Volume 11.34 September 6, 2010Previous

Roche and Aileron Enter Multi-Target Alliance to Develop Stapled Peptide Drugs for Diseases Across Multiple Therapeutic Areas
Aileron Therapeutics and Roche announced that they have entered into a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize a new class of drugs called Stapled Peptide Therapeutics. [Aileron Therapeutics Press Release]
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Genzyme Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited Proposal
Genzyme Corp. confirmed that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Sanofi-Aventis to acquire all the outstanding shares of Genzyme for $69 per share in cash. The Genzyme board of directors unanimously affirmed its previous rejection of Sanofi’s proposal. [Genzyme Corp. Press Release]
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Lonza Acquires Viral Vaccine and Vector Manufacturer Vivante GMP Solutions
Lonza entered the viral based-manufacturing market with its purchase of Vivante GMP Solutions, Inc. [Lonza Group, Ltd. Press Release]
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Kythera and Bayer Dermatology Unit Intendis Enter Licensing and Development Agreement for Adipolytic Agent ATX-101
Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and Intendis announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement granting Intendis rights to Kythera’s lead product candidate, ATX-101, outside of the U.S. and Canada. ATX-101, a first-in-class investigational drug, is currently in clinical development for the reduction of submental fat. [Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]
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ImmunoSolv Merges with Grampian BioConsultants & Secures Additional Funds
ImmunoSolv, a leading Edinburgh-based private company developer of immunology platform technology, is pleased to announce that it has completed a merger with Aberdeen-based Grampian BioConsultants Limited ("GBC"). The merged company will retain the name ImmunoSolv Limited. [ImmunoSolv Limited Press Release]
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Analysis: Genzyme Units Attract Interest, What About Sanofi?
Genzyme Corp is entertaining suitors for a small part of its business, even as it seeks a higher offer for the entire company from France's Sanofi-Aventis SA, which may want to keep them. [Reuters Press Release]
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Novadaq Signs North American Marketing and Sales Agreement with LifeCell
Novadaq® Technologies Inc. announced that it has entered into a five-year agreement with LifeCell™ Corporation for exclusive rights to market and distribute the SPY® Imaging System in the fields of open plastic reconstructive, gastrointestinal and head and neck surgery in North America. LifeCell is the market leader in regenerative products, such as Alloderm® Tissue Regeneration and Strattice™ Reconstructive Tissue Matrices, in the licensed surgical markets. [Novadaq Technologies Inc. Press Release]
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Afferent Pharmaceuticals Presents Data Supporting Use of P2X3 Antagonists in Reducing Bone Cancer Pain
Afferent Pharmaceuticals announced preclinicalin vivo results demonstrating that an investigational P2X3 receptor antagonist significantly prevented and reversed bone cancer pain behavior in comparison to vehicle controls. [Afferent Pharmaceuticals Press Release]
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Cardiome Achieves $30 Million Milestone
Cardiome Pharma Corp. announced that it has earned a US $30 million milestone payment from its collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), through an affiliate. [Cardiome Pharma Corp. Press Release]
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enGene Adds Leading Nanomedicine Expert To Scientific Advisory Board
enGene Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing an innovative platform technology to deliver nucleotides (DNA or siRNA) to mucosal tissue for treating a variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes, announced that Dr. Russell J. Mumper has joined the Company's Scientific Advisory Board. [enGene Inc. Press Release]
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Celator® Pharmaceuticals Raises $20 Million in Series D Financing
Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company developing new and more effective therapies to treat cancer based on the company's proprietary technology, announced that it raised $20 million in a Series D private equity financing. [Celator Pharmaceuticals Press Release]
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Sirona Biochem Signs Binding Preliminary Agreement to Acquire TFChem
Sirona Biochem Corp., a biotechnology company specializing in carbohydrate-based molecules, including therapeutics for diabetes and obesity, announced it has signed a preliminary binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of TFChem S.A.S., a privately held France-based drug discovery company specializing in the synthesis and stabilization of carbohydrate-based molecules. [Sirona Biochem Corp. Press Release]
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Jefferson Researchers Receive $3 Million NIH Grant to Study Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms in Platelets
Scientists at Jefferson Medical College have received a four-year, $3 million National Institutes of Health grant funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to study variations of platelet function, specifically, the genetics of platelet gene expression. The study aims to find data that can be translated into novel therapeutic strategies and develop better predictors of cardiovascular disease. [Jefferson University Hospitals Press Release]
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Cell Therapy Foundation Calls for Additional Research, Extensive Clinical Trials
Some of the most promising medical research conducted to treat diseases of the brain, heart, and circulatory system is moving too slowly to help millions of patients, according to the Cell Therapy Foundation, which advocates the use of adult stem cells to dramatically impact and improve the condition of patients who suffer from a variety of conditions. [PR Newswise Press Release]
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New Cell Transplantation Journal Launched
A new and unique journal on cell transplantation aimed at helping translate laboratory findings into clinical applications is being launched by Cognizant Communication Corporation as a companion journal to Cell Transplantation. [EurekAlert! Press Release]
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Pfizer to Acquire FoldRx Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer Inc. and FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and clinical development company, announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire FoldRx. [Pfizer Inc. Press Release]
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