NantKwest Inc. (NSDQ:NK) said yesterday that the FDA approved an Investigational New Drug Application for its natural killer cell therapy phase I clinical study. The company is evaluating its genetically engineered, allogenic natural killer cell therapy in patients with cancer. The study, which NantKwest touts as the 1st of its kind, will determine the safety […]
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Ocular Therapeutix looks to raise $25m in public offering
Ocular Therapeutix (NSDQ:OCUL) said today that it launched a $25 million underwritten public offering of its common stock. The Bedford, Mass.-based company did not provide any specific pricing details for the offering. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is the sole bookrunner for the offering, according to regulatory filings. Yesterday, the company said today that it resubmitted a […]
Scientists develop nanoparticles to ‘suffocate’ tumor cells
A team of researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the East China Normal University have developed polyvinyl pyrrolidone modified nanoparticles that serve as a deoxygenation agent against tumor cells. The therapy, which is described in Nature Nanotechnology, targeted cancer cells by cutting off the tumor’s blood supply to deprive and ‘suffocate’ […]
MIT, Brigham researchers deliver strands of RNA using ultrasound
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham & Women’s Hospital have developed a technique to deliver strands of RNA to colon cells using bursts of ultrasound waves. The team’s technique turned down the production of a protein involved in inflammatory bowel disease in mice. The paper, which was published in Gastroenterology, described a simple […]
Ocular Therapeutix resubmits NDA for Dextenza
Ocular Therapeutix (NSDQ:OCUL) said today that it resubmitted a New Drug Application to the FDA for its post-surgical ocular pain reliever. The hydrogel plug, inserted into a patient’s tear duct, is designed to deliver a sustained dose of dexamethasone over 4 weeks following opthalmic surgery. The Bedford, Mass.-based company has had trouble gaining regulatory approval for the […]
Abbott touts study showing SCS helps curb opioid use in chronic pain patients
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) touted data from a 5,400 patient study evaluating daily opioid use following spinal cord stimulation therapy in patients with chronic pain. The researchers found that average daily opioid use declined or remained steady for patients with a spinal cord stimulation system compared to patient use of opioids prior to the implant. Patients who had the […]
J&J, Actelion still in talks despite Opsumit failure
Although Actelion (VTX:ATLN)’s Opsumit drug candidate missed its primary endpoint in a phase III trial for patients suffering from a deadly heart-lung condition, analysts reportedly concluded that the result is unlikely to have an impact on merger talks with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). The Swiss drugmaker’s trial involved 226 patients with Eisenmenger Syndrome, which causes untreated congenital heart […]
Kaleo announces US availability, pricing of allergy auto-injector
Kaléo Inc. said yesterday that its Auvi-Q epinephrine auto-injector will be available by prescription in the U.S. beginning Feb. 14th. The Richmond, Virginia-based company’s emergency allergy treatment was pulled from the market in 2015 due to manufacturing issues. The Epipen competitor device will be sold at a list price of $4,500, but Kaléo said that as a […]
Cytori buys Azaya’s nanoparticle tech in stock deal
Cytori Therapeutics (NSDQ:CYTX) said this week that it bought San Antonio-based Azaya Therapeutics and its nanoparticle cancer drugs in a stock deal. Azaya shareholders will receive $2 million in CTYX stock. San Diego-based Cytori will also pay $2 million upfront for costs associated with Azaya’s new manufacturing facility in San Antonio. Cytori will acquire a […]
Patent board invalidates RainDance patent for obviousness
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board invalidated a RainDance Technologies patent earlier this week for obviousness. The patent, which covers a method for manipulating the size of liquid droplets used in microfluidic diagnostic tests, was challenged by manufacturer 10X Genomics Inc. The panel, after conducting an inter partes review, found that the technique’s characteristics, which […]