Tag: pharmaceuticals
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Late-Stage Trial to Test Biosimilar Psoriasis Treatment
The Sandoz division of the global pharmaceutical company Novartis started a late stage clinical trial of a treatment for psoriasis biologically similar to the therapy etanercept, marketed by Amgen and Pfizer as Enbrel. The trial is expected to support the company’s application for regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe. Biosimilars is the name given…
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FDA Grants Breakthrough Status to Heart Failure Drug
The pharmaceutical company Novartis, based in Switzerland, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designated its drug candidate RLX030 (serelaxin) a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of acute heart failure. Serelaxin is an engineered form of the natural hormone human relaxin-2 proposed for use in emergency rooms. FDA assigns breakthrough status to expedite drugs in…
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Silver Improves Antibiotic Performance Against Bacteria
Researchers at Harvard University and Boston University found adding a silver compound to several types of antibiotics improved their performance against a range of bacterial infections in lab and animal tests. The team led by James Collins, a faculty member at both institutions, published its findings in this week’s issue of the journal Science Translational…
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Biotech Developing Genetics Therapies Gains $101M in IPO
The biotechnology company bluebird bio in Cambridge, Massachusetts developing therapies for genetic disorders raised $101 million through its initial public offering (IPO) of 5.9 million shares priced at $17.00 a share. The company’s stock, trading on the NASDAQ under the code BLUE was priced at $26.00 a share at 11:00 am ET today. bluebird bio…
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Pharmas, Academics Partner on New Treatments from Old Drugs
Researchers from pharmaceutical companies and academic labs are partnering on finding therapies for eight types of diseases from drugs tested to treat other disorders. The $12.7 million pilot program, led by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of National Institutes of Health, funds nine separate projects combining industry and university scientists for up…
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Stem Cells Generate High-Quality Liver Cells for Drug Tests
Medical researchers at University of Edinburgh in Scotland created a process for inducing pluripotent stem cells to transform into liver cells with the same consistency and quality needed to test drugs for toxicity. A spin-off company from the university has also formed to take the research to market. The team led by Edinburgh’s David Hay…
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Science Business Content Partner: The Life Sciences Report
Science Business is pleased to offer a new feature, the latest entries from the investment newsletter, The Life Sciences Report, published by Streetwise Reports. The Life Sciences Report features interviews with investment experts in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostics. Science Business aims to provide breaking news developments in the science and business of the…
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AstraZeneca Acquires Respiratory Disease Therapy Developer
The global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is buying Pearl Therapeutics in Redwood City, California, a developer of treatments for chronic respiratory diseases. The deal is valued initially at $560 million, but has a total potential value of $1.15 billion, adding in subsequent milestone and royalty payments. The seven year-old Pearl Therapeutics develops small-molecule treatments for chronic…
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FDA Clears Sanofi Four-Strain Flu Vaccine for Adults, Kids
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of the global pharmaceutical company Sanofi, says the Food and Drug Administration cleared for sale in the U.S. its Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine that covers four influenza strains. The FDA action, says the company, will make the vaccine available for infants, adolescents, and adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
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University Patents, Licenses Cattle Feed Supplement
Kansas State University in Manhattan received a patent and licensed a nutritional supplement for cattle feed developed by one of its faculty members. Research by animal sciences professor Jim Drouillard led to development of a supplement that improves absorption of omega-3 fatty acids beneficial to livestock, which Kansas State patented earlier this year and licensed…