New York biotech Kannalife Sciences is weighing an IPO in hopes of bankrolling its work on a cannabis-based treatment for a rare brain disorder. As Reuters reports, the company has a preclinical therapy for hepatic encephalopathy, a disease caused by blood toxins reaching the brain and affecting cognitive function. The plan, Kannalife said, is to raise between $5 million and $10 million in a mezzanine round before starting down the road to an IPO, according to Reuters. News
@FierceBiotech: Charities and pharma decry 'disgraceful' changes to England's Cancer Drugs Fund. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Glad to see the top trending story yesterday was the Exicure profile. Doesn't always happen with little biotechs. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
@DamianFierce: Wired is getting into dystopian fiction. Wired story | Follow @DamianFierce
> Longtime biotech entrepreneur Al Mann, founder of MannKind ($MNKD), has died at the age of 90. Story
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Medical Device News
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@EmilyWFierce: Intel hops on the precision medicine bandwagon with new projects for 2016. News | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> FDA warns of unintentional head movement during surgery despite use of skull clamp. Story
> Boston upstart raises $46M, makes acquisition for translational imaging in biopharma R&D. More
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: Look out, drugmakers: NICE is taking the reins of England's Cancer Drugs Fund. Story | Follow @FiercePharma
@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI: Short on label expansions, Pfizer nabs FDA OK for new, once-daily Xeljanz. Story | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Opdivo wins thumbs up from CHMP for two indications, in lung and kidney cancers. News
> Analyst: Valeant better bring back Pearson if it wants to stay in the game. More