Industry News

• NIH study finds that coffee drinkers have lower risk of death  caffeinated or decaffeinated — had a lower risk of death overall than others who did not drink coffee, according a study by researchers from the NCI and AARP. The results of the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
  May 17, 2012  
• World's first approved stem cell drug receives clearance from Health Canada  Osiris announced it has received market authorization from Health Canada to market its stem cell therapy Prochymal® (remestemcel-L), for the treatment of acute graft-vs-host disease in children. The decision marks the world's first regulatory approval of a manufactured stem cell product.
  May 17, 2012  
• Neurocrine Biosciences announces Urocortin 2 phase II study results   Neurocrine announced efficacy and safety results from a Phase II trial of urocortin 2 in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. The study was conducted over a two year period. Infusion of urocortin 2 was generally well tolerated and there were no treatment-related serious adverse events.
  May 17, 2012  
• FDA approves generic versions of blood thinner Plavix  The FDA approved generic versions of the blood thinning drug Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate), which helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by making it less likely that platelets in the blood will clump and form clots in the arteries.
  May 17, 2012  
• The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada and Vertex announce research collaboration  Vertex and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada announced a new collaboration to fund novel research aimed at identifying the underlying disease mechanisms and drivers of inflammatory bowel disease, specifically Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
  May 17, 2012  
• Positive phase 2 clinical data with Tivantinib in hepatocellular carcinoma presented  ArQule and Daiichi Sankyo announced Phase 2 trial data with tivantinib as a single agent investigational second-line treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma. Data demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in time-to-progression with significant improvements in progression-free survival.
  May 17, 2012  
• Agilent to acquire Dako for $2.2 billion  Agilent and EQT, the Sweden-based private equity group, announced an agreement to acquire Dako, the Denmark-based cancer diagnostic company for $2.2 billion. Dako's products are sold in more than 100 countries, and in 2010 its annual revenue was approximately $340 million (USD).
  May 17, 2012  
• StemCells, Inc. reports positive interim safety data from spinal cord injury trial  StemCells, Inc. announced completion of the first planned interim safety review of the Company's Phase I/II spinal cord injury clinical trial, which indicated that the surgery, immunosuppression and the cell transplants have been well-tolerated.
  May 17, 2012  
• SynCardia posts record revenue and profit in 2012 first quarter  SynCardia announced record-setting revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, due in part to Certified Centers performing a record number of implants of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart. Compared to the same quarter last year, revenue and implants increased by more than 60%.
  May 17, 2012  
• Exact Sciences extends, expands relationship with Mayo Clinic  Exact Sciences announced an expanded collaboration with Mayo Clinic. Under an extension of the agreement announced in 2009, the company's R&D collaboration will be expanded to include all gastrointestinal cancers and diseases, and new cancer screening applications of stool- and blood-based testing.
  May 17, 2012  

   (next 10 articles)