Bayer (ETR:BAYN) and Versant Ventures said today that the 2 groups closed a $225 million Series A financing round to launch BlueRock Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine company focused on developing induced pluripotent stem cell therapies. The funds are estimated to support the company for 4 years as it advances cell therapy clinical programs for cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. “Accessing […]
Federal watchdog to investigate CMS drug rebate program
The Office of the Inspector General of the Health and Human Services Departments said last week that it will begin investigating whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services properly monitors its Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. The investigation comes after CMS reported that Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) underpaid Medicaid by not paying appropriate rebates. The Canonsburg, Penn.-based company said […]
Vapogenix closes $8.2m Series C for topical painkiller
Vapogenix Inc. said yesterday that it raised $8.2 million in a Series C financing round to fund the development of its locally-acting painkiller. Pamoja Capital and a group of pain physicians led the round. The Houston, Texas-based company’s technology is a topical formulation of volatile anesthetics, which are normally inhaled as general anesthesia. Vapogenix has developed […]
Mylan, Allergan launch fight over Restasis eye drop patents
Allergan (NYSE:AGN) said this week that it will “vigorously defend” the patents for its Restasis eye drops, after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board agreed to an inter partes review of 6 patents as requested by generic competitor Mylan (NSDQ:MYL). The patents are valid until August 2024. “Allergan is disappointed in […]
Researchers develop insulin-producing artificial beta cells
Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed artificial beta cells that can measure blood glucose concentration and respond by producing insulin. The team’s work was published this week in Science. The ETH researchers used the natural glucose transport proteins and potassium channels found in the membrane of human kidney cells and modified them with a voltage-dependent calcium channel, […]
AngioSoma taps new CEO
AngioSoma (OTCQB:SOAN) said today that it named Ken Stephenson to the Montgomery, Texas-based company’s corner office. Alexanderia Blankenship will now serve as chief operating officer and executive VP. Stephenson has worked with hospitals, health insurance organizations and physician’s offices throughout Texas, according to the company. He previously helped set up practices for interventional radiologists and […]
CMS pinpoints cost-driving drugs in newly released data
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released 5 years of pricing data for a list of more than 5,000 drugs this week. The data illustrate that a handful of cost-driving drugs experienced price hikes in 2015, which cost taxpayers millions in added Medicare spending. The price of some drugs went up almost 500%, with name-brand […]
Clearside Biomedical prices $36m IPO
Clearside Biomedical (NSDQ:CLSD) today priced its $36 million initial public offering, floating 4 million shares at $9 apiece and including a 30-day underwriters option for 600,000 more shares. Alpharetta, Ga.-based Clearside said it plans to use theIPO proceeds to fund a pivotal Phase III trial of its suspension formulation of corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide, Zuprata, for […]
H&T Presspart, Cohero Health launch connected metered-dose inhaler
H&T Presspart and Cohero Health said today that the companies have launched a connected metered-dose inhaler designed to improve adherence and optimize care for patients with asthma and COPD. It is the 1st connected inhaler integrated with Cohero Health’s BreatheSmart comprehensive respiratory disease management platform. The 2 companies developed the metered-dose inhaler over the course […]
BioDelivery reacquires license to buprenorphine film
BioDelivery Sciences International (NSDQ:BDSI) said today that it reacquired the license to the Belbuca (buprenorphine) buccal film from Endo Pharmaceuticals. Malvern, Penn-based Endo Pharmaceuticals licensed the worldwide manufacturing and marketing rights to the opioid patch from BioDelivery in 2012. Belbuca, a once-daily opioid, is indicated for the management of severe pain. The small, peppermint-flavored film works by […]