TOP 100 MEDICAL SITES
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| CEM gets microwave patent CEM Corp., a Matthews-based maker of laboratory instruments, has received a fourth U.S. patent for microwave-assisted peptide synthesis. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Biotech News Bytes: Johnson & Johnson, CombinatoRx, Covidien Mike Havrilla submits:On 5/26/09, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the FDA extended by three months the review timeline for the Biologic License Application (BLA) for Stelara (ustekinumab) to provide time for a full review of an amendment to the pending application. The application seeks approval to market Stelara for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Lupus Drug Shows Promising Results Human Genome and GlaxoSmithKline said their experimental drug Benlysta met the goal of a second late-stage study in treating lupus, making it likely to be the first treatment in decades for the hard-to-treat autoimmune disease. online.barrons.com |
Financing Drug Discovery: Recent Deals The Burrill Report submits: by Marie DaghlianA smattering of deals and financings marked the relatively quiet days before Thanksgiving. San Diego-based biotech Receptos closed a two-tranche $25 million series A financing. The company is focused on identifying and developing best- and first-in-class therapeutic candidates that target a family of membrane receptors known as G-Protein coupled receptors or GPCR. Investors include ARCH Venture Partners, Flagship Ventures, Lilly Ventures and Venrock. Receptos’ technology comes from the labs of co-founders and Scripps researchers Raymond Stevens and Hugh Rosen. They joined forces at Scripps Research to develop a powerful GPCR technology platform and clinical candidate. Several Biogen Idec (BIIB) veterans are also co-founders of the company, including CEO William Rastetter, a former executive chairman at Biogen Idec. Receptos will initially target the Edg family of receptor proteins, including sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1), for structure-based drug design. The company will also expand efforts into additional, select high-value GPCR targets independently and with corporate partners where structural insight is anticipated to elucidate receptor-ligand interactions and deliver both best- and first-in-class GPCR therapeutic candidates. Receptos expects its best-in-class S1P1 agonist candidate for autoimmune indications to enter the clinic in 2010. The S1P1 program is supported by the company's recently determined and proprietary protein crystal structure of the S1P1 receptor. Finally, U.K. biotech Oxagen, a drug discovery and development company specializing in inflammation, completed a $26.7 million series C round led by Novartis Venture Funds, with participation by existing investors MPM Capital, SV Life Sciences, Advent Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Omega, Abingworth, IBT, Red Abbey and The Wellcome Trust. Proceeds of the funding will be used primarily to advance Oxagen’s CRTH2 antagonist program in inflammatory and respiratory diseases, including the completion of an ongoing phase 2b clinical study of lead molecule OC000459 in moderate persistent asthma. This follows the successful completion of proof-of-concept (POC) studies in both asthma and allergic rhinitis. CRTH2, also known as DP2, is a cell surface receptor for prostaglandin D2 and is implicated in allergic inflammation. The funds will also be used to expand the therapeutic indications for CRTH2 antagonists using the lead molecule as well as back-up compounds. [click to enlarge image] Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Genomic Health to Announce Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2009 Financial Results and Host Conference Call on Wednesday, February 3 (PR Newswire) Genomic Health, Inc. today announced that the company will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, February 3 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end 2009 financial results. us.rd.yahoo.com |