Kite Pharma ($KITE) is teaming up with Roche's ($RHHBY) Genentech to study its CAR-T cancer therapy in tandem with the checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab in blood cancer. Under the agreement, Kite and Roche are planning a Phase Ib/II combo study in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, planning to start enrollment this year. Kite's KTE-C19 works by re-engineering patients' own T cells to home in on the cancer antigen CD19, while Roche's in-development atezolizumab is designed to help unblind the immune system to malignancies. The partners believe a combination of the two treatments could have a promising future in a variety of cancer types. News
@FierceBiotech: ICYMI from FierceBiotechResearch: HIV drug increases therapeutic window for skin cancer by slowing drug resistance. Story | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: As in everything, GSK moves SOOOOO slowly. CEO Witty will leave March, 2017. No rush. | Follow @JohnCFierce
> AstraZeneca ($AZN) has traded $5 million for the full rights to partner Orexo's OX-CLI, a treatment for respiratory disease. More
> Cellectis ($CLLS) partnered with MabQuest to work on antibodies targeting the protein PD-1 to boost the effect of T cells against cancer. Item
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: Med tech, healthcare services venture firm HealthQuest raises oversubscribed $225M fund. Story | Follow @FierceMedDev
@VarunSaxena2: The chart is just so darn startling/horrible. (Have mentioned it in stories about opioid abuse-deterrent tech.) More from the NYT | Follow @VarunSaxena2
@EmilyWFierce: 10X Genomics locks down $55M for long-read sequencing tech. News | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Toshiba sell its medical imaging business to Canon for $6B amid deepening accounting scandal. Report
> Dx Digest: Myriad reveals positive study results for melanoma test; Guardant Health looks to cancer analytics for liquid biopsy. Article
Pharma News
@FiercePharma: India's Lupin hauled up by U.S. FDA for lapses at Goa plant. More from FiercePharmaAsia | Follow @FiercePharma
@CarlyHFierce: Takeda dumps weight loss med Contrave, leaving Orexigen in the lurch. More from FiercePharmaMarketing | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Chicago psychiatrist slapped with prison time in Teva kickbacks case. More
> GlaxoSmithKline CEO packs his bags for March 2017 exit. Article
CRO News
> INC snags a Quintiles vet as its new science leader. More
> Covance launches mobile health suite for clinical trials. Report
> PDS Life Sciences launches new FDA data compliance service. Story
> Quotient Clinical expands into Japan after PE buyout. Article
Pharma Manufacturing News
> Contract manufacturer PCT will handle TxCell production in U.S. Item
> European drug regulators find lots of plant issues in first quarter. Story
> China's FDA urged to get track-and-trace system in place. Item
> FDA castigates India's Emcure for routinely faking data. Report
> P&G joins Pfizer and Abbott in fighting India's cough med ban. Article
Pharma Asia News
> Chi-Med raises $101.25M in IPO, joining China's BeiGene on Nasdaq. News
> Abbott India unit, others, get court stay on fixed-dose drug bans. Item
> U.S. biotech Quark's siRNA trials include China, India legs. Report
> Nasdaq exec says biotechs prime Asian unicorns for listings. Story
> India's Lupin hauled up by U.S. FDA for lapses at Goa plant. Article