Oramed Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ORMP) said today that it finished a phase Ib study of its oral GLP-1 analog capsule for type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin. Exenatide, a GLP-1 analog, is available on the market as an injection for patients with type 2 diabetes. The analog […]
Pharmaceuticals
Windtree touts inhaled therapy for infants with respiratory distress syndrome
Windtree Therapeutics (NSDQ:WINT) today released data from a phase IIa trial evaluating its inhaled Aerosurf lucinactant designed for premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Results from the trial were presented at the 6th International Congress of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies in Valencia, Spain. Premature babies often lack adequate surfactant – a naturally occurring substance that reduces the surface […]
Intec Pharma inks deal with Michael J. Fox Foundation for patient recruitment
Intec Pharma (NSDQ:NTEC) said today that it inked a deal with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to support the biopharmaceutical company’s patient recruitment and retention for its pivotal phase III trial. The study will evaluate Intec Pharma’s lead candidate, the “accordion pill” carbidopa/levodopa (AP-CD/LD), as a treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s […]
Catalent to float $400m debt offering
Catalent (NYSE:CTLT) said today that it plans to fund its acquisition of soft-gel pharmaceutical capsule manufacturer Accucaps Industries Ltd with a $400 million debt offering. The Somerset, N.J.-based company said the private placement offering of euro-dominated senior unsecured notes due in 2024 will also be used to repay some of the outstanding borrowings under its senior […]
Researchers develop human lung model
(Reuters) – Czech scientists have developed a model of a functioning human lung that can be used to simulate problems like asthma or other chronic diseases and their treatments. The research group from the Brno University of Technology says its mechanical- and computer-based model of the lung can help devise treatment methods with more precision […]
Allergan expands neurological portfolio with $125m Chase Pharmaceuticals buy
Allergan (NYSE:AGN) said today that it acquired Chase Pharmaceuticals for an upfront payment of $125 million, expanding the Dublin-based company’s neurological portfolio. Washington, D.C.-based Chase is developing a combination therapy of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a cholinergic blocker in the hopes of improving cognition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitors available on the […]
Topical immunotherapy combo effective against early skin cancer
Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School have shown that a combination of 2 topical drugs can trigger an immune response against precancerous skin lesions. The study was published yesterday in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The 2 drugs, calcipotriol and 5-fluorouracil, have been in use for years – topical 5-fluorouracil is […]
UPDATE: Mylan declines to testify at Senate committee hearing
Updated to include the Senate Judiciary Committee’s response. Mylan (NDSQ:MYL) declined to testify at a U.S. Senate committee regarding its $465 million pending settlement to deal with charges that it underpaid government healthcare programs when it misclassified its EpiPen injector as a generic. The Canonsburg, Pa.-based company penned a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee […]
Novo Nordisk, Sanofi win FDA nods for diabetes drugs
Both Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) and Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) said yesterday that they won FDA approval for pre-filled pens with drug combinations indicated for adults with Type II diabetes. Paris-based Sanofi’s Soliqua 100/33 is an injectable medicine composed of 2 diabetes drugs – insulin glargine and lixisenatide. The drug is approved for adults with Type II diabetes not controlled with less than […]
GSK files for FDA approval of inhaled triple-combo therapy for COPD
GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and Innoviva (NSDQ:INVA) said today that GSK filed a regulatory submission with the FDA for the once-daily, closed triple combination therapy fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The triple-combo therapy includes 3 drugs: fluticasone furoate, an inhaled corticosteroid; umeclidinium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist; vilanterol, a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist. The medicines […]
