report

> Investor Carl Icahn (photo), who has specialized recently in upending several biotech companies, says he's planning to start blogging about some of his favorite issues, like executive compensation. Report

> Researchers are focusing on a more efficient method for breeding transgenic animals to produce proteins. Report

> The FDA has agreed to review UCB's Cimzia for rheumatoid arthritis. Report

> Cook Pharmica, a contract manufacturer, is planning an $80 million expansion of its Bloomington, IN plant. Report

> MethylGene and EnVivo Pharmaceuticals today announced that MethylGene has exercised its right to opt-out of further funding in its collaboration with EnVivo signed in February 2005. Release

> Biogen Idec reported a surge in profits in the fourth quarter as revenue from its two biggest therapies--Rituxan and Avonex--spiked. Report

> Puerto Rico is the birthing center for 13 of the 20 top-selling drugs in the U.S., but plants there have had repeated quality-control problems, according to an investigation by the Associated Press. Report

> The UK's Wellcome Trust says it will pump up its research spending by 60 percent over the next five years as it ambitiously seeks a better understanding of diseases at a genetic level. Report

> Reporters took Fosamax's patent expiration today as an opportunity to remind us all that 20 billion worth of drugs will go off patent this year, cutting big-time into Big Pharma's sales. Report

> Think before you click. That's the moral of today's tale, the story of a lawyer, a reporter and a $1 billion potential settlement that Eli Lilly wanted to keep quiet--but ended up all over the news. Report

And Finally... DNA from the Black Rat can be used to show how diseases have spread around the globe. Release

Microbia, Forest ink $330M deal

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Microbia is pocketing a $70 million up front payment from Forest Laboratories in exchange for a 50/50 U.S. development pact for linaclotide, an experimental therapy for irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal problems. Forest gains exclusive rights to the drug in Canada and Mexico and will help pay development costs. If all goes according to plan, Microbia will garner up to $330 million in the deal. The therapy is currently in Phase IIb. Microbia was a 2006 Fierce 15 company.

- see the release on the deal

Related Articles:
Microbia lands whopping $75M fifth round. Report
Forest Labs dumps failed stroke drug program. Report
Forest buys Cerexa in $480M deal. Report

Salix shares rise on new data, deals

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:59:55 -0400

Shares of Raleigh, NC-based Salix Pharmaceuticals surged about 20 percent this morning after the company announced a trifecta of upbeat developments. New trial data are supporting two of its therapies while Salix also announced a co-promotion deal on an existing drug and the acquisition of another therapy.

A mid-stage study of Xifaxan demonstrated efficacy in treating patients suffering from diarrhea-associated irritable bowel syndrome. And a late-stage study of its granulated mesalamine product demonstrated efficacy in keeping ulcerative colitis in remission. Salix inked a co-promotion pact with Eisai for Colazal.

- here's the report from the Triangle Business Journal

SPOTLIGHT: FDA allows limited Zelnorm use

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:59:53 -0400

The FDA said it will allow the restricted use of Zelnorm under an IND protocol to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation in women younger than 55 who meet specific guidelines. In April Novartis withdrew Zelnorm from the market because a safety analysis found a higher chance of heart attack, stroke and unstable angina in patients taking the drug. Regulators decided that the drug should be available to patients with a critical need for it, but it will remain off the market for general use. Release