Abbott to collaborate with Pfizer on companion diagnostic test

Abbott has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer to develop a molecular diagnostic test intended to screen non-small cell lung cancer tumors for the presence of gene rearrangements. Pfizer has developed an investigational agent that selectively targets cancer-causing genes implicated in the progress of many cancers. Under terms of the agreement, Abbott will develop a companion diagnostic test that will determine a patient’s genetic status and will be used in patient selection for future clinical trials of Pfizer’s agent.

BTG sels HySolv to Novartis for up to $10 million

BTG has announced the sale of its HySolv drug delivery technology to Novartis Pharma AG for an initial payment of $0.75 million and potential additional future milestone payments of up to $9.25 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis acquires all of the patent rights and know how with respect to the HySolv drug delivery technology.

Silence Therapeutics signs siRNA delivery collaboration with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma

Silence Therapeutics has announced that it has entered into a delivery collaboration with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. of Japan to demonstrate the functional delivery of Silence’s proprietary siRNA molecules to specific targets. Financial details have not been disclosed.

Endocyte earns milestone from BMS

Endocyte has announced that it has received a milestone payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb. The payment was triggered by the commencement of a Phase II clinical trial for an epothilone-folate anti-cancer agent identified through the collaboration. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Endocyte entered into an exclusive license agreement with respect to the compound in 2005. Bristol-Myers Squibb is responsible for all development, manufacturing, registration and marketing of the epothilone-folate chemotherapeutic agent.

Phylogica close to announcing partnership

Phylogica has announced that it has been negotiating research partnerships with a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and that some of those negotiations have now moved to a very advanced stage. Phylogica was founded and incorporated in 2001 to commercialise proprietary drug discovery technologies developed over six years of collaboration between the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Western Australia and the Fox Chase Cancer Centre.

ProStrakan partners with Endo for Fortigel in the USA

ProStrakan Group has announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement for Fortigel 2% Gel in the USA with Endo Pharmaceuticals. Endo plans to market this product in the US under the brand name FORTESTATM. Under the terms of the agreement Endo Pharmaceuticals has agreed to make an upfront payment to ProStrakan of $10 million with potential for a further $40 million in milestone payments by the end of 2010, including a milestone payment for the achievement of FDA approval and milestones for the achievement of early commercialisation events. Further milestone payments of up to $160 million are payable to ProStrakan upon the achievement of certain sales targets. ProStrakan will exclusively supply FORTESTA to Endo Pharmaceuticals in the USA and will receive an undisclosed royalty rate on sales generated there.

Are European drug makers more innovative than US companies?

The WSJ is reporting new research, or rather a new analysis of old data, casting doubt on the belief that American pharmaceutical companies are more productive than European companies. The research was funded by the TI Pharma project, a collaboration of industry and academic partners in the Netherlands.

Fast Forward and Amplimmune ink MS alliance

Amplimmune and Fast Forward, LLC, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s subsidiary designed to bridging the gap between research and drug development, have announced a collaboration to support the development of Amplimmune’s AMP-110 therapeutic candidate. The agreement with Amplimmune is the third in a series of partnerships between Fast Forward and emerging biotechnology companies.

Profectus BioSciences signs collaboration with the PATH Malaria

Profectus BioSciences, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel vaccine candidates for serious chronic infections, has announced that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative to conduct proof-of-concept studies with its proprietary, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector technology as a preventative malaria vaccine. Profectus has received over $100 million in funding from various sources, including the National Institutes of Health, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners and private partners.

Ligand to acquire Neurogen

Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Neurogen Corporation have announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Ligand will acquire Neurogen. Under the transaction, Neurogen stockholders will receive an estimated $11 million in Ligand common stock and will be granted Contingent Value Rights under four CVR agreements. The CVRs would entitle Neurogen shareholders to cash payments for the sale or licensing of certain assets and the achievement of a specified clinical milestone under Neurogen’s collaborations with Merck or if Ligand partners or sells Neurogen’s H3 antagonist program.