Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are using nanoparticles to tackle drug-resistant bacteria, according to a study published in Advanced Materials. Gram-negative bacteria are particularly difficult to treat, since they are protected by two cell membranes. But the team of Cambridge-based researchers reported that antimicrobial peptides inside of a silicon nanoparticle effectively reduced the number […]
Pharmaceuticals
Mallinckrodt wins orphan drug status for long-acting muscular dystrophy therapy
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:MNK) said today that the FDA granted orphan drug status to its long-acting cosyntropin acetate formulation, MNK-1411, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In August last year, the FDA approved the company’s request to fast track its investigational new drug application for the therapy. “We are pleased the FDA has granted orphan drug status to […]
Sunovion divests asthma, allergy tech to Covis Pharma
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals said today that it plans to divest the U.S. market rights for its allergy and asthma products to Covis Pharma, in an effort to narrow its focus to the company’s COPD portfolio. Included in the deal is Sunovion’s Alvesco inhalation aerosol, its Omnaris nasal spray and its Zetonna nasal aerosol. All three products […]
Bigfoot Biomedical taps Abbott to collaborate on automated insulin delivery tech
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and Bigfoot Biomedical said today that the companies inked a deal to develop and commercialize diabetes management systems. The collaboration will bring together Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring tech and Bigfoot’s insulin delivery platform, the companies reported. According to the deal, Abbott will provide Bigfoot with the next-gen version of its FreeStyle Libre continuous […]
Milestone Scientific appoints new CEO following FDA nod | Personnel Moves – July 13, 2017
Milestone Scientific (NYSE:MLSS) said this week that it appointed Daniel Goldberger to the company’s corner office. Leonard Osser, who previously served as CEO, is slated to remain on the board and will continue to serve as director of Milestone’s China operations. The appointment comes on the heels of the FDA’s decision to grant Milestone’s CompuFlo epidural […]
Synspira’s therapy could boost antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria in CF patients
Privately-held Synspira touted a study today of its inhaled glycopolymer-based therapeutic with antibiotics as a potential treatment for pulmonary infection caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex in patients with cystic fibrosis. The study was published in PLOS One. Synspira’s lead polycationic glycopolymer, SNSP113, was studied in combination with tobramycin and meropenem. These antibiotics, as well as ceftazidime, are often […]
Clearside Biomedical launches Phase II diabetic macular edema trial
Clearside Biomedical (NSDQ:CLSD) said today that it enrolled the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial of CLS-TA in patients with diabetic macular edema. The trial plans to evaluate Clearside’s suspension formulation of a corticosteroid, triamcinolone acetonide, as a suprachoroidal injection in combination with an intravitreal injection of Eylea, an anti-VEGF agent. Patients with DME will either receive […]
BioDelivery Sciences, Purdue ink exclusive distribution deal for Belbuca in Canada
BioDelivery Sciences International (NSDQ:BDSI) said today that it inked an exclusive distribution deal with Purdue Pharma‘s Canada branch for the licensing, distribution, marketing and sale of Belbuca in Canada. The company’s Belbuca buccal film was designed to deliver buprenorphine for patients with chronic pain. It was cleared by Health Canada in June for patients with pain severe […]
First cell and gene therapy for osteoarthritis approved in Korea
Maryland-based TissueGene said today that Invossa, which it touts as the world’s first cell and gene therapy for degenerative arthritis, won approval from the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Invossa is designed to treat osteoarthritis of the knee through a single intra-articular injection. Kolon Life Science (KSDQ:102940), TissueGene’s exclusive licensee for Asia, filed for a […]
Equashield seeks to automate hazardous drug handling: a Drug Delivery Business News podcast
Equashield’s Jason Dutcher chats with Drug Delivery Business News editor Sarah Faulkner about the company’s closed system transfer device and its latest move to automate hazardous drug compounding. Healthcare workers are often tasked with handling hazardous drugs, which give off harmful vapors. Exposure to these drugs has been linked to severe health risks, including infertility, […]