July 2014- Volume 10, Issue 7
July 2014
In this Issue
Research & Development
Having a go at HER2
Having a go at HER2
The recent discovery of a link between protein PTP1B and HER2 could provide a new therapeutic target
Ohr acquires assets from SKS Ocular
Ohr acquires assets from SKS Ocular
Ohr Pharmaceutical to pay $3.5 million up front for tech platform and preclinical candidates
Trying to head off cancer
Trying to head off cancer
Antitope and BIIR to work on cell line for novel therapeutic dendritic-cell-targeting vaccine
BMS looks to Probodies for select cancer targets
BMS looks to Probodies for select cancer targets
Bristol-Myers Squibb strikes deal with CytomX Therapeutics worth up to $348 million
T cells against cancer
T cells against cancer
Adaptimmune and GSK collaborate on $350-million oncology-oriented immunotherapy pact
Business & Government Policy
Epigenomics provides update on Epi proColon in the U.S.
Epigenomics provides update on Epi proColon in the U.S.
Recent meeting between the company and the FDA involved detailed discussions regarding the design of upcoming clinical study
Patent Docs - Meeting Recap: BIO 2014 International Convention highlights
Patent Docs - Meeting Recap: BIO 2014 International Convention highlights
Patent Office guidelines, as well as Mayo and Myriad cases, loomed large for presenters, attendees
Gut reaction
Gut reaction
Takeda’s Entyvio gets FDA and EU approval for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
Merck makes big HCV move with Idenix deal
Merck makes big HCV move with Idenix deal
$3.85-billion acquisition aims to expand Merck’s hepatitis pipeline and dethrone Gilead
Hikma to purchase Bedford Laboratories, Ben Venue site
Hikma to purchase Bedford Laboratories, Ben Venue site
Acquisition may lead to re-launch of several Bedford products
Ventrus Biosciences to merge with Assembly Pharmaceuticals
Ventrus Biosciences to merge with Assembly Pharmaceuticals
Combined company will focus on developing Assembly’s first-in-class small molecules for hepatitis B treatment
Clinical Trials
Merrimack touts four at 2014 ASCO
Merrimack touts four at 2014 ASCO
Planning underway for Phase 2 studies for MM-151 in colorectal cancer and MM-141 in front-line pancreatic cancer
Approval hopes for IPF therapy ASCEND
Approval hopes for IPF therapy ASCEND
InterMune resubmits pirfenidone lung disease drug to FDA after more stringent trial
Plaque attack
Plaque attack
Amgen and AstraZeneca announce positive results from Phase 3 study of brodalumab for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Nektar makes progress against glioma
Nektar makes progress against glioma
Phase 2 study shows NKTR-102 to have better-than-expected results against common brain cancer
Preclinical
A Cambridge combination
A Cambridge combination
Horizon to acquire Zalicus’ CombinatoRx business and assets for $8 million
From intoxication to ADHD
From intoxication to ADHD
Alcobra presents results showing new potential for MDX as treatment for cognitive disorders
Seeing the whole picture
Seeing the whole picture
Imaging system offers view of complete nervous system
Turning T cells on … and off
Turning T cells on … and off
Inovio Pharmaceuticals acquires early-stage DNA therapies to treat Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis
A call for balance
A call for balance
NIH to require grant applicants to report cell, animal sexes in preclinical studies
Discovery
Antibodies anyone?
Antibodies anyone?
MorphoSys and Temple University partner for therapeutic antibody discovery
Tracking the life cycle of a single cell
Tracking the life cycle of a single cell
Microchip-like technology allows single cell analysis
Nailing down Env in HIV
Nailing down Env in HIV
TSRI research details newly discovered binding sites for HIV antibodies
A new molecule to treat asthma
A new molecule to treat asthma
Study identifies a novel molecule that prevents the symptoms associated with allergen-induced asthma
Special Reports
Special Report on Cell Biology: Life moves on
Special Report on Cell Biology: Life moves on
Physics, chemistry and informatics combine to push life into the 4th dimension
Q&A
Q&A: In Parkinson’s disease, a new treatment for ‘off’ periods
Q&A: In Parkinson’s disease, a new treatment for ‘off’ periods
DDNews talks with Anthony Giovinazzo of Cynapsus Therapeutics about his company's drug candidate, APL-130277, an easy-to-administer, fast-acting reformulation of apomorphine
Editor's Focus
Keeping in touch with all of you
Keeping in touch with all of you
As we move into summer and I've settled more comfortably into the chief editor's chair, it's time to step up our social media activity, and to let you know about our new Facebook page
Commentary
Out of Order: Modestly modeled
Out of Order: Modestly modeled
Randall C Willis talks about what's wrong with the disease models we currently use to discover and develop therapeutics and points us in the general direction of where we need to go to get models more in line with reality
Commentary: Personalized medicine--Bridging the gaps
Commentary: Personalized medicine--Bridging the gaps
Current and emerging technologies capable of providing person-specific data far outpace the ability to effectively mine that data to draw clinical conclusions and develop clinically relevant products
Diagnostics
A companion for Revlimid
A companion for Revlimid
NanoString inks $45-million deal to develop diagnostic test for Celgene drug
Agena Bioscience acquires Sequenom unit
Agena Bioscience acquires Sequenom unit
Deal to expand Agena’s diagnostic market and advance its UltraSEEK technology is worth $35.8 million
From biopsies to blood-based testing
From biopsies to blood-based testing
Merck Serono, Sysmex Inostics seek a blood-based RAS biomarker test for colorectal cancer patients
Cancer Genetics partners with AstraZeneca
Cancer Genetics partners with AstraZeneca
Agreement on biomarker and molecular-based testing expands reach of Cancer Genetics’ services
