Two drugs that a Wake Forest University School of Medicine research team has been investigating for lupus for several years may stabilize atherosclerotic plaque in the walls of arteries and help avert heart attacks and strokes.
QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI; TSX: QLT) today announced positive results of a Phase IV clinical trial of Aczone? in more than 50 patients with G6PD deficiency that was performed to meet a post-approval commitment requested by the FDA. The purpose of this study was to gather more information about the safety of Aczone, a prescription topical medicine, in treating patients with acne who have certain blood disorders.
Abbott and Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Kos for $78 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of $3.7 billion, net of cash currently held by Kos. Based in Cranbury, N.J., Kos is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and markets proprietary medications for the treatment of chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory diseases. The company has a growing presence in the $20 billion lipid management market.
Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL) today announced that its subsidiary, Barr Laboratories, Inc. has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its generic version of Eli Lilly and Company’s ZYPREXA(R) Zydis(R) (Olanzapine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets, 5mg, 10mg, 15mg and 20mg.
Elan Corporation, plc (“Elan”) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiaries, Elan Finance public limited company and Elan Finance Corp., intend to offer, subject to market conditions, US$500 million in aggregate principal amount of senior fixed rate notes due 2013 and senior floating rate notes due 2013. The notes will be offered in the United States, only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Bayer HealthCare announced today a structural realignment of its global pharmaceutical research and development organization. The company also outlined its future U.S. pharma site plan, and said that New Jersey will be home to its U.S. headquarters for pharmaceuticals. These moves follow Bayer?s acquisition of Schering AG, Germany in June 2006 and are part of the company?s plan to integrate its pharmaceutical operations with those of Schering AG and Berlex Inc. (the U.S. subsidiary of Schering AG).
Venom from a West Indian tarantula has been shown to cause pain by exciting the same nerve cells in mice that sense high temperatures and the hot, spicy ingredient in chili peppers, UCSF scientists have discovered.
Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pramipexole, a non-ergot dopamine agonist, for the treatment of moderate to severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).1 This is an important milestone for pramipexole (Mirapexin? / Sifrol? / Mirapex?), which was already approved throughout the European Union in April 2006 for this second indication.
George Washington’s favorite foods were ice cream and fish. Abraham Lincoln enjoyed fruit salad, cheese and crackers. John F. Kennedy loved New England Clam Chowder, and George W. Bush is a big fan of Mexican food.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced that two-year data from three Phase III pivotal trials demonstrate the long-term efficacy of ORENCIA? (abatacept) in adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and TNF antagonists. The data also demonstrate that ORENCIA provided clinically meaningful improvements in multiple aspects of health-related quality of life and physical function, sustained improvements in pain and had a consistent safety and tolerability profile through two years of treatment. These data will be presented at the upcoming 2006 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting.