November 21st:
Pfizer Inc. To Buy Incyte Corporation Drugs For Up To $803
Million
Pfizer Inc, and Incyte Corporation announced today that the two
companies have entered into a global collaborative research and
license agreement for the development, manufacture and marketing of
novel oral CCR2 antagonists. Under the agreement: Pfizer gains
exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights to
Incyte's portfolio of CCR2 antagonist compounds, the most advanced
of which is currently in Phase IIa studies in rheumatoid arthritis
and insulin-resistant obese patients. Pfizer's rights extend to the
full scope of potential indications, with the exception of multiple
sclerosis and one other undisclosed indication, where Incyte retains
exclusive worldwide rights, along with certain compounds. Incyte
will not have obligations to Pfizer on pre-clinical development
candidates it selects for pursuit in these indications. Incyte will
receive an upfront payment of $40 million and will be eligible to
receive additional milestone payments of up to $743 million for the
successful development and commercialization of CCR2 antagonists in
multiple indications, as well as royalties on worldwide sales.
November 22nd:
Bayer, Inverness Reach Deals for Diagnostics
German drugs and chemicals group Bayer and U.S. firm Inverness
Medical Innovations have signed four agreements in diagnostics.
Bayer said that the first agreement would expand access to doctors
worldwide, excluding Japan, to diagnosing congestive heart failure
using a test for B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) testing. The
second agreement covers the use of Inverness' urotensin marker in
Bayer's testing kits. Urotensin, used with BNP, is used in
diagnosing congestive heart failure. Under the third agreement,
Bayer and Inverness will work together to develop an application for
Inverness Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) test for use on Bayer
analysers. IMA is used in the early evaluation of acute coronary
syndrome. The final agreement gives Bayer non-exclusive rights to an
Inverness hybridoma cell line capable of making monoclonal
antibodies against a Hepatitis B protein, and the right to use tests
using this antibody on its automated systems.
X-Cell Medical Completes Enrollment for Clinical Trial of
ETHOS I Estradiol Eluting Stent
X-Cell Medical, Inc. announced that the Company has completed
enrollment in its multinational clinical trial to study the safety
and effectiveness of the ETHOS I Coronary Stent System. ETHOS I
stents are coated with slow-release and moderate-release
formulations of 17 beta-estradiol, an approved and safe drug used in
hormone replacement therapy and other indications.
November 23rd:
FDA Approves Spinal Implant Invented at St. Mary's Medical
Center; New Procedure Offers Alternative to Invasive Surgery,
Quicker Recovery Time
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the
approval of X STOP(R), an innovative new spinal implant invented at
St. Mary's Medical Center, which will be the exclusive United States
training center for this new low-risk medical procedure. James
Zucherman, MD, medical director of St. Mary's Spine Center and Ken
Hsu, MD, director of spine surgery at St. Mary's Spine Center,
together invented the X STOP in response to the need for treatment
options for a common condition called lumbar spinal stenosis, caused
by age-related narrowing of the spine resulting in pressure on the
spinal nerves. The implant opens spaces in the lower spine to
relieve pressure on the nerves, requires a minimally invasive
procedure that is usually performed in about an hour under local
anesthesia and mild sedation allowing many patients to return home
in about a day.
November 24th:
Medtronic submits first PMA module for Talent Thoracic stent
graft system, minimally-invasive therapy provides option for
treating aortic aneurysms.
Medtronic Inc submitted its first pre-market approval (PMA)
module to the FDA for the Talent Thoracic stent graft system. These
stent grafts are used to treat thoracic aneurysms, which are
dangerous bulges in the aorta (the body's largest artery) that can
rupture without warning. The stent is advanced under fluoroscopic
guidance to the site of the thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection
where it is then deployed. Once placed in the correct location, the
stent graft expands to fit within the diameter of the aorta and
provides a new path for the blood flow.
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