@FierceBiotech: Genmab CEO Lisa Drakeman (photo) bows out of the weakened biotech. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: On the ropes after TNFerade fiasco, GenVec considers its limited options. Report | Follow @JohnCFierce
> Predictive Biosciences gains $25M for bladder cancer test development. Article
> Durham, NC-based Tranzyme will get $8 million upfront and a potential $150 million in milestones from Amsterdam-based Norgine under a new licensing pact covering a program for diseases of the muscles of the gastrointestinal track. This is Tranzyme's second pact in just six months. Report
> Shares of Immunomedics jumped on the news that its experimental lupus drug looked promising in a mid-stage trial. Patients' health started to improve as early as week 12 in the trial. The drug is partnered with UCB. Immunomedics release
> Shares of Switzerland's Santhera jumped 11 percent after the developer said that it plans to seek an approval for its eye disease drug Catena in the first half of 2011 after the drug proved promising in a clinical trial. Story
> Cincinnati-based Akebia Therapeutics says that it successfully completed a Phase Ib study of the anemia drug AKB-6548 and successfully closed the second tranche of its $17 million Series A. The tranche was bumped from a planned $4 million to $5 million. Akebia release
> The success of T-DM1 to control breast cancer tumors in the clinic has pumped new life into the field of antibody-drug conjugates and inspired Genentech to build a pipeline of some 50 programs that are aimed at bombing tumors with these new combos. "We take this far more seriously than we did previously," Genentech's Mark Sliwkowski tells Xconomy's Luke Timmerman. "We are investing a lot of money and resources into this. That should answer your question." Article
> Talecris shareholders have spurred two lawsuits challenging the $4 billion merger deal with Grifols. Report
And Finally... Long known for its insular policies on new drug approvals, Japanese authorities say they now plan to start allowing providers to use drugs approved in other markets. Report