EuroBiotech: More Articles of Note

> A Danish High Court found NeuroSearch guilty of stock market manipulation. The ruling is the latest in a long series of blows to the once-hyped drug developer, the prospects of which unravelled in 2010 when it published and then later corrected top-line results from a Phase III trial of a drug to treat Huntington's disease. NeuroSearch was convicted of market manipulation over the events last year but appealed. The appeal failed to get the decision overturned, but did lead to NeuroSearch's former CEO being acquitted. Release

> UCL landed a neurodegenerative disease R&D project with Takeda. The London-based university will work with Takeda to identify genes or signalling pathways involved with the modification of neurodegenerative disease processes, potentially leading to the validation of novel targets in indications such as Parkinson's disease. Takeda's Cambridge, United Kingdom-based research unit is to work with UCL on the program. Release

> Dilaforette began a Phase II sickle-cell disease trial. The company, which is part of the portfolio of Karolinska Development (STO:KDEV), is looking to the study to provide clinical validation of its belief that its polysaccharide drug can restore blood flow and prevent microvascular obstructions in people with sickle-cell disease. Data from the trial are expected in the second half of next year. Release

> David Blakey added his name to the list of scientists to swap Big Pharma for little biotech. Blakely worked at AstraZeneca ($AZN) for 28 years, rising to the position of chief scientist in oncology, but has now walked away from the company to join MiNA Therapeutics. London, United Kingdom-based MiNA appointed Blakely as chief scientific officer, giving the former AstraZeneca man responsibility for advancing its pipeline of RNA-based therapies. Release

> DBV Technologies ($DBVT) enrolled the first patient in the second part of its Phase I/II milk allergy trial. The Phase II component of the trial of the Viaskin Milk patch will enrol 176 children and randomize them across four arms, a placebo control and three which will receive varying doses of the drug. DBV will dose the participants for 12 months before assessing whether they have responded to the therapy. Release (PDF)

> Kuros Biosurgery posted Phase IIb data on its orthobiologic. The open-label trial, which met its primary endpoint, looked at the effect of the orthobiologic and an autograft on 183 patients with fractures of the tibial plateau. Data show Kuros' treatment was non-inferior to the autograft, an outcome that has encouraged researchers that it can find a place in the array of bone graft substitutes available to surgeons. Release