Chemical and Analytical Products

Prosolia and AB Sciex entered into a license agreement for technologies developed by Gary Van Berkel, Ph.D., and his colleagues at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The arrangement provides Prosolia a license to a portfolio of new sample introduction and ionization methods based on the liquid microjunction surface sampling probe approach that enables direct extraction [...]

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals presented new data from a third Phase III trial evaluating lubiprostone in the treatment of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OBD) in patients with chronic noncancer pain. Initial results from the study were reported in April. The newly released data confirmed that compared with placebo, lubiprostone therapy reduced the median time to first spontaneous bowl [...]

GE Healthcare Life Sciences and Karolinska University Hospital established a collaboration to develop the technologies and workflows that will be needed to apply cell therapies routinely in a clinical setting. The goal is to address the need for reproducible technologies in areas such as cell growth, handling, processing, and analysis as well as protocols and [...]

CHDI Foundation is teaming up with Lundbeck to aid preclinical development of the latter’s Huntington disease (HD) therapeutic candidate. In particular, the studies will assess the compound’s effects on P2X receptors implicated in the disease. Lundbeck says the partnership fits in with its HD Research Initiative, launched in 2010, through which the firm is working [...]

InterMune is selling its synthetic gamma interferon-1b drug, Actimmune, to specialty pharmaceuticals firm Vidara Therapeutics for $55 million in cash plus a two-year royalty stream. Actimmune is indicated for the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease and severe, malignant osteopetrosis. The drug achieved revenues of $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2012. InterMune says that [...]

Two independent exome sequencing studies have identified new genetic subtypes of prostate cancer. Presenting its findings in Nature, a University of Michigan Medical School-led team identified CHD1 mutations in 8% of heavily pretreated lethal metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPCs). Notably, CHD1 mutations were almost always found in tumors that didn’t display ETS gene family fusions. [...]

Scientists have identified a factor in the conditioned medium of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) cultures that appears to play a key role in the therapeutic effects of MSC-based therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies by Case Western Reserve University researchers in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS demonstrated that treatment using conditioned [...]

Girindus has obtained the exclusive rights to develop, supply, and commercialize certain oligonucleotide constructs using Marina Biotech’s conformationally restricted nucleotide (CRN) chemistry. In return Marina will receive royalties from the sale of CRN-based oligonucleotide reagents as well as a robust supply of cGMP material for Marina and its partners’ preclinical, clinical, and commercialization needs. CRNs [...]

Roche’s Ventana Medical Systems co-exclusively sublicensed IP from Gen-Probe granting the firm in vitro diagnostic rights relating to the immunohistochemical measurement of ERG protein expression in prostate tissue. Ventana says the licensed IP complements its existing co-exclusive sublicense to IP covering in situ hybridization measurements of ETS gene rearrangements (including ERG gene rearrangements) in tissue. [...]

BioDelivery Sciences received a $2.5 million prelaunch milestone payment from Meda, triggered by the first national regulatory clearance and pricing approval for Breakyl/Onsolis (fentanyl buccal soluble film) in the EU. Breakyl is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant adult cancer patients. BioDelivery will receive another, final $2.5 million EU-related milestone when the [...]