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Scientist generates mutant version of IL-2 protein to treat advanced cancers

The utility of a naturally occurring protein given, sometimes to great effect, as a drug to treat advanced cancers is limited by the severe side effects it sometimes causes. But a Stanford University School of Medicine scientist has generated a mutant version of the protein whose modified shape renders it substantially more potent than the natural protein while reducing its toxicity.

19 Mar 2012

Argus to participate in National Council for Prescription Drug Programs focus group

Argus Health Systems Inc., a leading transparent pharmacy benefits administrator, will participate in a National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) focus group on March 20, 2012, to better understand the growing biopharmaceuticals industry.

17 Mar 2012

Study identifies primary care skills and competencies in opioid risk management

Primary care physicians are faced with treating a large proportion of chronic pain patients, but many do not often have specific training in the assessment and management of chronic pain, including the use of opioid medications for chronic pain management.

17 Mar 2012

DA4S's fifth annual networking conference and EXPO to take place from May 21-23

On May 21-23, 2012, Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc., a non-profit organization created to support, mentor, and develop minority-, woman-, veteran/service-disabled-, HUBZone-, and LGBT-owned, life sciences businesses, will host its fifth annual networking conference and EXPO event.

17 Mar 2012

OncoGenex prices underwritten public offering of 4,165,000 shares of common stock

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 4,165,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $12.00 per share.

17 Mar 2012

Salix closes $690 million senior notes offering

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced the closing of its offering of $690 million aggregate principal amount of 1.5% convertible senior notes due 2019, which includes the exercise in full of the initial purchasers' overallotment option.

17 Mar 2012

Expanded R&D facility opens at Cubist headquarters

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the official opening of its expanded research and development facility at its headquarters at 65 Hayden Avenue in Lexington, Massachusetts.

17 Mar 2012

Obesity appears to increase risk of mortality tied to sleeping pills

Obesity appears to significantly increase the risk of death tied to sleeping pills, nearly doubling the rate of mortality even among those prescribed 18 or fewer pills in a year, researchers reported Friday.

17 Mar 2012

SK Biopharmaceuticals initiates YKP10811 phase 2 trial in chronic constipation

SK Biopharmaceuticals, a South Korean pharmaceutical company, announced today that the first patient was dosed in a phase 2 clinical trial in the US for patients suffering with chronic constipation using their new chemical entity YKP10811.

17 Mar 2012

Novel sensor selectively screens single molecules passing through nanopores

A novel type of sensor, based on nanometer-scale pores in a semiconductor membrane, is a step closer to practical use in applications such as analyzing the protein contents of a single cell. Researchers pioneering single-molecule nanopore sensor technology at the Technische Universit-t M-nchen (TUM) have shown its potential through a succession of experiments over the past few years.

16 Mar 2012

NEJM publishes results from Teva's laquinimod Phase III study on RRMS

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Active Biotech today announced the publication of results from the laquinimod Phase III ALLEGRO study in the March 15 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

16 Mar 2012

EORTC, EASL publish first joint CPGs on management of hepatocellular carcinoma

The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) today publish their first joint Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

16 Mar 2012

ThromboGenics, Alcon collaborate to commercialize ocriplasmin outside the US

ThromboGenics NV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative ophthalmic medicines, announces today that it has entered into an agreement with Alcon (a division of Novartis), the global leader in eyecare, for the commercialization of ocriplasmin in all markets outside the U.S.

16 Mar 2012

New FSU technology could decrease the cost of drug discovery

New technology being developed at Florida State University could significantly decrease the cost of drug discovery, potentially leading to increased access to high-quality health care and cancer patients receiving personalized chemotherapy treatments.

16 Mar 2012

Health Canada approves Mylan-Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets

Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC, the Canadian subsidiary of Mylan Inc., today received approval from Health Canada for Mylan-Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg. Mylan-Rosuvastatin is the generic version of Astra Zeneca's Crestor Tablets, which are used for the management of primary hypercholesterolaemia, mixed dyslipidaemia, and familial hypercholesterolaemia.

16 Mar 2012

Teva gets exclusive 180 days to market generic antidepressant and anti-anxiety pill Lexapro

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Has won U.S. approval to sell the first generic version of Lexapro for depression and anxiety. Teva has been granted a 180-day exclusivity, so no other firm can market the generic medication in the United States in that timeframe, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a news release.

15 Mar 2012

Shire enters agreement to acquire FerroKin BioSciences

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire FerroKin BioSciences, Inc., for an upfront payment of $100 million, payable in cash at closing, plus potential post-closing milestone payments of up to $225 million, depending upon the achievement of certain clinical development, regulatory and net sales targets.

15 Mar 2012

China Pharma revenue increases 9% to $81.2M for full year 2011

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals company in China, today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011.

15 Mar 2012

First-ever compulsory license issuance in India could have implications for HIV medication

"On Monday, the Indian Patent Office effectively ended German drug maker Bayer's monopoly for its cancer drug Nexavar and issued its first-ever compulsory license allowing local generic maker Natco Pharma to make and sell the drug cheaply in India," Reuters reports.

15 Mar 2012

MDxHealth fourth quarter total revenues increase 48% to €0.9M

MDxHealth SA, a leading molecular diagnostic company that develops and commercializes epigenetic tests to support cancer treatment, today announced results for Q4 and full year 2011.

15 Mar 2012