Strategies & Technologies Driving Drug Discovery to Market
Nanotech Improving Tumor Targeting
June 13, 2013 11:31 am | News | CommentsNanotechnology opens up a portal into living tissue that allows scientists to watch cancers spreading, and to determine which parts of a tumor should be targeted. Clinicians can then see where they need to improve on drug delivery to improve clinical outcome.
Trebananib Meets Primary Study Goal
June 13, 2013 10:20 am | News | CommentsAmgen announced that a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating trebananib plus paclitaxel versus placebo plus paclitaxel in recurrent ovarian cancer met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival. Investigators observed a 34% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death.
Markers Predict Breast Cancer Therapy Response
June 13, 2013 10:00 am | News | CommentsGenetic variations in or near the genes ZNF423 and CTSO were associated with breast cancer risk among women who underwent prevention therapy with tamoxifen and raloxifene. Women who have the favorable variations of these two SNPs are more likely to respond to prevention therapy.
GSK Finds No Evidence of Bribery
June 13, 2013 2:58 am | News | CommentsDrug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said it has investigated an accusation that its salespeople in China bribed doctors and found no evidence of wrongdoing. The company said it conducted a four-month investigation after receiving complaints from an anonymous source.
MPI, inviCRO, 3D Imaging Collaborate
June 12, 2013 10:47 am | News | CommentsMPI Research has announced a strategic partnership with inviCRO and 3D Imaging to unite world-class molecular imaging, radiochemistry, and informatics to accelerate drug discovery and development. The new center provides developers with contiguous access to a cyclotron and vivarium facilities.
Stem Cells Acceptable for Drug Testing
June 12, 2013 9:46 am | News | CommentsDrug development for a range of conditions could be improved with stem cell technology that helps doctors predict the safety and the effectiveness of potential treatments. Scientists have been able to generate cells that reach the standard required by pharmaceutical companies to test drug safety.
Teva, Sun Settle Patent Case for $2.15B
June 12, 2013 9:39 am | News | CommentsTwo generic drugmakers will pay $2.15 billion to Pfizer and Takeda Pharmaceutical to settle a patent fight over the heartburn treatment Protonix. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will pay $1.6 billion, while Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will pay $550 million.
PDL Claims Shortchanging by Genentech
June 11, 2013 6:17 pm | News | CommentsPDL BioPharma Inc. wants take Roche's Genentech business to arbitration over a royalty payment dispute. PDL said Genentech has underpaid royalties since at least 2007, and it wants to have Genentech's books and records inspected to determine if payments were accurate.
GSK Fires Researcher Over Data
June 11, 2013 5:22 pm | News | CommentsGlaxoSmithKline has dismissed one employee and a second resigned in the wake of a scandal over misrepresented data in a research paper published in 2010. The company says its investigation of recent allegations of questionable data has established that some information in the paper had been misrepresented.
Better Development of Biosimilars
June 11, 2013 12:03 pm | by Savanna Steele, PharmD, Clinical Scientist; Song Wang, PhD, Associate Statistical Science Director; Brian Healey, PharmD, Associate Director; Dirk Reitsma, MD, Vice President; PPD, Wilmington, N.C. | Articles | CommentsIn order to add assurance that the biosimilar candidate is as similar to the originator as possible, multiple tests should be used to assess similar qualities, an approach termed as “orthogonal” in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration draft biosimilar guidelines.
Questcor to Pay $135M for Synacthen
June 11, 2013 10:45 am | News | CommentsQuestcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it will pay at least $135 million to buy an autoimmune and inflammatory disease drug made by Novartis AG. Questcor said it will pay $60 million upfront for Synacthen and Synacthen Depot, which are approved in about 40 countries as a treatment for a variety of illnesses.
BMS Exec Admits Insider Trading
June 10, 2013 4:43 pm | News | CommentsFederal prosecutors in New Jersey say a former executive for Bristol-Myers Squibb has admitted using his high-level position and access to nonpublic information to make about $310,000 from insider trades. Robert Ramnarine has pleaded guilty to securities fraud.
Vitaros Approved in 10 Countries
June 10, 2013 12:45 pm | News | CommentsApricus Biosciences Inc. said that its impotence drug Vitaros has been approved in 10 European countries. The company said Vitaros is now approved in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, and the U.K., among other countries, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Elan Rejects New Royalty Bid
June 10, 2013 11:12 am | News | CommentsThe board of directors of the Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. PLC on Monday rejected an increased offer from Royalty Pharma and says it has received unsolicited interest from other parties it didn't name. Royalty's latest offer last week was for $13 per share plus up to $2.50 per share in payments based on performance milestones.
FDA Finds More Tainted Steroids
June 10, 2013 11:08 am | News | CommentsFederal health officials say they have found bacteria and fungus in drug vials from a Tennessee specialty pharmacy that recalled all of its injectable medicines last month. The Food and Drug Administration said in an online posting that it identified the growths in two unopened vials of a steroid injection distributed by the Main Street Family Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy in Newbern, Tenn.
