Lexington, MA, biotech Aldeyra Therapeutics ($ALDX) said its topical treatment for allergic conjunctivitis met its goals in a Phase IIa study, sending the biotech's shares up nearly 40%. The drug, NS2, significantly beat out placebo in reducing ocular itching and tearing in a trial on 100 patients prone to conjunctivitis related to grass, tree or ragweed pollen, Aldeyra said. The company is also running Phase II trials with NS2 in anterior uveitis and the rare Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. Aldeyra pulled off a $12 million IPO in 2014 to support its work. More
@FierceBiotech: Top asthma drug at Roche posts 1 win, 1 flop in identical PhIIIs. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: In a setback, AstraZeneca's immunotherapy tremelimumab flunks mesothelioma test. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: my only Oscar opinions: World of Tomorrow and Anomalisa got robbed. | Follow @DamianFierce
> Egalet ($EGLT) is expecting to get final word from the FDA on its extended-release opioid painkiller by Oct. 14. News
> The FDA again delayed its decision on Heron Therapeutics' ($HRTX) treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, putting off approval indefinitely. Release
> Upstart biotech Z53 Therapeutics has in-licensed IP from Rutgers on p53-dependent cancers. The new biotech will work on leads from Dr. Darren Carpizo at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey "with the discovery that small molecules can act as zinc metallochaperones to shuttle zinc across cell membranes and reactivate mutant p53." Release
> The biosimilars company Coherus BioSciences has struck agreements on $100 million in senior convertible notes. Release
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI: Boston upstart raises $46M, makes acquisition for translational imaging in biopharma R&D. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@EmilyWFierce: FDA is asking for more tests to evaluate the risk of Bayer's birth control implant Essure. More from Reuters | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Vascular Solutions vindicated in off-label marketing suit over varicose vein device. Story
> Battle-worn Toshiba mulls sale of medical business amid rising restructuring costs. Report
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Hoping Vivus and Orexigen can finally kick-start their obesity meds? Don't count on it, analyst says. More from FiercePharmaMarketing | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing: Novartis finds buyer for antibiotic intermediates plant in Frankfurt-Höchst that was set to close. Article | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Pearson sweeps back into Valeant with a slate of fix-it promises. Report | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Bristol-Myers leads immuno-oncology race but Merck, AstraZeneca and Roche still have contenders. More
> GlaxoSmithKline scouts for candidates to replace CEO Andrew Witty. Article
Pharma Marketing News
> Jardiance, Belsomra and Entyvio brand managers share DTC honors with oldsters like Viagra. More
> Flu vaccine brands struggle for recognition even when in fab fighting form. Report
> Takeda aims to unlock $2B in Entyvio sales with multipronged DTC push. Story
> Hoping Vivus and Orexigen can finally kick-start their obesity meds? Don't count on it, analyst says. Article
> Pearson returns to Valeant with promise to boost payer, government relations. Item
Animal Health News
> Animal Health acquisition pushes Patterson's Q3 earnings past estimates. News
> Animal health boosts Bayer's sales growth but 2016 forecast disappoints. Item
> Zoetis wins approval for monthly flea-fighting pill, setting up three-way rivalry. Report
> Oasmia repositions chemo drug for dogs in bid to grab larger market. Story
> High-flying Parnell dips as 2015 revenue and 2016 guidance miss estimates. Article
Biotech IT News
> NIH calls on EHR developers to facilitate Obama's PMI through the use of open APIs. More
> FDA challenges industry to improve reproducibility and accuracy of informatics pipelines. Story
> NY Genome Center enlists IBM to create Watson-enabled cancer research platform. Report
> HHS taps Medidata for data to inform research into drug development costs. Item
> Illumina calls in the lawyers to curb the rise of Oxford Nanopore. Article