Researchers from the University of British Columbia have developed a magnetic drug implant that measures just 6 millimeters in diameter and can deliver a drug locally to a targeted tissue. The team’s work was published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. The device is a silicone sponge with magnetic carbonyl iron particles, wrapped in a round […]
Implants
Titan Pharmaceutical’s match-sized implant fights back against opioid addiction
The ongoing opioid crisis in the U.S. is harrowing – 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Companies are searching for innovative ways to deliver opioid maintenance treatment to patients that are hoping to get clean. Buprenorphine is a compound used for medication-assisted treatment, traditionally administered […]
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 […]
Braeburn sets terms for $150m IPO
Braeburn Pharmaceuticals said today that it plans to raise $150 million by offering 7,692,308 shares of its common stock. The Princeton, N.J.-based company wrote in regulatory filings that it expects the initial public offering price for its stock to be between $18.00 and $21.00 apiece. Apple Tree Partners has indicated an interest in buying $50 million of shares […]
Intersect ENT shares jump on Q4 prelims
Intersect ENT (NSDQ:XENT) shares jumped yesterday 11% to reach a peak of $13.20 apiece after the company released its preliminary financial results for the 4th quarter, narrowly beating analysts’ expectations on Wall Street. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company said it expects a total revenue of $24.o – $24.2 million for Q4, slightly ahead of the […]
Scientists develop silver-releasing scaffold to prevent MRSA infection in bone
Researchers have developed a biocompatible, silver-releasing scaffold that inhibits infection from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, in bone. The team’s work was published in Tissue Engineering. The antimicrobial properties of silver ions and the biodegradable scaffold seeded with bone-forming stem cells could be used to coat implants and prevent bone infection, the team suggested in the study. […]
OCUL registers for $40m stock sale
Ocular Therapeutix (NSDQ:OCUL) is looking to raise $40 million through a public stock offering, according to a prospectus filed with the federal Securities & Exchange Commission this week. The Bedford, Mass.-based company said it inked a controlled equity offering sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., and agreed to pay Cantor Fitzgerald commissions of up to 3% […]
Tests to begin for HIV therapy injections, long-acting implants
Drugs from companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), Gilead Sciences (NSDQ:GILD) and Merck (NYSE:MRK), are reportedly being considered for large-scale trials evaluating injectable HIV prevention therapies. Eventually, researchers hope to produce matchstick-sized implants that could provide year-long protection to vulnerable populations. Foster City, Calif.-based Gilead has a once-daily pill, Truvada, which prevents HIV infection during sex. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known […]
Intarcia seeks FDA nod for 1st drug to use Medici drug delivery system
Intarcia Therapeutics said today that it submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA for its injection-free ITCA 650 candidate, the 1st drug to use Intarcia’s Medici drug delivery system to treat Type II diabetes. The ITCA 650 enables subcutaneous delivery of exenatide using a match-sized osmotic pump placed under the skin in an in-office procedure. With […]