FDA sets new deadline for Amgen blockbuster review; Amylin, Takeda pick a combo obesity drug for Phase III, drop another program

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> FDA has marked July 25 as the deadline to finish its review of Prolia, Amgen's megablockbuster bone drug. The biotech giant submitted new information on the drug to the FDA, which is reviewing Amgen's app to sell the therapy for osteoporosis caused by menopause and the prevention or treatment of bone loss in patients with breast or prostate cancer. Report

> Amylin and Takeda say they'll push ahead with the development of a new combo obesity drug after a mid-stage trial proved promising. The therapy combines pramlintide and metreleptin and is now headed into Phase III. The companies say they'll drop development of another weight-loss drug, davalintide, which was leff effective than the combo in Phase II. Story

> Biotech equipment maker Fluidigm says it may postpone its IPO until the market looks more receptive. CEO Gajus Worthington says that Ironwood's recent IPO stumble is making him more cautious. Anthera, though, is still poised for an IPO. Report

> PharmAthene announced today that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has modified its existing research and development contract, providing for up to $78.4 million in additional funding to support the continued advanced development of SparVax for anthrax. PharmAthene release

> Losses at Dendreon surged in the fourth quarter as the developer doubled up on R&D spending ahead of an expected launch of the therapeutic cancer vaccine Provenge. Report

> Acorda Therapeutics is projecting higher expenses later in the year as it launches its recently approved MS drug Ampyra. Story

> Sanaria has received a 3-year grant totaling $3 million to support collaborative research by investigators at Sanaria and Columbia University. Sanaria release

> The FDA has rejected Forest Labs' proposed expansion of the use of Bystolic. Report

And Finally... The tiny tongue of a fruit fly could provide big answers to questions about human eating habits, possibly even leading to new ways to treat obesity, according to a study from a team of Texas A&M University researchers. Release