BioPharma Today

Scientific Advances Increase Potential For Drugs To Treat ALS

Article preview from "The Pink Sheet"-  February 25 , 2013

 New understanding of the spectrum of CNS disorders and rising interest from biotechs have revealed new targets, new biomarkers and new opportunities to treat the fast-acting and deadly neurodegenerative disease. Add to that an open stakeholder forum hosted by FDA Feb. 25 that could clarify regulatory and clinical expectations, and the tide may be turning on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Coming In Monday's "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - EMA Panel Again Rejects Vivus' Obesity Drug Qsiva

The European Medicines Agency has knocked back Vivus Inc.’s Qsiva (phentermine/topiramate) for the treatment of obesity for a second time.  The decision from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use is likely to delay EU approval of the drug by at least two years.

Financings of the Fortnight takes note of pending IPOs and a largely self-financed Series C round by San Diego’s Elcelyx. Plus news on recent financings by Jounce Therapeutics, Retrophin and e-Therapeutics.

Receptor tyronsine kinase-focused Kolltan Pharmaceuticals looks to move into a new stage as it readies its first candidate for an IND and names a Chief Business Officer, Jane Henderson. Although Kolltan once had an option arrangement with Celtic Therapeutics, the company says its technology now is unencumbered by any options or partnerships.

Compounding pharmacy association says its position on non-traditional manufacturing is “not a major departure” from previous statements.

.

Latest News From "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - GPhA Objects To Amgen Push To Restrict Biosimilar Substitution

Biosimilar Diplomacy By Other Means: GPhA CEO Calls Out Amgen Guest During speech to the group's annual meeting, GPhA President Ralph Neas says he is disappointed that Amgen, which is among the firms attending the gathering, is pushing biosimilar substitution restrictions in state legislatures.

Coming In Wednesday's "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - Supreme Court Takes Up Monsanto Patented Plant Seed Case

Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in Bowman v. Monsanto, which addresses whether the authorized sale of one generation of a patented plant seed exhausts a patentee’s right to control subsequent generations of that seed. The biotechnology industry is concerned that a finding against Monsanto could affect the sale of such products as DNA preparations, nucleic acid preparations, stem cells and cell cultures since they are replicable in a lab or cell culture.

Roche is betting Chiasma’s daily oral drug Octreolin will prove a winner for treating the orphan disease acromegaly. It hopes the Israel-based biotech’s underlying Transient Permeability Enhancer technology can be used to develop other oral drugs that previously were only available by injection.

 

Latest News From "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - GPhA Is Focused On Generic User Fees, Biosimilar Patway

GPhA's Goals For 2013: Smooth GDUFA Implementation, Workable Biosimilar Pathway The generic drug trade association's cross-cutting priorities are the result of an extensive strategic planning process, CEO Ralph Neas says; the group is planning outreach to Congress and the executive branch to highlight the role generic drugs can play in helping to address the nation's fiscal problems.

Coming In Monday's "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - Actelion Prepares For Tracleer Patent Expiration

Dependent largely on the PAH drug Tracleer for most of its sales revenue, Actelion outlined a three-pronged strategy for moving ahead as the drug faces patent expirations in different markets. The biotech’s plans include launching a branded generic in Europe and developing a second specialty franchise.

Affymax CEO discusses the company’s business development strategy with “The Pink Sheet” DAILY, while the company deals with the news that the largest dialysis provider will not expand the use of Omontys at its centers.

GTx’s novel targeted estrogen therapy capesaris may prove efficacious at doses many times smaller than when it was put on clinical hold for a thrombosis signal this time last year. And if its safety profile holds, the company plans to test the drug in combination with androgen deprivation therapy in hormone naïve prostate cancer patients, a relatively wide-open market.

 

Latest News From "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - Mylan And Biocon Partner To Develop Insulin Biosimilars

FDA Panel Rejects Guerbet's Imaging Drug Dotarem For Young Children The gadolinium-based contrast agent should be approved for use in adults and older pediatric patients, but more data are needed to support a novel indication for children under two years old, the Medical Imaging Drugs Advisory Committee says.

Coming In Wednesday's "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - FDA Raises Questions About Data For Imaging Agent Dotarem

FDA approved Macleods Pharmaceuticals’ ANDA for generic Actos, apparently after Ranbaxy waived its rights to 180-day exclusivity. However, Mylan and Watson also share the 180-day exclusivity.

FDA questions sufficiency of pediatric efficacy and safety data for Guerbet’s imaging agent Dotarem ahead of advisory committee review.

It’s the third exit of the year for Avalon Ventures, a hybrid venture capital group that stakes both life sciences and technology start-ups. On Feb. 12, Avalon portfolio company RQx Pharmaceuticals, focused on novel small-molecule antibiotics for drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, has reached a $111 million discovery collaboration with Genentech.

 

Latest News From "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - Novo Nordisk's Insulin Degludec Faces Regulatory Setback

Merck Teams With Lycera In Second Autoimmune Deal The Michigan-based biotech says the latest discovery and development deal with Merck is validation of its ongoing work with the Big Pharma in the field of autoimmune diseases. 

Coming In Monday's "The Pink Sheet" DAILY - FDA Cites Novo Nordisk For GMP Violations

FDA has sent a warning letter to diabetes specialist Novo Nordisk outlining good manufacturing practice violations at its plant in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. The agency is requesting a response to its concerns by April 11.