Biogen Idec’s closely-watched anti-LINGO-1 has shown evidence of biological repair of the visual system in a mid-stage trial.
News
Roche signs Parkinson’s pact with 23andMe
Roche’s Genentech unit has linked up with personal genetics company 23andMe to identify new therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease.
Arena stock surges 76% on autoimmune drug data
Arena Pharmaceuticals watched its stock rocket more than 75% after APD334, its experimental drug for autoimmune disorders, showed strong promise in Phase II trials, slingshotting its development into Phase II.
Nestle backs microbiome firm Seres with $65 million
Nestle Health Science, a subsidiary of the Swiss food giant, has invested $65 million into the USA’s Seres Health.
Novartis in genome editing pacts with Intellia, Caribou
Novartis is buying into CRISPR gene editing technology via two separate deals with Intellia Therapeutics and Caribou Biosciences.
Vtesse launches to find treatment for NPC
A new rare diseases company called Vtesse, backed by Pfizer among others, has been launched with $25 million in funding with the initial goal of developing a treatment for the lysosomal storage disorder Niemann-Pick Disease type C.
Alkermes antipsychotic hits efficacy goal, shows weight benefit
Shares in Alkermes had jumped nearly 10% by late-afternoon trading on the Nasdaq Wednesday after its experimental schizophrenia drug met efficacy targets in a mid-stage trial pitting it against olanzapine, and also showed an advantage on the weight gain front.
Ebola: three vaccines now in trials, says Hunt
The UK currently has three vaccines against the Ebola virus in the first phase of clinical trials, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told MPs.
FDA clears first dermal filler for acne scars
US regulators have issued a green light for Suneva Medical’s Bellafill as the first dermal filler to treat scars left by acne, the most common skin condition in the country.
Gilead buys Phenex liver drugs in $470 million deal
Gilead Sciences has hit the acquisition trail to acquire investigational liver disease drugs from privately-held German biotech Phenex Pharmaceuticals.
J&J and Vectura sign asthma/COPD deal
UK respiratory specialist Vectura has signed a deal with Johnson & Johnson to develop anti-inflammatory therapies for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Moderna raises massive $450 million
Moderna Therapeutics has caused a stir by raising a whopping $450 million, reportedly the largest-ever private financing round for any biotech.
NICE sticks with ‘no’ for Celgene’s Abraxane
As expected, cost regulators for National Health Service treatments in England recently barred patients with advanced pancreatic cancer from ‘routine’ access to Celgene’s Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel).
UPDATE: A&E crisis as waiting times reach 10-year high
The number of hospitals declaring major incidents across the UK is on the rise, as figures show the worst A&E performance on waiting times in England in at least a decade.
Warning of ‘unmanageable’ cancer crisis in UK
There will be a record 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK in 2015 and this surge is creating a crisis of “unmanageable proportions”.
