Positive research data fails to push Xoma above delisting zone

XOMA today announced new data demonstrating the regulatory mechanism of action of XOMA 052, an antibody drug candidate designed to inhibits the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). The new results were reported at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes medical conference in Vienna today. The news failed to push the shares abve the $1 price required to maintain its NASDAQ listing.

ASAP BioPharma Alliance Fall Conference program announced

The program of the ASAP BioPharma Alliance Fall Conference has been announced. The Conference will be held from 4-5th November 2009 at The Heldrich Hotel, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Speakers include Mchael Leonetti from Boehringer Ingelheim, Ellen Locker from Merck & Co, Ichirou Okino from Shionogi, Jeff Hurley from Eli Lilly and Co, Mary Jo Struttman from Astellas and Karen Denton from Bayer. The full program can be found here.

Palatin Technologies earns $5 million payment from AstraZeneca

Palatin Technologies has announced that it will receive $5 million from AstraZeneca relating to an amendment of its ongoing exclusive research collaboration and license agreement to discover, develop and commercialize compounds that target melanocortin receptors for treatment of obesity and related indications. Under the terms of the amendment to the parties’ collaboration agreement, AstraZeneca has agreed to make a $2.5 million payment upon signing and, subject to completion of certain tasks relating to the program, $2.5 million in the first quarter of calendar year 2010. Under the amendment, the terms of the original collaboration and license agreement signed in January 2007 relating to milestone payments and royalty rates were restructured.

GSK and Kaketsuken to co-develop EB66 cell based flu vaccines

VIVALIS has announced that its partners GlaxoSmithKline and The Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (“Kaketsuken”), have signed an agreement to co-develop influenza vaccines, influenza vaccines, produced using EB66 cell-culture technology in Japan. GlaxoSmithKline has licensed the EB66 cell line for the production of flu vaccine from Vivalis.

Lupin acquires the US rights for Antara

Lupin Ltd, has acquired the US rights for Antara (Fenofibrate capsules 43 mg, and 130 mg) for $79 million from Oscient Pharmaceuticals under US Bankruptcy procedures. Antara had net sales of $70 million for the year 2008. Lupin had already filed an ANDA for fenofibrate capsules 43 mg and 130 mg. The company sold its ANDA to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories this month and settled pending litigation regarding the ANDA product.

Glaxo signs vaccine deal with Brazil

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that it has signed a €1.5 billion contract with Brazil guaranteeing sales of its pneumococcal vaccine for 10 years. GSK said it will receive a starting price for Synflorix, a vaccine aimed at preventing pneumonia and meningitis, of €11.50 per treatment, falling to €5 in future years when Brazilian health foundation Fiocruz starts making the product itself. The vaccine price is a discount to the €30 to €40 that the vaccine costs in Europe, because of the period of the deal.

UCB and AstraZeneca form alliance for the commercialization of Cimzia in Brazil

UCB and AstraZeneca have announced that they have entered into a partnership to register and commercialize UCB’s PEGylated anti-TNF alpha drug Cimzia in Brazil. The drug is to be registered for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will register Cimzia and upon approval will be the exclusive distributor of Cimzia in Brazil. In partnership with UCB, AstraZeneca will have the right to distribute future new line extensions related to Cimzia. UCB retains the right to co-promote Cimzia as well as future line extensions in Brazil. This partnership with AstraZeneca will help UCB commercialize its rich pipeline of products and foster the growth of UCB’s affiliate in Brazil.

QRxPharma ties up with Liaoning Nuokang Medicines Co

Australian biotechnology company, QRxPharma has announced a strategic alliance with Liaoning Nuokang Medicines Co, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company based in Shenyang to develop and commercialize QRxPharma’s venomics assets for the Chinese market.

The strategic alliance involves Nuokang investing US $5 million for a controlling interest in a Hong Kong company that holds a license over two of QRxPharma’s lead haemostasis product candidates: Textilinin, an antifibrinolytic agent, and Haempatch, a potent pro-coagulant. On completion, a minority interest in the Hong Kong company will be held by Venomics Pty Ltd, which is a majority-owned subsidiary of QRxPharma and holds all of the venomics assets of QRxPharma. An affiliated company of Nuokang has also subscribed to a 10% interest in Venomics Pty Limited.

Johnson & Johnson and Crucell sign mAb collaboration

Johnson & Johnson and Crucell have announced that Johnson & Johnson and Crucell have entered into a strategic collaboration focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of influenza and other infectious and non-infectious diseases. The immediate focus of the collaboration will be the development and commercialization of a universal monoclonal antibody product for the treatment and prevention of influenza. The focus of the long-term innovation collaboration will be on new discovery programs leading to the development and commercialization of a universal influenza vaccine as well as the development of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines directed against up to three other infectious and non-infectious disease targets. Johnson & Johnson has also purchased 18% of Crucell’s outstanding ordinary shares, for an aggregate purchase price of € 302 million.

In August Crucell announced that it had received a US National Institutes of Health contract aimed at advancing the development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. The contract provides funding of up to $41 million, with additional options worth a further $28 million that may be triggered at the discretion of the NIH. This funding will be used for Crucell’s work in the flu-mAb collaboration with Johnson & Johnson.

BioFocus expands collaboration with Schering-Plough

BioFocus DPI has announced that it has initiated a drug discovery collaboration with Schering-Plough. Under the terms of the agreement, BioFocus DPI will perform medicinal chemistry with supporting biology and ADME/PK services for Schering-Plough drug discovery projects. The total contract value for BioFocus DPI is €2.8 million over a one year period. The collaboration was established in May 2009 and expanded in September 2009. BioFocus DPI scientists will work with two of SPRI’s European sites on these drug discovery projects.