Novocure (NSDQ:NVCR) has inked a $150 million term loan agreement with Pharmakon Advisors’ investment fund, BioPharma Credit. The St. Helier, N.J.-based company plans to set aside some of the new funds for working capital, as well as pay off its existing $100 million term loan debt. “Novocure is a global oncology company with a proprietary platform […]
Neurological
Impel NeuroPharma touts proof-of-concept trial for intranasal migraine drug
Privately-held biotech Impel NeuroPharma touted positive results today from a Phase I trial of its acute migraine headache therapy. The Seattle-based company’s drug is delivered intranasally using its Precision Olfactory Delivery device, which is designed to deliver drugs to the upper nasal cavity and target the brain using the olfactory and trigeminal nerves. The proof-of-concept […]
Novocure touts quality-of-life analysis for glioblastoma patients treated with Optune-chemo combo
Novocure (NSDQ:NVCR) today touted an analysis published in JAMA Oncology showing that its Optune-temozolomide combination helped newly-diagnosed glioblastoma patients live longer without hurting their quality of life. In a Phase III pivotal trial, researchers found that a higher proportion of patients treated with Optune and temozolomide reported stable or improved quality of life measures compared to those […]
Verily, Sanofi and other industry players team up with NIH to advance Parkinson’s therapies
The National Institutes of Health is joining forces with the tech and pharmaceutical industries to speed the development of new drugs for Parkinson’s disease and identify biomarkers for the debilitating condition. Companies participating in the public-private partnership include Celgene (NSDQ:CELG), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) and Verily. Combined the […]
FDA approves Bracco’s contrast agent for pediatric CNS imaging
The FDA has approved a label change to Bracco Diagnostics‘ MultiHance MRI contrast agent. The company’s product can now be used to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity of the brain and spine in patients younger than two years old. Data collected in pediatric patients under the age of two showed that a dose of 0.05 […]
Sunovion touts pivotal Ph3 trial for Parkinson’s drug
Gearing up for a springtime FDA submission, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals reported today that its apomorphine sublingual film succeeded in a pivotal Phase III trial in patients with Parkinson’s disease who experience motor fluctuations. Without revealing the study’s full results, the Marlborough, Mass.-based company said that the trial met its primary and key secondary endpoints and that […]
Medtech stories we missed this week: Jan. 26, 2018
From Attune Medical receiving FDA 510(k) clearance to Synapse Medical having CE Mark approval, here are some medtech stories we missed this week but thought were still worth mentioning. 1. Attune Medical gets FDA 510(k) clearance Attune Medical announced in a Jan. 8 press releasethat it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its EnsoETM model […]
Aprinoia raises $11m for Alzheimer’s imaging, therapy programs
Aprinoia Therapeutics said today that it has raised $11.1 million in a Series B round, led by KTB Network and DCI Partners. The Taiwan-based biotech plans to use its new funds to advance the preclinical and clinical development of its tau PET imaging tracer and therapy programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease. In connection with […]
Medtronic touts therapy delivered via SynchroMed pump in patients with post-stroke spasticity
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) touted data today showing that intrathecal baclofen therapy delivered via the company’s SychroMed II infusion pump performed better than the conventional treatment for patients with severe post-stroke spasticity. The medtech titan’s SynchroMed II pump is the only device approved in the U.S. for ITB therapy. The Sisters study pitted Medtronic’s ITB therapy against oral […]
KemPharm launches pivotal efficacy trial for extended-release ADHD prodrug
KemPharm (NSDQ:KMPH) has launched a pivotal efficacy trial of its extended-release prodrug product for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. The company’s classroom-style study is designed to support a potential label for KP415 that would include both early-onset and long duration treatment effect for ADHD. The 140-patient trial is slated to wrap up […]