Clearside Biomedical (NSDQ:CLSD) said today that it enrolled the 1st patient in a phase III trial evaluating Zuprata, its suspension formulation of triamcinolone acetonide, in combination with Eylea, intravitreal aflibercept, for the treatment of macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion. The trial is slated to enroll 460 patients with retinal vein occulsion to assess […]
JDRF backs GluSense with $2m grant
GluSense said yesterday that it received a $2 million grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s T1D fund for the company’s injectable glucose sensor. Israel-based GluSense, part of Rainbow Medical, is developing the Glyde continuous glucose monitor for patients with Type I diabetes. The device is injected under the skin and lasts for 1 year, […]
How Sanofi blew its chance with Actelion
Days before entering into exclusive takeover negotiations with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Actelion (VTX:ATLN) was reportedly fielding an offer from Sanofi (NYSE:SNY). But the Swiss biotech eventually agreed to go with J&J’s $30 billion bid in an all-cash deal at the end of January. Actelion accepted the U.S. healthcare giant’s offer because it provided more certainty, Reuters reported today. The prospectus […]
Update: Insulet opens manufacturing facility in Acton, Mass.
Insulet (NSDQ:PODD) said yesterday that it acquired a manufacturing facility in Acton, Mass. The Billerica, Mass.-based company said that its new facility will allow Insulet to more efficiently manufacture its OmniPod system compared to 4 of the company’s manufacturing lines at its contract manufacturer in China. The company anticipates the new facility will add hundreds of jobs in Massachusetts […]
Anika beats Q4 earnings, revenue estimates
Shares in Anika Therapeutics (NSDQ:ANIK) fell today, even though the orthopedic medicines company beat expectations on Wall Street with its 4th quarter results. The Bedford, Mass.-based company posted profits of $8.1 million, or 54¢ per share, on sales of $28.7 million for the 3 months ended Dec. 31, for bottom-line loss of -26% on sales loss of -7% compared with […]
Collecting purposeful data in the era of connected health devices
Connectivity, one of the newest buzzwords in the medical device lexicon, is becoming more and more integral to device design and development. Research shows that connected health devices can improve patient outcomes by increasing adherence and reducing dosing variability. Mark David Tuckwell, head of electronics, software & systems at Sagentia, says connected device can also provide crucial information to help […]
Catalent acquires soft-gel manufacturer Accucaps
Catalent (NYSE:CTLT) said today that it closed its acquisition of Canada-based Accucaps and its pharmaceutical soft-gel manufacturing capabilities. The Somerset, N.J.-based company did not disclose the deal’s financial details. In November last year, Catalent said that it planned to fund the Accucaps buy with a $400 million debt offering. The company also plans to use the private placement […]
Virus shells target and deliver drugs to cancer cells
Researchers from Australia and the UK have developed virus-like nanoparticles to target and deliver drugs to cancer cells. The team’s work, which was published in the journal ACS Nano, showed that the particle could be produced in plants and that it can shuttle small molecules to cancer cells for targeted treatment. The team, lead by Frank […]
Biostage prices $8m offering for bioengineered organ implant
Biostage (NSDQ:BSTG), a 27-person biotech based in Holliston, Mass., is developing technology to regrow esophageal tissue in patients that have esophageal cancer or atresia. Last week, the company priced a public offering at ¢40 per share of common stock, expecting to bring in $8 million from the round. The current standard of care for resectable […]
Pfizer appeals $107m fine for anti-epilepsy drug prices in UK
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Flynn Pharma have appealed the record $107 million (£84.2 million) and $6.5 million (£5.2 million) fines imposed by the U.K. Competition & Markets Authority in December for the companies’ massive price hikes to their unbranded versions of anti-epilepsy drug Epanutin. In its appeal, Pfizer claims that the regulator did not consider market realities when […]