Business

Shareholders of pharma companies Biovail and Valeant voted to approve their merger, and the new company is now called Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. Valeant markets Migranal dihydroergotamine nasal spray in the US, and Biovail had been partnered with Alexza on the development of Staccato loxapine since February 2010.  FDA action on the Staccato … [Read more...] about Biovail and Valeant merge

According to Stirling Products, the company is in discussions with several major pharmaceutical companies about partnerships on products using its patented high density aerosol (HDA) device. The company says that its ultrasound-based HDA technology produces a concentration level three times higher than that of other ultrasonic devices. One version of the device … [Read more...] about Stirling talking to potential partners for HDA device

Quintiles has announced that it will provide commercialization services to Pharmaxis for the launch of Pharmaxis's Bronchitol mannitol DPI for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. Bronchitol has received orphan drug status in both Europe and the US, and Pharmaxis has filed an MAA with the EMA. Read the company's press release. … [Read more...] about Quintiles to support Bronchitol commercialization

Cypress Bioscience of San Diego, California has aquired worldwide licensing rights for Alexza Pharmaceutical's Staccato Nicotine inhaler for smoking cessation. Alexza will receive $5 million up front, with another $1 million due upon meeting preclinical and clinical milestones. Read the company's press release. Cypress also announced that it purchased … [Read more...] about Cypress Bioscience licenses two OINDPs

Skye Pharma says that it understands why Abbot has decided to return US marketing rights for the Flutiform formoterol fluticasate MDI given the issues raised by the US FDA concerning approval of the drug. According to Skye, it will look for a new licensee if the company can find a way to move forward with the NDA. Read the company's press release. … [Read more...] about Abbott terminates Flutiform agreement with Skye

Archimedes Pharma, which has submitted an NDA for its lead product, PecFent fentanyl nasal spray, announced that it anticipates creating as many as 75 new jobs at its new US headquarters in Bedminster, NJ. The company's main headquarters are in Reading, UK. Read the company's press release. … [Read more...] about Archimedes to open US headquarters in New Jersey

MannKind Corporation, which is waiting for FDA approval of its Afrezza inhaled insulin, announced that it hopes to raise up to $110 million by lending 9 million shares of its stock to Bank of America. Merrill Lynch will then sell the borrowed shares, shorting the stock, and will use the proceeds in conjunction with a private offering of MannKind Senior Convertible … [Read more...] about MannKind announces $110 million stock agreement

Cannabis Science and Smokefree Innotec will co-develop pharmaceutical cannabis products for inhalation. Smokefree Innotec, which manufactures electronic cigarettes, will develop the devices, with Cannabis Science developing the formulations. Read the company's press release … [Read more...] about Cannabis Science and Smokefree Innotec sign development agreement

RTS Life Sciences has formed RTL Life Science LLC, based near Boston, MA.  RTS manufactures automated inhaler testing systems. Read the company's press release. … [Read more...] about RTS announces new US Headquarters