Maryland Technology News

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Biotechnology News

Alimera Sciences is braving a badly roiled public market with plans to push a $75 million IPO. The Atlanta-based biotech is developing ophthalmic drugs. Credit Suisse, Citi, Cowen and Co. and Leerink Swann are underwriting the IPO. Alimera has raised more than $71 million from a group of venture capital groups that include Scale Venture Partners, Domain Associates, Intersouth Partners and Polaris Venture Partners. In addition to developing new therapies, Alimera also markets OTC ophthalmic products. Report

Bayer dumps Titan drug on mid-stage failure

Titan Pharmaceuticals announced this morning that its Parkinson's drug Spheramine failed to hit primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase IIb trial for moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease. Researchers said there was no significant difference in response between the Spheramine group and the placebo arm. Titan says that it will analyze the data gathered on the 71 patients in the study.

Bayer, for its part, swiftly washed its hands of the program. "We will not develop (this drug) further and we will not invest in it further," said Bayer spokesman Jost Reinhard.

- see Titan's release
- read the report from RTT News
- and check out the story from AFX

Related Articles:
Titan discontinues Phase II
The Biotech Haunted House

Poussot named chairman of Wyeth

Wyeth announced that Bernard Poussot, 56, its president and CEO, has assumed the additional position of chairman of the board.

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH said its chief executive officer, Alessandro Banchi, will retire from his post at the end of the year and Andreas Barner, currently deputy CEO, will replace him.

Welichem Biotech has appointed Dr. Genhui Chen as president and CEO. York Yingping Guo resigned as president and CEO for personal and family reasons.

Akesis Pharmaceuticals has appointed Carl LeBel as its new president and COO.

IBT Laboratories announced that Maureen Loftus has joined the company as president and chief operating officer.

Tobira Therapeutics has named the following to its executive team: Sandra Palleja, MD, executive vice-president and chief medical officer, Angeline Shashlo, RPh, senior vice-president regulatory affairs and quality assurance, and Jay Rheingold, PhD, vice-president chemistry manufacturing and controls.

Rosetta Genomics has announced the resignation of Tamir Kazaz, the company's chief financial officer.

Covidien has appointed Michael Giuliani as vice president of research and development for pharmaceutical products and imaging solutions. The company also announced the appointment of James Young as vice president of research and development operations for pharmaceutical products and imaging solutions and Ralph Heasley as vice president of global R&D technology, pharmaceutical products.

Ikaria Holdings has named Deborah Petrowsky, M.D., F.C.C.P. as vice president for medical affairs and Steven Knapp, M.S., Pharm.D. was appointed vice president of regulatory affairs.

Prime Therapeutics announced the hiring of Jerry Steffl as vice president, government affairs.

Ambrilia Biopharma announced that Jinzi Wu, vice-president of preclinical and basic research, is leaving to join a U.S. pharma company.

Noven Pharmaceuticals named Anthony Venditti as its vice president--marketing & sales.

MDS Pharma Services has named Dr. Patrice Hugo to the position of vice-president of scientific affairs for its global central lab network.

Silence Therapeutics has appointed Annette Clancy and Jerry Randall as non-executive directors and Iain Rugheimer has resigned as a director of the company.

Chelsea Therapeutics International announced that William D. Schwieterman, M.D. has been appointed to the board of directors.

Celera completes its corporate transformation

Celera has ended its run as a biotech drug developer, completing its switch to molecular diagnostic testing company and moving its HQ from Rockville, MD to Alameda California. The Baltimore Business Journal tracked the arc of the company from high-flying genomics player to drug developer to molecular diagnostic testing company as it officially splits from Applera. Once counting a staff of 550, the Rockville operations have declined steadily over the years and have now reportedly been reduced to about 25. Acquisitions and expansions in California, meanwhile, swelled that staff to 550.

"It's a new day for Celera as we emerge as an independent healthcare company focused on personalizing disease management," said CEO Kathy Ordonez. "Our employees and our newly formed board of directors are energized about working together to build a successful future for our growing business, with its promising pipeline of new products and strong balance sheet."

- check out Celera's release
- read the report from the Baltimore Business Journal

Maxygen inks $120M deal for hemophilia program

Maxygen has inked a deal to sell its hemophilia drug development program to Bayer for $90 million upfront and up to $30 million in milestone payments. The program is still in the preclinical stage, with the blood clotting protein MAXY-VII scheduled for Phase I human trials in a matter of weeks. Bayer also gained the nonexclusive use of Maxygen's MolecularBreeding technology for 30 specific gene targets.

"The agreement fits into our growth strategy for our specialty pharmaceutical business and builds on our expertise in the commercialization and manufacturing of protein therapeutics," said Gunnar Reimann, a member of Bayer's executive committee.

For Bayer, the development program offers a direct shot at building up its stock of therapies for hemophiliacs. Bayer already sells the blockbuster Kogenate, but the drug triggers an immune response in 20 percent to 30 percent of patients that makes the therapy ineffective. Bayer earned €233 million on Kogenate in the first quarter.

- here's the release
- check out the report from RTT News

MiddleBrook garners $100M investment; Pearl Therapeutics pockets $18M in venture funds;

> John Thievon was appointed CEO of MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals as Equity Group Investments completed a $100 million investment in the company. The money will be used to market a new antibiotic and advance pipeline candidates. MiddleBrook release

> Pearl Therapeutics has closed an $18 million round of financing, bringing its total take in investment funds to $36.4 million. Pearl release

> Sciele Pharma has licensed the marketing and development rights to Addrenex Pharmaceuticals' ADX-415, an experimental therapy for hypertension and hot flashes. Addrenex stands to gain up to $27 million in milestone payments. Release

> Altea Therapeutics has forged a partnership with Hospira, for the development and commercialization of an undisclosed product using its PassPort Transdermal Delivery System. Altea report

> Steven Nissen (photo) of the Cleveland Clinic made a statement to the FDA that might hurt diabetes drug manufacturers--especially Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca, which are currently in the FDA approval process with diabetes drugs. Nissen report

> After much back and forth and two days of deliberations in a seemingly endless Medicaid fraud lawsuit, an Alabama state court jury has ordered GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis to shell out some big bucks. Report

> One Equity Partners is on a shopping binge, it appears. The company, which recently purchased Prodigy Health Group for $110 million, has made an undisclosed offer to buyout the wound care portion of J&J's Ethicon division, which had $270 million in sales last year. J&J report

> AstraZeneca is celebrating today--or at least relaxing a bit. It has avoided a full-blown trial today to protect its top-selling antipsychotic medication, Seroquel. Report

> A professor at the University of Texas in Austin has created a virtual supercomputer to study metastasis. Report

> Looking to raise its profile with U.S. drug developers, Xceleron is set to open its new, $7.5 million lab in Germantown, MD later today. Xceleron report

> About 20 years ago, Harvard researcher Donald Ingber accidentally stumbled on a mold that demonstrated a remarkable ability to prevent the growth of small blood vessels. Cancer report

And Finally... The investment community has begun to line up for $6 million in biotechnology investment tax credits. The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development says the program is designed to help persuade investors to back small, private biotech companies in the state. And economic development officials say the program has leveraged more than $24 million in biotech funds since 2006. The tax credit can be worth up to 50 percent of the investment. Article

Shire Limited to Buy German Biotech Jerini AG for $518 Million

BERLIN, July 3, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Jerini AG and Shire Limited today reached a strategic agreement according to which Shire shall be obliged to make a voluntary public takeover offer to all shareholders of Jerini AG. After a thorough evaluation of different strategic options, the Management Board of Jerini AG has concluded that Shire is the best partner with which it can further pursue and ensure...

Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Malaysia Can Become Biotech Hub

NST Online -- Malaysia has the attributes and credibility to evolve as a regional biotechnology hub for production and supply of a wide range of halal products and services.

Senetek PLC Announces Termination of Invicorp(R) License Agreement With Ardana Bioscience Ltd.

NAPA, California, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Senetek PLC (OTC Bulletin Board: SNKTY - News), a Life Sciences company engaged in the development of technologies that target the science of healthy aging, today announced termination of the Invicorp License Agreement with Ardana Bioscience Limited ("Ardana"). The Agreement was a license to manufacture, market, sell and distribute Invicorp in Europe and was...

Novexel Discontinues Development of NXL 101

Paris, France, 30 June 2008 -- Novexel, a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibacterials designed to overcome the significant global problem of bacterial resistance, announces that it has decided to discontinue the development of NXL101. NXL101 is an i.v. / oral antibiotic targeting Gram positive bacteria such as MRSA in hospitals. This decision was...

Bioheart, Inc. Board Appoints Chief Executive Officer

SUNRISE, Fla., July 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bioheart, Inc., a biotechnology company that is focused on the development of autologous (patient-derived) cell therapies and devices for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage, today announced that its Board of Directors appointed Howard J. Leonhardt, Bioheart's co-founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer, to serve...

Altea Therapeutics and Hospira, Inc. Enter into Development and Commercialization Agreement for Transdermal Product; Could Receive Milestone Payments up to $109M and Royalties

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2008 - Altea Therapeutics announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Hospira, Inc., a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company, for the development and commercialization of an undisclosed product utilizing the Company's proprietary PassPort(TM) Transdermal Delivery System.

Under the terms of the agreement, Altea Therapeutics...

UK Biotech Ardana Bioscience Ltd. Folds as Fails to Find Buyer

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Scotland's Ardana has gone into voluntary administration after failing to refinance the business or find a buyer, underlining the tough environment facing many small British biotech companies.

SuperGen, Inc. Drug Dacogen Fails Trial; Likely Delay to European Nod

DUBLIN, Calif., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SuperGen Inc. , a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, today commented on the preliminary efficacy data from a trial, initiated in 2002, comparing Dacogen(R) (decitabine) for Injection to best supportive care (BSC) in elderly patients...

Lack of Protein in Neural Stem Cell Linked to Rett Syndrome, Burnham Institute for Medical Research Study Finds

GEN News -- A group of researchers have shown that neural stem cell development may be linked to autism. The study demonstrated that mice lacking the myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) protein in neural stem cells had smaller brains, fewer nerve cells, and showed behaviors similar to those seen in humans with a form of autism known as Rett syndrome.

MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CEO Resigns; Announces $100 Million Investment

GERMANTOWN, Md., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel anti-infective products, today announced that its Board of Directors has completed its previously announced review of strategic alternatives and has entered into an agreement with Equity Group Investments, L.L.C. (EGI) for a $100 million...

Roche to Switch to Primary Care Focus

The new chief executive of Roche has embraced a broadening of the Swiss pharmaceutical group's focus from hospital-based medicines to primary care treatments, provided they offer significantly greater benefits than existing drugs.

QIAGEN Inc. Acquires Corbett Life Science for $66 Million

VENLO, The Netherlands, July 1, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- QIAGEN N.V. (NasdaqGS:QGEN - News) (Frankfurt:QIA.F - News) today announced that it has acquired Corbett Life Science Pty. Ltd. (Corbett), a privately-held developer, manufacturer, and distributor of life sciences instrumentation headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The transaction is valued at approximately US$66 million in cash (subject to certain...

Caffeine Could Stave Off Multiple Sclerosis, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) Researchers Say

HealthDay News -- Giving mice the equivalent of 6 to 8 cups of coffee a day prevented mice from getting the animal model equivalent of MS, said Dr. Linda Thompson, of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and a member of the team reporting the finding in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces $25 Million Series B Financing for Advancement of First-in-Class Migraine Compound

INDIANAPOLIS, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an innovative biotechnology company focusing on therapies for central nervous system disorders, announced it closed a $25 million Series B financing. New investor Care Capital led the round, which included previous investors Pappas Ventures, Domain Associates, Pearl Street Venture Funds and Triathlon Medical Ventures. The financing...

Silencing of Molecular 'Conversation' May Help Curb Severe Allergies, Garvan Institute of Medical Research Study Finds

ScienceDaily Scientists in Sydney have identified a process, a synergistic encounter between two molecules, that may account for the extreme allergic reactions some people experience. By silencing at least one of these molecules, it may be possible to treat allergies.

MTM Laboratories AG Appoints as CEO

Heidelberg, Germany; July 1, 2008- mtm laboratories, a privately held biotech company globally developing, manufacturing and commercializing in vitro diagnostics for cervical cancer screening, today announced that it has appointed Bob Silverman as its new CEO. Mr Silverman has been the mtms Chief Commercial Officer and the President of the mtm US subsidiary since mid 2005.

Dr Gerald...

GlaxoSmithKline Responds to FDA on CERVARIX(R) and Plans to Submit Final Study Data for Approval; Drug Faces Further U.S. Delay

LONDON and PHILADELPHIA, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK - News) today provided the following update regarding its application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of CERVARIX, its vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

GSK has submitted its response to questions raised by the FDA in their Complete Response Letter, received in December, ...

First Pharmaceutical Drug to Improve Survival Amongst Patients with Advanced Hepatocarcinoma, Study

ScienceDaily International research involving the University Hospital of the University of Navarra, together with other hospitals in Spain, has shown that Sorafenib, an orally administered pharmaceutical medicine, results in patients with primary hepatocarcinomas (liver tumours) to live 40% more on average compared to those not taking the drug. The study, led by the Barcelona Hospital Clinic, will...

Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Closes $38 Million Series C Financing to Advance Lead Cancer Drug, Obatoclax, Into Registration Trials

MALVERN, Pa. & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for cancer, today announced the closing of a $38 million tranched Series C financing. The financing was led by the Caxton Advantage Life Sciences Fund and Caxton Global. All previous Gemin X investors also participated in the financing, including: Sanderling...

Accidental Fungus Leads to Promising Cancer Drug, Data Presented in Nature Biotechnology Journal

Reuters -- A drug developed using nanotechnology and a fungus that contaminated a lab experiment may be broadly effective against a range of cancers, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.

Biotech Training at Gets $2M Boost

Crain's Cleveland Business -- Kent State University has received a $2 million grant from the Ohio Innovation Partnership to head up an initiative to train people for biomedical and biotechnology jobs.

University of Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Vaccines Look Promising

HealthDay News -- Women with metastatic breast cancer who developed an immune response to an investigational vaccine lived twice as long as those who didn't have an immune response, new research shows.

Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company Announces the Withdrawal of the Proposal to Acquire All Outstanding Shares of the Company

SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company (the Company ; NYSE: TCM), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of modernized traditional Chinese medicine in China, today announced that Mr. Xiaochun Wang, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Mr. Yongcun Chen...

Welichem Biotech Inc. Announces Appointment of President & CEO

BURNABY, BC, June 27 /CNW/ - Welichem Biotech Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-V: WBI - News) today announces the appointment of Dr. Genhui Chen as President & CEO of the Company, effective immediately. A long time director and one of the founders of the Company, he will guide Welichem through the next crucial stage of development as it realizes the potential value of its drug candidates in clinical trials...

PDI, Inc. Announces $33 Million Contract Extension and Expansion with Top-Five Pharmaceutical Company

SADDLE RIVER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PDI, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDII - News), a provider of commercialization services to the biopharmaceutical industry, today announced the extension and expansion of the scope of its contract sales engagement with a top-five pharmaceutical company. The original engagement ran from May 2007 through May 2008 and had an annual value of approximately $23 million. The new contract...

Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Announces FDA Approval to Market Generic Version of Elavil(R)

DETROIT, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd., announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted final approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for Amitriptyline Hydrochloride USP Tablets, 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg.

Amitriptyline Hydrochloride is an antidepressant. Its...

Millipore Corporation Unveils Expanded Drug Discovery Development Facility; Expansion Includes New Labs, Offices, Employees

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Millipore Corporation, a Life Science leader providing technologies, tools and services for bioscience research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, today unveiled a major expansion of its St. Charles, Missouri facility headquarters for its Drug Discovery Business Unit.

The $3.4 million expansion will enable Millipore to keep pace with the growth of its...

Sinclair Pharma plc Signs First Agreement for Distribution and Manufacture in India; 10 Year Agreement Covers Atopiclair, Aloclair, Papulex, Decapinol

27th June 2008, Godalming, UK: Sinclair Pharma plc (Sinclair: SPH:L), the international specialty pharmaceutical company, announces it has concluded its first marketing distribution agreement in India. This agreement is a further step towards Sinclair's goal of establishing its brands in the key BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries.

The agreement has been signed with Wockhardt...

FDA Approves Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, LLC (CA)'s CONCERTA(R) (methylphenidate HCI) Extended-release Tablets for Treatment of ADHD

RARITAN, N.J., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- ADHD is the most common emotional, cognitive and behavioral disorder treated in children(1), and according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), between 30 percent and 70 percent of children with ADHD continue to exhibit symptoms in the adult years(2). ADHD is thought to affect about eight million, or one in 20, adults in the United States...

Isconova Secures 30 Million Swedish Kronor Growth Financing

UPPSALA, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading vaccine adjuvant provider set to grow in animal vaccine market and to unlock the value of its technology for human vaccines

Isconova AB, announced today that it has secured financing of 30 million Swedish kronor ( 3,3 m ) from InnovationsKapital, a leading Nordic venture capital firm, and a group of private investors. Isconova is a pioneer in vaccine...

UCB Group to Launch Epilepsy Drug in Autumn

BRUSSELS, June 27 (Reuters) - Shares in UCB SA jumped on Friday as the Belgian pharmaceutical group said it aimed to launch its new epilepsy drug Vimpat in the autumn, after winning a green light from the European Medicines Agency.

Orexo AB Report Abstral (Rapinyl) Approval in Europe

UPPSALA, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)- Orexo AB (OMX: ORX), the Swedish pharmaceutical company, announces that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion recommending approval of Rapinyl, for breakthrough cancer pain. ProStrakan Group plc, the international speciality pharmaceutical is Orexos exclusive partner for sales...

GlaxoSmithKline Workers Warned of Job Losses

Employees at GlaxoSmithKline's plant in Montrose have been warned to expect redundancies. A review of its activities is under way as the firm tries to save 700m a year by 2010 across its global operations. There are currently about 450 permanent and temporary staff at the pharmaceutical factory in Angus.