ContraVir Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:CTRV) touted encouraging results today from a preclinical study of its cyclophilin inhibitor, CRV431. In an animal model, the drug reduced the extent of fibrosis by 46% compared to the control. The Edison, N.J.-based biopharma company is developing medicines to treat patients who are infected with the hepatitis B virus. In the treatment […]
Pharmaceuticals
Denali acquires F-star Gamma and its antibody tech to help drugs cross the blood-brain barrier
Privately-held biopharma F-star said today that its partner, Denali Therapeutics (NSDQ:DNLI), chose to exercise its option to buy F-Star Gamma in a deal valued at approximately $471 million. The two companies first inked a collaboration in August 2016 to develop antibody technologies that help drugs cross the blood-brain barrier. “When you give an antibody via IV […]
Novartis licenses BDD Pharma’s timed-release oral drug-delivery tech
Privately-held BDD Pharma said today that it signed a deal to license its OralogiK timed drug-delivery tech to Novartis (NYSE:NVS). Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, but BDD noted that it included an upfront payment, milestones and future royalties. BDD’s technology can deliver multiple doses or a combination of drugs at pre-determined times, between […]
Titan, Braeburn end commercialization deal for Probuphine drug-delivery implant
Titan Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:TTNP) and Braeburn Pharmaceuticals said today that they plan to end a 2012 licensing agreement that gave Braeburn exclusive rights to commercialize Probuphine in the U.S. and Canada. Probuphine, which was developed using Titan’s ProNeura continuous drug-delivery tech, is an implant that can be placed in a patient’s upper arm in an outpatient office […]
On second try, TherapeuticsMD lands FDA nod for vaginal capsule
TherapeuticsMD (NSDQ:TXMD) said today that it won FDA approval for its applicator-free estradiol vaginal capsule, TX-004HR. The soft-gel capsule is designed to treat moderate-to-severe vaginal pain experienced during sex, a symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy in women who have undergone menopause. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company plans to market the product under the name ‘Imvexxy’. This […]
Adherium looks to give doctors a window into their patients’ lives
To control an asthma patient’s symptoms, doctors will prescribe an inhaler to stop symptoms from cropping up and a rescue inhaler to be used if patients find themselves in the middle of an asthma attack. “But if your rescue inhaler doesn’t give you the relief that you need, your next recourse is to go to […]
Sage Therapeutics wins priority review for intravenous postpartum depression drug
Sage Therapeutics (NSDQ:SAGE) said today that the FDA accepted its new drug application for an intravenous formulation of brexanolone as a treatment for postpartum depression. The application was accepted under priority review status, according to the Cambridge, Mass.-based company. If approved, the drug would be the first therapy specifically indicated to treat postpartum depression – […]
NanOlogy touts preclinical data for inhaled NanoPac cancer drug
NanOlogy touted results today from preclinical studies of its inhaled submicron particle formulation of paclitaxel, NanoPac. The company said animal studies have shown prolonged retention of the cancer drug in lung tissue and significant tumor regression without adverse drug-related side effects. NanOlogy plans to present the data from its preclinical studies at this year’s annual […]
BioTime lands $1.9m grant to fund dry-AMD drug
BioTime Inc. (NYSE:BTX) said today that it won a $1.9 million grant from the Israel Innovation Authority to help support development of its dry-AMD drug, OpRegen. The company’s investigational therapy delivers retinal pigment epithelial cells into the subretinal space to replace lost RPE cells in patients with macular degeneration. BioTime is testing its drug in a […]
Report: Trump to sign controversial law granting patients access to experimental drugs
President Donald Trump is slated to approve legislation this week that will give terminally-ill patients access to experimental drugs that haven’t yet been cleared by the FDA. The “right-to-try” bill has sparked a great deal of controversy among policymakers and patient groups. While some, including the president, describe the effort as offering hope to patients […]