Biotechnology News

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Children’s Hospital and Genocea Biosciences partner
Genocea Biosciences Inc. and Children’s Hospital Boston have announced an agreement under which Cambridge-based Genocea is licensing a portfolio of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens developed in a collaboration among Genocea, Children’s and the Seattle-based research organization PATH.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Alkermes launches Phase 1 trial for chronic pain drug candidate
Alkermes Inc. has launched an early stage drug trial for a potential treatment, ALKS 37, for side effects of opiod use for patients will chronic pain.
ALS Therapy Institute pairs with N.J. biotech
Cambridge-based ALS Therapy Institute has teamed up with a New Jersey biotech to test several small-molecule compounds that have the potential to slow or stop the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Alkermes shares jump amid FDA response to diabetes drug
Alkermes Inc. shares popped Monday on news that federal regulators responded positively to a new diabetes-drug application filed by the Waltham-based biotechnology firm and its development partners, Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co.
Biotech, drug R&D grew in 2009
Research and development investment by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies defied the recession in 2009, growing by more than 2 percent over the 2008 total.

Monday, March 15, 2010

FORMA, LLS partner on lymphoma drug development
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and FORMA Therapeutics Inc., have announced they will team up to try to develop drug candidates against a promising lymphoma target.
Connecticut backs diagnostics firm HistoRx
Connecticut Innovations has announced a $1.5 million loan to HistoRx Inc., a New Haven-based firm working on diagnostic solutions for cancer treatment.

Friday, March 12, 2010

GTC Biotherapeutics to be delisted from Nasdaq
GTC Biotherapeutics Inc., a developer of drug candidates using genetic materials derived from animals, said it is unlikely to regain compliance to list its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market and that it has taken steps to trade in the over-the-counter market as it advances its research.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals prices IPO at $81M
Aveo Pharmaceuticals Inc. has priced its initial public offering, which could net up to $81 million for the Cambridge oncology-focused biotechnology firm. The amount falls short of the company’s expected offering amount from its registration statement.
Genetix drug success prompts $35M funding, exec shakeup, hiring plans
Genetix Pharmaceuticals Inc. has raised a venture round of $35 million dollars following the release of data showing that its drug target for a rare disease called Adrenoleukodystrophy has halted the ailment in all three human cases.
Anterion seeks funds amid new drug, market options
Anterion Therapeutics Inc. is a rare breed in the cash-hungry biotechnology world: It has managed to stay afloat despite raising only $900,000 in outside money since the company was incorporated in 2003. But now, with its drug discovery platform that both develops new drugs and creates a new market opportunity for existing drugs, it is going to need a big infusion of cash.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Agios appoints Kaelin to scientific advisory board
Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Cambridge biopharmaceutical firm focused on drugs associated with cancer metabolism, has named Dr. William Kaelin to its scientific advisory board.
Collaboration revenue gives Synta $79.1M profit
Despite reporting a fourth quarter loss, Lexington-based biotech Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. ended 2009 with a net profit of $79.1 million thanks in large part to deferred revenue through a broken partnership with GlaxoSmithKline.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Ischemix moves prevention drug to Phase 2a trials
Maynard biotechnology firm Ischemix LLC has begun a Phase 2a trial of its cardio-protective drug, CMX-2043, to prevent peri-operative ischemia-reperfusion injury, a temporary increase in insufficient blood flow.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Talaris Advisors names Lee as financial and development officer
Biotech consulting firm Talaris Advisors LLC of Hopkinton has hired Derek H. Lee, late of healthcare venture capital firm SV Life Sciences, as chief financial and corporate development officer.
Biogen, Roche halt arthritis drug trial
Drug developers Biogen Idec and Roche have spiked a late-stage rheumatoid arthritis drug trial amid concerns by a review panel that the treatment may in rare cases cause fatal infections.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Interleukin to net $5M from securities offering
Interleukin Genetics Inc., a developer of genetics-based tests for the consumer market, has announced that institutional investors have agreed to pay about $5.3 million for a combination of company stock and warrants.
NanoViricides to raise $40M through occasional stock sales
Drug maker NanoViricides Inc. has filed documents stating that it will look to raise up to $40 million through the occasional sale of company stock, for as-yet undefined general corporate purposes.
Alnara Pharmaceuticals flourishes from Altus demise
Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc. stands ready to send its drug target to treat cystic fibrosis to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a mere 16 months after the company raised its first venture capital round of $20 million.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

BioVex begins trials for genital herpes vaccine
BioVex Inc., a Woburn-based developer of cancer and infectious disease drugs and vaccines, has begun its Phase 1 clinical trial of its genital herpes vaccine, ImmunoVAXHSV2.