Antisoma

Antisoma buys Xanthus for $52M

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Looking to boost its pipeline, the U.K.'s Antisoma is paying $52 million for Boston oncology company Xanthus Pharmaceutical. Antisoma gains three drug candidates:

Xanafide, which is in Phase III trial in secondary acute myeloid leukemia,
Oral fludarabine, which has been submitted to the FDA for marketing approval for the second-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and
the Flt3 program, which is in preclinical testing for non-oncology indications. Antisoma says it may out-license this drug.

The deal lessens Antisoma's dependence on ASA404, a non-small cell lung cancer treatment. Last year the company announced it would pit the drug against Roche and Genentech's Avastin in a late-stage trial. Glyn Edwards, CEO of Antisoma, said: "This is a transforming deal. Combining Antisoma and Xanthus produces a company with the critical mass and mature pipeline needed to become a major player in oncology."

- here's the release on the deal
- read the MarketWatch article for more

Antisoma starts licensing spree with cancer deal

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Bankrolled by a $125 million licensing deal with Novartis, the UK's Antisoma has turned around and used part of its cache of cash to license AMPK activators for use in cancer treatments from Sweden's Betagenon. The activators trigger enzymes that have demonstrated an ability in vitro to thwart cancer cell proliferation.

Antisoma appears to be just getting started in a new licensing spree. CEO Glyn Edwards told reporters that the company plans more deals. And he adds that the company's cash rich position is making it possible to strike particularly favorable deals at a time other companies are finding it tougher to raise funds.

"Betagenon's AMPK activators are another promising addition to our preclinical oncology portfolio," says Edwards. "They fit with our strategy of acquiring a diverse range of novel and class-leading preclinical compounds with potential to add value to our clinical pipeline in the future."

- check out the press release

Related Articles:
Antisoma scouts for new therapies to add to pipeline. Antisoma report
Antisoma shares tank on bold new trial strategy. Antisoma report
Antisoma shares spike on positive cancer data. Antisoma report

Antisoma scouts for new therapies to add to pipeline

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:59:56 -0500

Antisoma is sending out signals that it's looking for new acquisitions to add to its pipeline. "With a strong balance sheet, we are well placed to invest in and add value to our current pipeline and to add further promising drugs to our portfolio when opportunities arise," Antisoma Chairman Barry Price told The Guardian. The UK biotech has been making significant headway with ASA404, which has been in trials as an anti-cancer therapy. Novartis partnered up on the program last April in a deal valued at around $900 million.

- check out the report in The Guardian

Related Articles:
Antisoma shares tank on bold new trial strategy. Report
Antisoma shares spike on positive cancer data. Report
Novartis inks $890M cancer therapy deal. Report

UK biotechs feeling the chill from investors

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:58 -0500

One of the analysts at Seymour Pierce has been pondering the ice-cold attitude of investors to biotech stocks in the UK. Despite some big licensing news for the likes of Renovo, Antisoma and Oxford BioMedica in '07, Zhining Xu remarks that the British biotechs have dramatically underperformed. Other analysts note that while a host of biotechs are trading at a discount, they're likely to face some strong headwinds as they go back out this year to raise more money. It could be that investors just aren't patient enough to stick with a drug developer in the long dry spells between big announcements. Only nine of the 47 biotechs on the UK index made gains last year. Big losers: Vernalis, down 90 percent, and CeNeS, down 70 percent.

Still, says Xu, companies like Renovo, Antisoma and Oxford BioMedica may not be performing well, but they are positioned for a comeback. "All three of these companies have a solid cash position and have their lead programs covered by their partners so they are in a position to push ahead with early stage drug development projects," adds Xu.

- read the report from the Financial Times

Related Articles:
U.K. researchers driven out by tough regulations. Report
Europe moves to reclaim center stage. Report
Group: EU should double research spending. Report
The trouble with Europe. Editorial

Antisoma shares tank on bold new trial strategy

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:59:58 -0500

Shares of Antisoma took a dive this morning after researchers announced that they would pit ASA404 against Roche and Genentech's Avastin in a late-stage trial. And investors were further unnerved by the announcement that AS1411 will not begin a mid-stage study early next year, as had been planned. Antisoma shares slid 13 percent on the news, with analysts fretting over the decision to pit the cancer therapy against Avastin. Originally, Antisoma and its partner Novartis had planned to only go after squamous cancers, leaving Avastin's non-squamous patients out of the mix. By switching strategies and going after both cancers, investors appeared worried that researchers would find it difficult to attract enough patients away from Avastin to complete the trial in a timely fashion. On the up side, a successful pivotal trial for squamous and non-squamous cancers would double the potential market for the drug.

- see this release
- check out the MarketWatch report on the trial strategy fallout

Related Articles:
Top 5 deals of the first half of 2007--Novartis and Antisoma. Report
Antisoma shares spike on positive cancer data. Report
Novartis inks $890M cancer therapy deal. Report
Antisoma trial delivers positive returns. Report

2. Novartis and Antisoma

Maureen Martino — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:56:59 -0400

Who: Novartis
With: Antisoma
What: $890 million licensing deal

Summary: With money from the sale of two major divisions burning a hole in its pocket, Novartis inked a massive deal for the worldwide rights to Antisoma's AS1404, a lung cancer therapy currently in mid-stage testing. Novartis agreed to pay up to $890 million for the drug. Antisoma’s presentation of positive Phase II results involving patients with non-small cell lung spurred Novartis into snapping up the drug. In addition, data from other Phase II trials in ovarian and prostate cancers indicate increased response rates through the addition of AS1404 to standard chemotherapy. Release

Related Articles:
Novartis inks $890M cancer therapy deal. Report
Antisoma trial delivers positive returns. Report
Antisoma drug flunks ovarian cancer trial. Report

Antisoma shares spike on positive cancer data

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:59:55 -0400

Antisoma saw its shares spike on positive data from a trial in non-small cell lung cancer. "These positive results strongly support our earlier trial findings, which showed that adding ASA404 to chemotherapy improves survival in patients with lung cancer," said COO Dr Ursula Ney. Analysts applauded the report on Antisoma's lead drug, which has been partnered with Novartis. The therapy is designed to cut off the flow of blood to tumors, and a successful development program would create a blockbuster drug. Antisoma's share price jumped 13 percent on the news.

- check out this release form Antisoma
- read the report from MarketWatch

Related Articles:
Antisoma drug flunks ovarian cancer trial. Report
Antisoma adds more positive data for AS1404. Report
Antisoma in licensing talks. Report
Antisoma trial delivers positive returns. Report

Antisoma drug flunks ovarian cancer trial

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:59:57 -0400

The UK's Antisoma says that its experimental therapy for ovarian cancer has failed a clinical trial, triggering a swift loss of about one fifth of the company's share value. The mid-stage trial of ASA404 showed no increase in time to tumor progression when added to chemotherapy. Antisoma still has high hopes, though, that the therapy will prove convincingly effective against lung cancer. Novartis, which inked an $890 million pact on the drug in April, is preparing a Phase III study. "Based on these data, development in ovarian cancer will not be a priority," Antisoma said in a statement.

- see the release
- read the report on the trial results from MarketWatch

Related Articles:
Antisoma adds more positive data for AS1404. Report
Antisoma in licensing talks. Report
Antisoma trial delivers positive returns. Report

Press Release: data from Antisoma’s AS1404 lung cancer trial show clear survival benefit

Maureen Martino — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:37:13 -0500

Final data from Antisoma’s AS1404 lung cancer trial show clear survival benefit 27 September 2006

London, UK: 27 September 2006 - Cancer drug developer Antisoma plc (LSE: ASM, US OTC: ATSMY) today announces final data from its phase II trial of AS1404 in non-small cell lung cancer. These show a very substantial survival benefit.

Patients who received AS1404 on top of standard chemotherapy had a median survival of 14.0 months, compared with 8.8 months in patients treated with chemotherapy alone. This 5.2-month difference is one of the largest ever seen in a randomised controlled trial combining a novel agent with first-line chemotherapy for lung cancer. Across the duration of the trial, patients treated with AS1404 had a 27% lower risk of dying than those receiving chemotherapy alone. Safety data from the trial were also encouraging. The addition of AS1404 to chemotherapy was well tolerated. These findings extend those announced in June and strongly support Antisoma’s plans for a phase III trial in lung cancer.

The lung cancer study is one of three phase II trials of AS1404. Positive PSA response data were recently announced from a trial in prostate cancer and encouraging early data have been presented from an ovarian cancer study. Antisoma is currently in talks with a number of companies with a view to licensing AS1404.

Dr Mark McKeage of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, one of the Principal Investigators in the AS1404 lung cancer study, said: “It is great to see this large survival benefit with AS1404 in lung cancer patients. This makes me feel very optimistic as we proceed into phase III testing”

Commenting, Glyn Edwards, CEO of Antisoma, said: “Survival is the gold standard by which cancer drugs are judged and this news is therefore very exciting.”

Enquiries:

Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)7909 915 068
Daniel Elger, Director of Communications
Antisoma plc

Mark Court/Lisa Baderoon/Rebecca Skye Dietrich +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Buchanan Communications

Antisoma disclaimer

Certain matters discussed in this statement are forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and development, including statements regarding the company's clinical development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially.

Details of the lung cancer study

The AS1404 phase II trial in lung cancer was a randomised controlled trial which enrolled patients receiving first-line chemotherapy treatment for stage IIIb or IV non-small cell lung cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either AS1404 plus standard chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) or standard chemotherapy alone. Seventy patients were evaluable for efficacy, 34 of whom received AS1404 plus chemotherapy while 36 received chemotherapy alone. The trial was conducted at hospitals in France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Background on AS1404

AS1404 (DMXAA) is a small-molecule vascular disrupting agent which targets the blood vessels that nourish tumours . The drug was discovered by Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand. It was in-licensed by Antisoma from Cancer Research Ventures Limited (now Cancer Research Technology), the development and commercialisation company of the Cancer Research Campaign (now Cancer Research UK), in August 2001. CRUK had supported two phase I studies in the UK and New Zealand.

Background on Antisoma

Based in London, UK, Antisoma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel products for the treatment of cancer. Antisoma fills its development pipeline by acquiring promising new product candidates from internationally recognised academic or cancer research institutions. Its core activity is the preclinical and clinical development of these drug candidates. Please visit www.antisoma.com for further information.

Antisoma adds more positive data for AS1404

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:01:36 -0500

Antisoma is adding more positive data for its closely-watched lung cancer therapy AS1404. Lung cancer patients taking the treatment with chemotherapy experienced greater delays for tumor progression than had been reported earlier. In the trial, tumor response rates hit 31 percent with AS1404 as compared to 22 percent for chemo alone. Antisoma has been in talks to sign a licensing partner for the therapy, which is headed for Phase III next year. Antisoma says AS1404 can compete with Avastin. If they're right, it would be a blockbuster.

- here's the AFX report on the data

Related Articles:
Antisoma in licensing talks. Report
Antisoma trial delivers positive returns. Report
FDA approves Avastin for lung cancer. Report

SPOTLIGHT: Antisoma in licensing talks

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 20:01:33 -0400

The UK's Antisoma is sounding bullish about its licensing prospects for its flagship drug, AS1404, a potential blockbuster cancer therapy. Antisoma chief Glyn Edwards says that he's in talks with a number of big pharma companies, but couldn't say exactly when a deal might be completed. Antisoma also announced positive Phase II data for AS1404 today. Report

ALSO NOTED: Europe expands Synvisc approval; FDA issues "approvable" letter for paliperidone; and much more...

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:01:30 -0400

> European regulators have agreed to expand the approval of Genzyme's Synvisc to include osteoarthritis of the ankle and shoulder. Report

> J&J says its subsidiary has received an approvable letter from the FDA for paliperidone as a therapy for schizophrenia. But the drug maker did not say what issues were still left to be resolved. Report

> Antisoma says its aptamer therapy AS1411 produced positive Phase I data in a cancer trial. Report

> Acambis has sold Berna Products--which distributes an oral typhoid vaccine in North America--to Crucell for $16.5 million. Report

> Accentia Biopharmaceuticals has gained $25 million in debenture financing. Report

> A combinational therapy of Herceptin and hormonal treatments extended progression-free survival of a certain group of women with advanced breast cancer. Report

> Roche announced that Phase II data supported the combination of Xeloda with Herceptin and Taxotere for breast cancer. Report

> Novartis says that new four-year data for Femara indicates a reduced rate of risk for a recurrence of breast cancer compared with the standard therapy Tamoxifen. Report

> The FDA has expanded the approved use of Rituxan. Report

And Finally… Two American scientists, Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello, won the Nobel prize for medicine for their work in RNA interference. Article

ALSO NOTED: Merck wins round on Vioxx; Axcan inks licensing deal; and much more...

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:01:30 -0400

> Merck has won another of the federal lawsuits filed against the company over Vioxx. A federal jury in New Orleans ruled in its favor, bringing Merck's score in federal suits to two wins out of three cases. Overall, Merck has won five out of nine lawsuits. Thousands of lawsuits have yet to be litigated. Report

> Axcan Pharma has agreed to pay $1.5 million up front and another $17.5 million in a licensing deal with AGI Therapeutics for Chronab Omeprazole, its gastro-esophageal reflux disease treatment candidate. Report

> A new court ruling will provide European drug sellers with a fresh review of a dual-pricing program that could save the industry billions of dollars. Article

> Antisoma says final data for the cancer drug AS 1404 demonstrated a "very substantial survival benefit." Report

> ProStrakan has struck a deal to buy Cellegy's rights to Cellegesic, Fortigel, Tostrex, and Tostrelle for $9 million in cash. Release

> Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical has extended its research pact with Arena Pharmaceuticals by a year. Arena will gain $2.4 million in research funds for the extension. Report

> The EMEA says it will launch a new review of old painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen after seeing fresh data suggesting the elevated risk of heart attacks and stroke. Report

> The FDA has approved a supplemental NDA for changes to the label of Colazal. Release

> Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical is establishing an oncology unit. Release

And Finally… Black women suffer significantly higher rates of mortality from uterine cancer than white women receiving the same treatment, suggesting that other factors are at work in the disease. Report

Antisoma trial delivers positive returns

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:01:34 -0400

A mid-stage trial of Antisoma's AS1404 for prostate cancer demonstrated a higher rate of protein-specific antigen responses among volunteers in the study. Patients taking AS1404 with docetaxel chemotherapy recorded an average 57 percent PSA response rate compared to 35 percent for docetaxel chemotherapy alone. In addition, patients taking the combinational therapy demonstrated disease progression in 17 percent of cases compared to 29 percent for the solo therapy regimen.

"These positive data from our Phase II prostate cancer trial of AS1404 are a further important demonstration of the drug's effects," said CEO Glyn Edwards. "They complement the already positive survival, progression and response data already presented from our lung cancer trial, and show that the potential of AS1404 extends to two of the big four cancer indications."

- here's the report on Antisoma

ALSO NOTED: FDA OKs Iomai trial; Agency panel to review Factive; Curis opens China subsidiary; and much more...

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:01:30 -0400

> The FDA has approved a Phase I trial of Iomai's flu vaccine patch. The trial will enlist 300 volunteers to compare the effectiveness of delivering the vaccine to the cells in the skin compared to an injectable. Report

> Trading in shares of Oscient Pharmaceuticals was suspended in advance of an FDA panel meeting to consider expanding the use of Factive tablets to treat acute sinus infections. Regulatory staffers have questioned Factive's link to an allergic rash and some analysts say an approval is unlikely. Report

> Cambridge, MA-based Curis has opened a subsidiary in China to advance a cancer program utilizing the country's "cost-efficient medicinal chemistry industry." Release

> Canada's ConjuChem Biotechnologies produced positive Phase I/II data on its experimental therapy for type 2 diabetes. Release

> Antisoma says its drug AS1404 in combination with Erbitux reduces the growth of lung cancer xenografts. Report

> VioQuest Pharmaceuticals has dosed the first patient in its Phase I/IIa clinical trial of VQD-002, triciribine-phosphate for leukemia. Release

> OXiGENE is planning to focus its ophthalmology strategy on oral or other non-intravitreal forms of administrations of Combretastatin A4 Phosphate (CA4P) for age-related macular degeneration. Release

> San Diego-based Arena Pharmaceuticals has begun dosing patients in the first of three planned Phase III clinical trials evaluating its lead drug candidate, lorcaserin hydrochloride, for the treatment of obesity. Release

And Finally… To understand health in America, you have to divide the country into eight "Americas," each with its own set of demographics, according to a new study. Report

C&L: SciClone names Blobel CEO

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:01:32 -0400

SciClone Pharmaceuticals has named Dr. Friedhelm Blobel as president, CEO and a director of the company.

GammaCan International has appointed Patrick N.J. Schnegelsberg to the post of CEO. Vered Caplan will remain CEO of the company's Israeli subsidiary.

Eksigent Technologies announced that David Weber has joined the company as CEO, president and director.

Affymetrix President Susan Siegel has resigned, but will stay on as president emeritus and company adviser. Thane Kreiner was named senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Antisoma has appointed Dr. Gary Acton as chief medical officer.

MGI PHARMA has appointed William F. Spengler as senior vice president and CFO.

WEX Pharmaceuticals has named Bill Chen CFO.

Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings says financial chief Jeffrey R. Black will retire in August.

Javelin Pharmaceuticals has named Stephen Tulipano, CPA, as its CFO.

CytoCore has hired Dr. George Gorodeski as lead research scientist as well as head of the company's medical advisory board.

Clarence Young, M.D. has joined Protez Pharmaceuticals as its chief medical officer.

PTC Therapeutics has promoted Claudia Hirawat to senior vice president of corporate development.

NPS Pharmaceuticals has appointed Juergen Lasowski, Ph.D., as senior vice president of corporate development.

Praecis Pharmaceuticals has named O. Prem Das, Ph.D., as senior vice president, technology partnerships.

ZymoGenetics has hired Michael J. Dwyer as senior vice president of marketing and sales and as a member of the executive management committee.

Resverlogix Corp has named Dr. Gregory S. Wagner vice president of preclinical development.

Orthovita has hired Christine J. Arasin as vice president business development and corporate counsel.

FibroGen has named Tim C. Opler as vice president of strategy.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics has engaged Dr. Holly G. Atkinson as the company's contract director of business development.

Dr. Steven Waggoner will be joining Cytocore's medical advisory board.

Michael Gilman, Ph.D. has been appointed to Epix Pharmaceuticals' board of directors.

PDL BioPharma has elected Bradford S. Goodwin as a member of its board of directors.

Alder Biopharmaceuticals has named Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., to its board of directors.

Celgene has elected Rodman L. Drake to its board of directors.

ALSO NOTED: Serono files sBLA for Rebif; Germany's Ingenium raises €9.2M in VC; and much more...

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> Switzerland's Serono has filed a supplemental BLA for a new formulation of its MS drug Rebif. According to Phase III data, the new formulation is more easily tolerated by patients. Report

> Achillion Pharmaceuticals has filed for a $75 million IPO. Report

> Germany's Ingenium has raised €9.2 million in its fourth round of venture capital. Release

> Unhappy Chiron shareholders were won over by Novartis' newly sweetened bid offer, paving the way for a merger. Report

> The FDA has granted a priority review for Avanir Pharmaceuticals' Neurodex, a drug for under-treated emotional disorder. Report

> The FDA has granted priority review for Remicade as a treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease. Report

> Chutes & Ladders: SIGA Technologies' CEO Kasten Bernard has resigned. Report

> Canada's Bioniche Life Sciences announced that the FDA has given its approval for a second Phase III trial of an experimental bladder cancer therapy. Article

> ArQule is reporting positive Phase I data for ARQ501, its lead cancer therapy. Release

> Halozyme Therapeutics says that preclinical and Phase I data for Chemophase supported the safety profile of the enzyme-chemo combination for bladder cancer. Release

> Biosite and Oxford Genome Sciences have announced a collaboration to evaluate protein-based disease markers for colorectal cancer. Release

> In a preclinical data presentation Antisoma said that data showed that a combination of its AS1404 and Avastin performed markedly better than Avastin alone in inhibiting the growth of human colon and lung tumour xenografts. Release

And Finally... California plays a leading role in the spread of influenza, and researchers are struggling to find out why. Article

ALSO NOTED: XTL raises $28M; Wex to cut jobs; hedge fund resists Chiron acquisition;and much more...

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 19:00:50 -0500

> Israel's XTL Biopharmaceuticals has raised $28 million from a private placement. Report

> Canada's Wex Pharmaceuticals is handing out pink slips to about half of its 100 workers as it moves to shave about a million dollars in annual expenses. Earlier this month Wex announced unfavorable interim results for a study of its cancer-pain therapy Tectin. Report

> A hedge fund that owns 9 percent of Chiron refused to meet with the drug developer as Chiron works to woo shareholders for their support of Novartis' offer to buy the 56 percent of Chiron shares it doesn't already own. ValueAct says the $45 bid, a discount on Chiron's $45.77 Friday close, was woefully inadequate. Report

> Eli Lilly and Biosite have agreed to collaborate on a trial of Lilly's Xigris. Report

> Antisoma has completed patient recruitment into a Phase II trial of AS1404 in ovarian cancer. Release

> Tm Bioscience has acquired sepsis biomarkers from Sirius Genomics. Release

> Roche shares surged on Genentech's announcement late last week that it was raising its earnings forecast. Report

And Finally... An Internet game that tracks the journey of U.S. currency could prove invaluable in tracking the spread of a U.S. pandemic. Seventy-nine million bills have been registered so far. Article

ALSO NOTED: Inspire licenses antihistamine;Antisoma wins orphan drug status; and much more...

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 19:00:50 -0500

> Inspire Pharmaceuticals has paid Boehringer Ingelheim $2.5 million up front to license an antihistamine to treat nasal allergies. Boehringer retains marketing rights outside of the U.S. and Canada. Report

> The University of Liverpool is contributing funds toward the creation of a new research center to focus on zoonosis, diseases like bird flu that start in animals and migrate to humans. Article

> France and The Netherlands have received EU permission to begin vaccinating bird flocks against the avian flu virus. Report

> Shares of the UK's Antisoma were on the rise after the company announced it had received EU orphan drug status for its aptamer drug AS1411 for the treatment of renal and pancreatic cancers. Report

> Shares of Antares Pharma of Exton, PA jumped after the biotech announced plans for a Phase III trial of its gel therapy for overactive bladder. Report

> India's Lupin is ending a deal with Cornerstone Biopharma for the distribution of its antibiotic Suprax in the U.S. Report

> CuraGen has released new data from its failed trial for velafermin as a treatment for cancer-related mouth sores. Report

> Rigel Pharmaceuticals of South San Francisco is planning new trials of R788 following the positive early results of a Phase I trial. Release

> The FDA has approved less restrictive labeling for Tasmar. Release

And Finally… A retired doctor from Austin filed suit against GlaxoSmithKline, saying that he lost $14 million in Las Vegas after doses of Requip and Mirapex turned him into a compulsive gambler. Article

ALSO NOTED: Boston Scientific bids for Guidant; Antisoma raises $11M; PDI discontinues unit;and much more...

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 19:00:50 -0500

> Boston Scientific has upped the ante to buy Guidant, offering $25 billion. Report

> The UK's Antisoma has raised $11 million through the sale of shares. Release

> PDI is discontinuing its InServe business unit. Release

> Canada's Generex Biotechnology has raised $3.5 million. Release

> Novelos Therapeutics got a green light from the FDA to advance its therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer into Phase III. Release

And Finally… Despite being delayed by Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana and Tulane University will push ahead with plans to create the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. Article