Cerus Corporation (NSDQ:CERS) said today that it exercised $10.8 million in additional options from its contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority, a part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The funds will go towards in vitro pathogen inactivation and red blood cell […]
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Flamel Technologies dose first patient in Phase III narcolepsy trial
Flamel Technologies (NSDQ:FLML) said today that the 1st patient in its Rest-On phase III clinical trial was dosed with FT218, sodium oxybate, for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in narcolepsy patients.The Lyon, France-based company developed the controlled-release oral formulation of sodium oxybate using its Micropump technology. The randomized, double-blind trial has enrolled […]
Evotec, Celgene ink drug development deal for stem cell treatments for neurodegenerative diseases
Evotec (ETR:EVT) said today that it inked a 5-year drug discovery and development deal with Celgene (NSDQ:CELG) to identify stem cell therapies for a range of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. According to the agreement, Hamburg, Germany-based Evotec will receive an upfront payment of $45 million and Celgene will hold exclusive […]
Actelion gains on Sanofi deal rumors
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) shares jumped more than 8% to 214 Swiss francs after reports that Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) and the Swiss biotech are nearing a takeover deal that would value Actelion at $29.6 billion. After Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) abandoned its efforts to reach an agreement with Actelion this week, Sanofi stepped in to pursue negotiations. Sanofi is expected to offer […]
Mylan launches first generic EpiPen as state AGs sue generics makers for price collusion
Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) launched its 1st generic EpiPen emergency allergy treatment 1 day after attorney generals from 20 states filed a civil complaint against Mylan, Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA), and 4 other generic drug makers. The complaint alleges that the companies co-conspired in informal gatherings, calls and text messages to fix the price for glyburide, a diabetes drug, and doxycycline […]
Fresenius expands prefilled syringe portfolio
Fresenius (NYSE:FMS) business group Fresenius Kabi said today that it added its heparin sodium injection to the company’s Simplist prefilled syringe portfolio. The prefilled syringe for subcutaneous and intravenous bolus injections expands Fresenius Kabi’s available Heparin formulations. The Lake Zurich-Ill. company’s Simplist syringes have a 2-year shelf life and do not require any assembly or point-of […]
Lilly, Boehringer’s Basaglar long-acting insulin now available in the U.S.
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals said today that its insulin glargine injection, Basaglar, is available by prescription in the U.S. Basaglar is a long-acting insulin with the same amino acid sequence as Sanofi‘s (NYSE:SNY) Lantus. The companies also offer resources for patients beginning insulin treatment, including an app for smartphones and tablets which provides […]
Ex pharma execs first to be charged in generic drug pricing case
Former Heritage Pharmaceuticals CEO Jeffrey Glazer and ex-president Jason Malek were hit yesterday with the 1st criminal charges from a 2-year federal investigation in an ongoing generic drug pricing case. The 2 former executives were charged by federal authorities with price collusion for doxycycline hyclate, a widely used antibiotic, and a diabetes therapy called glyburide […]
Baxter to put up $625m for Claris Injectables generics biz
Baxter (NYSE:BAX) said today that acquired Claris Lifesciences (BOM:533288) subsidiary Claris Injectables for $625 million. The deal is expected to close in the 2nd half of next year. Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter said it plans to pay for the acquisition with cash on hand, debt or a combination. Baxter anticipates launching 7 to 9 new products […]
BD launches high volume syringe for biologics
Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) said today that it launched its BD Neopak 2.25 milliliter prefillable glass syringe designed for high-volume injection of biologics. The Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based company said that its prefillable glass syringe was developed to reduce drug degradation and aggregation between the container and therapeutic. The high volume syringe is commercially available in the […]