Industry News

Abcam, a supplier of life science research tools, is to acquire AxioMx, an American antibody technology firm, for US$25m. The firm, based in Cambridge, UK has agreed the deal and will pay $20m to AxioMx with further performance payments of up to $5m over five years. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Roche announced the launch of the VENTANA HE 600 system, the latest fully automated hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) tissue staining system that enhances patient and technician safety and produces exceptional staining quality.
The VENTANA HE 600 system delivers fresh reagents on each individual slide without relying on user-supplied alcohol and deionized (DI) water, resulting in improved consistency and quality in tissue staining. This individual slide staining technology mitigates the risk of specimen cross contamination that can occur with other technologies, helping to reduce patient misdiagnosis.

AstraZeneca, along with its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, will present positive data today from the Phase II trial of anifrolumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco.

Astellas Pharma Inc. and Ocata Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the research and development of new therapies in the field of regenerative medicine, primarily cell therapy addressing unmet medical needs in ophthalmology patients, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement. Under the agreement, Astellas will acquire Ocata through Laurel Acquisition Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astellas US Holding, Inc. ("Laurel").

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted rare paediatric disease designation to ArmaGen Inc's AGT-181, a potential treatment for patients with Hurler syndrome, a disease that is also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I).

Espero Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the New Drug Application (NDA) for GoNitro for acute relief of an attack or prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease.

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Novartis announced  new results for Cosentyx® (secukinumab) showing no further progression in joint damage in 84% of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In addition, Cosentyx maintained a treatment response in joint and skin disease, physical function and quality of life in patients over two years of treatment. These results from the extension phase of the FUTURE 1 study were presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in San Francisco, United States.

Pharma Major Lupin Limited (Lupin) announced  that it has received final approval for its Blisovi 24 Fe Tablets (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets USP, 1 mg/0.02 mg and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets, 75 mg) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a generic version of Warner Chilcott's Loestrin®24 Fe Tablets (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets USP, 1 mg/0.02 mg and Ferrous Fumarate Tablets, 75 mg). Lupin’s US subsidiary, Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. would commence promoting the product shortly in the US.

Merck & Co's drug to reverse the effects of muscle relaxants used in surgery is safe and effective enough to warrant approval, an independent panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The drug, which goes by the chemical name of sugammadex, has repeatedly been rejected by the FDA due to concerns about potentially dangerous allergic reactions, even though it is approved in more than 75 countries.