(Reuters) — James Ward-Lilley, the former AstraZeneca executive who created a UK respiratory medicine business in June by merging Vectura and SkyePharma, is already thinking about his next deal. This time he’d like to buy a company with an established U.S. sales force to accelerate the group’s ambitions as it develops specialized lung drugs that are […]
Polymeric nanoparticles transport quantum dots into cells
Researchers from the University of Tokyo treated the surfaces of nanoparticles with polymers and enabled the transport of quantum dots into cells, according to a study published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. By coating nanoparticles with MPC polymers, researchers can make substances that are easily transported and delivered into the blood or other tissue because […]
NanoViricides inks deal for shingles study
NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE:NNVC) said today that it inked a deal with SUNY Upstate Medical University for the evaluation of its nanovirivides drug candidates against varicella zoster virus, also called the shingles virus. The goal of these in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies will be to help select a clinical drug development candidate for toxicology and safety evaluation […]
EpiPen price hike cost Pentagon millions
Mylan Pharmaceuticals‘ (NSDQ:MYL) 500% price increase on its epinephrine auto-injector cost the U.S Defense Dept. millions, according to data provided to Reuters. The Pentagon spent $57 million on Mylan’s EpiPen last year, up from $9 million in 2008, largely driven by volume and price hikes that affected prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies. Although the Pentagon gets a government discount […]
Novo Nordisk shares dive after long-term growth cut
(Reuters) — Top insulin maker Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) slashed its long-term profit growth forecast today, signaling no let-up in its struggles to crack the U.S. market to which its chief executive said its commitment would not waver. The Danish firm’s shares fell by as much as 19% to a 30-month low, wiping more than $15 billion off […]
FDA OKs stem cell-gene therapy trial for ALS
The FDA approved a combination stem cell-gene therapy clinical trial to test the treatment’s ability to slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It’s the 1st clinical trial to use neural stem cells to deliver a particular protein in the hopes of slowing ALS progression, according to researchers at the ALS clinic at Cedars-Sinai Medical […]
Litmus Health looks to bring wearables to drug development
Litmus Health said yesterday that it launched its clinical data science platform into public beta. The company hopes to use big data from wearables and connected devices to help inform endpoints for Phase I & II clinical trials. The goal of its platform, according to Litmus, is to get pharmaceuticals to market faster by putting […]
Monaghan Medical touts Aerobika study
Monaghan Medical yesterday touted data from a 6-month retrospective study showing that its Aerobika device reduced drug use for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary device. The Syracuse, N.Y.-based company says its oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy device is designed to expand the airways, help expel mucus to the upper airways and aid in drug deposition. The […]
Erytech Pharma taps new scientific, business chiefs | Personnel Moves, Oct. 26, 2016
French biotech Erytech Pharma (EPA:ERYP) said today that it named Alexander Scheer as chief scientific officer and Jean-Sébastien Cleiftie as chief business officer. The Lyon, France-based company encapsulates enzymes inside red blood cells that deprive tumors of necessary nutrients to treat rare forms of cancers and orphan diseases. Erytech has an ongoing Phase I […]
Cerulean promotes Eliasof to senior VP & CSO | Personnel Moves, Oct. 26, 2016
Cerulean promotes Eliasof to senior VP & CSO Cerulean Pharma (NSDQ:CERU) said today that it named Scott Eliasof as senior VP and CSO, promoting him from VP of research. He joined the Waltham, Mass.-based company in 2007. Before coming on board to Cerulean, Eliasof was the director of the chemical biology platform at the Broad […]