June 2014- Volume 10, Issue 6
June 2014
In this Issue
Discovery
Scripps launches new drug discovery initiative
Scripps launches new drug discovery initiative
Aim is to translate early-stage biomedical research into clinical candidates
A natural fit for natural products?
A natural fit for natural products?
California’s ChromaDex pairs with Brazil’s LNBio for joint research agreement
Calibr receives Gates Foundation grant
Calibr receives Gates Foundation grant
Goal is to lead collaborations to develop an Integrated Drug Discovery Platform for diseases of the developing world
Playbook for a pathogen
Playbook for a pathogen
Researchers sequence H99 strain of Cryptococcus neoformans, a potentially deadly human pathogen
Diagnostics
On point
On point
DNA Electronics secures funding to develop Genalysis point-of-care genomic diagnostics product line
Curtailing a ‘diagnostic odyssey’
Curtailing a ‘diagnostic odyssey’
Indi’s Series B round will help commercialize Xpresys Lung, a diagnostic for identifying benign lung nodules
Going international
Going international
Foundation Medicine announces key developments in international commercialization efforts
Idera and Abbott seek new companion
Idera and Abbott seek new companion
Abbott will develop a companion diagnostic for Idera’s IMO-8400 for use in genetically defined forms of B-cell lymphoma
Clinical Trials
Hope for prostate cancer and BPH
Hope for prostate cancer and BPH
Nymox reports that prostate cancer treatment does not affect testosterone levels
Aegerion looks to bring lomitapide to Japan
Aegerion looks to bring lomitapide to Japan
Phase 3 trial focuses on treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
Going for leadership in cellular therapy
Going for leadership in cellular therapy
NeoStem acquires California Stem Cell and moves forward with Phase 3 trial for melanoma
Shire to acquire Lumena in pipeline expansion
Shire to acquire Lumena in pipeline expansion
Acquisition strengthens Irish company’s rare disease pipeline and profitable GI business
Taking a swipe at resistant infections
Taking a swipe at resistant infections
Cubist moves treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections beyond Phase 3
Business & Government Policy
Valeant vies for Allergan
Valeant vies for Allergan
In light of Allergan’s rejection of its merger proposal, Valeant ups the ante
Allergy shot alternative
Allergy shot alternative
Two new sublingual drugs combat common allergies
GSK, Novartis ink transformational agreement
GSK, Novartis ink transformational agreement
Transaction expected to result in a leading OTC business with $10 billion in sales
Takeda, Eli Lilly found liable by jury in Actos claims
Takeda, Eli Lilly found liable by jury in Actos claims
Verdict calls upon the companies to pay $9 billion in damages over bladder cancer possibly related to Actos use
Pfizer loses bid for AstraZeneca
Pfizer loses bid for AstraZeneca
Final offer of $117 billion insufficient to allay concerns about Pfizer’s plans and woo AstraZeneca to negotiating table
Research & Development
Going global against Alzheimer’s
Going global against Alzheimer’s
World Dementia Council sets strategies to reach the goal of treatment by 2025
New biochip mimics liver
New biochip mimics liver
Technology promises simplified toxicity testing of drug candidates
Getting more ‘MIF’ed
Getting more ‘MIF’ed
Debiopharm and Yale broaden collaboration on MIF inhibitors for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Serum stable
Serum stable
Novozymes Biopharma will offer a drug-albumin conjugation platform in collaboration with ThioLogics
Preclinical
Facing down Factor VIII intolerance
Facing down Factor VIII intolerance
Apitope moves potential hemophilia A peptide therapy into preclinical development
Disease-modifying treatment for COPD
Disease-modifying treatment for COPD
Domainex program shows promise for treatment of not just COPD but possibly other inflammatory diseases
New antiviral drug targets measles outbreaks
New antiviral drug targets measles outbreaks
If it works in humans, it could protect infected people from getting sick and keep them from spreading the virus
See how they run
See how they run
Mice with MS-like virus recover after human stem cell injections, offering hope for human cure
Commentary
Guest commentary: The clinical trial landscape and its data collection challenges
Guest commentary: The clinical trial landscape and its data collection challenges
Clinical trials are one of the most important components of the drug development process, but they are also one of the most costly, and much of that expense (both money and time) is due to data collection
Red tape rising
Red tape rising
We’ve reached the stage where the pursuit of funding is overtaking the pursuit of doing science, says columnist Peter T. Kissinger, and that isn't good for anyone, nor is the idea of envisioning a world where everyone who wants grants gets them
Editor's Focus
The word on ‘The Street’ is: Shopping
The word on ‘The Street’ is: Shopping
DDNews' chief editor muses on merger and acquisition trends in pharma and biotech and some films about Wall Street, and ponders whether the big-money M&As are worth it overall (for the industry and the patients)
Q&A
Carbohydrate-based answers for diabetes, hypoxic tissue and cell death
Carbohydrate-based answers for diabetes, hypoxic tissue and cell death
DDNews spends some time talking to Dr. David Platt of Boston Therapeutics Inc. about carbohydrate chemistry and his company's work, and what it all means to some key areas of concern in drug discovery and healthcare
Special Reports
Special Report: Cancer in the clinic - Are we all fighting for the same endgame?
Special Report: Cancer in the clinic - Are we all fighting for the same endgame?
A little over a year ago, we published a special report on the challenges facing new oncology drugs as they moved through the clinical trial process. This time, Randall C Willis looks further into this challenge by examining the clinical trial process itself
