TiGenix (EBR:TIG) said today that it raised $36 million in an initial public offering from the sale of 2.3 million American depository shares, representing 46 million ordinary shares, at $15.50 apiece. The biopharmaceutical company plans to list on the NASDAQ exchange under the “TIG” symbol by Dec. 15. It is listed on the Euronext Brussels under the same symbol. […]
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AARP report details increase in brand name drug prices
The AARP Public Policy Institute released a report today showing that 2015 was the 4th straight year of double-digit average annual increases for widely used brand name drugs. The nonprofit organization also concluded that prices for brand name drugs increased almost 130 times faster than the 0.1% general inflation rate in 2015. The report, which […]
Eli Lilly, Express Scripts offer insulin discount program
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) said it is teaming up with pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts (NSDQ:ESRX) to offer discounts on the US pharma giant’s insulin products for uninsured patients and people with high-deductible insurance plans. The program will begin January 1, 2017 and will cover Lilly’s insulins Humalog, Humulin, and the biologic Basaglar. Lilly said it anticipates the program […]
FDA approves first bioresorbable scaffold with autologous cells for cartilage repair
Vericel Corp (NSDQ:VCEL) shares soared 56% today after the Cambridge, Mass.-based company said the FDA approved its bioresorbable scaffold for cartilage repair. The product, Maci, is the 1st FDA-approved implant to use healthy cartilage tissue from a patient’s own knee to grow cells on the scaffold. “Different cartilage defects require different treatments, so therapy must be […]
Actelion, Sanofi in talks after J&J backs out of negotiations
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) and Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) are reportedly in talks to reach a takeover deal after Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said yesterday that it has closed negotiations with the Swiss biotech. J&J and Actelion have been in informal talks for nearly 2 months and the US company has made an offer valued at 250 Swiss francs per share. J&J said yesterday […]
BioDelivery’s topical gel for diabetic neuropathy fails in phase IIb trial
BioDelivery Sciences International (NSDQ:BDSI) said today that its clonidine topical gel for pain relief in patients with diabetic neuropathy failed in a phase IIb clinical trial. Raleigh, N.C.-based BioDelivery will halt any further development of the painkiller. In the phase IIb clinical trial, BioDelivery’s topical gel did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in pain relief […]
Adherium’s smart inhaler tech chosen for EU mobile health program
Adherium Ltd. (ASK:ADR) said today that its Smartinhaler was chosen for the myAirCoach program as a part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework for Research and Innovation. The Horizon 2020 program is the largest EU research and innovation program ever established, with €80 billion (nearly $85 billion) of funding available from 2014 until 2020. The […]
Bayer, Versant close $225m Series A to launch stem cell company
Bayer (ETR:BAYN) and Versant Ventures said today that the 2 groups closed a $225 million Series A financing round to launch BlueRock Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine company focused on developing induced pluripotent stem cell therapies. The funds are estimated to support the company for 4 years as it advances cell therapy clinical programs for cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. “Accessing […]
Federal watchdog to investigate CMS drug rebate program
The Office of the Inspector General of the Health and Human Services Departments said last week that it will begin investigating whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services properly monitors its Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. The investigation comes after CMS reported that Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) underpaid Medicaid by not paying appropriate rebates. The Canonsburg, Penn.-based company said […]
Mylan, Allergan launch fight over Restasis eye drop patents
Allergan (NYSE:AGN) said this week that it will “vigorously defend” the patents for its Restasis eye drops, after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board agreed to an inter partes review of 6 patents as requested by generic competitor Mylan (NSDQ:MYL). The patents are valid until August 2024. “Allergan is disappointed in […]