Business

Grupo Ferrer will acquire inhaled drug developer Alexza Pharmaceuticals for $0.90 per share in a deal that is expected to be completed by mid-2016, the two companies have announced. In February 2016, Alexza announced that it had signed a non-binding letter of intent regarding Ferrer's acquisition offer. Ferrer, which markets Alexza's Adasuve inhaled loxapine in … [Read more...] about Grupo Ferrer to acquire Alexza Pharmaceuticals

Marina Biotech will pay up to $95 million in milestone payments, plus a "mid-single digit" royalty, in addition to 53 million Marina common shares to acquire Turing Pharmaceutical's intranasal ketamine program, including all existing product, clinical development plans, and intellectual property rights. The acquisition is expected to be completed by July … [Read more...] about Marina Biotech to acquire intranasal ketamine from Turing Pharmaceuticals

Aradigm Corporation has announced the first closing of a private placement of $23 million in senior convertible notes that mature in 2021 and warrants to purchase 263,436 shares of common stock at $5.21 per share, "beginning on the later of 180 days after the date of issuance or the date the company issues a press release announcing data related to the ORBIT-3 and … [Read more...] about Aradigm announces private placement of $23 million to fund continued Pulmaquin development

Aytu BioScience has acquired US rights to Natesto testosterone nasal gel from Acerus (formerly Trimel) for $8 million up front, including $2 million on signing and an additional $6 million by the end of FY 2017, the companies have announced. Under the deal, which extends through at least February 2024, Aytu will pay milestones of up to $37.5 million. Aytu will also … [Read more...] about Aytu acquires US rights to Acerus’s Natesto nasal testosterone

GlaxoSmithKline has opened a new £56 million, 4500 m2 manufacturing facility for its Ellipta DPI products. According to GSK, the new facility will create 150 jobs and will double production of Ellipta inhalers at the site to over 37 million per year by 2017. In December 2013, the company announced that it would invest ~ £200 million in UK manufacturing sites, … [Read more...] about GSK opens new £56 million inhaler manufacturing facility

Discovery Laboratories, which is developing Aerosurf aerosolized KL4 surfactant for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants, has changed its name to Windtree Therapeutics, the company said. CEO Craig Fraser, who was appointed in February 2016, commented, "Today marks a new direction in the pursuit of our mission to save and improve … [Read more...] about Discovery Laboratories becomes Windtree Therapeutics

Raptor Pharmaceutical has launched Quinsair levofloxacin inhalation solution for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients in Germany and Denmark, the company said. According to Raptor, it plans to launch Quinsair in Canada and in additional European countries later this year. Raptor acquired Quinsair, formerly called Aeroquin, in … [Read more...] about Raptor launches Quinsair inhaled levofloxacin in Europe

Chiesi has reported a greater than 9% increase in revenue from 2014 to 2015, with an almost 20% increase in sales of Foster (Fostair) beclamethasone/formoterol inhalers and an unspecified increase in sales of Clenil beclamethasone products. The increase was also partly attributed to the "swift and smooth" integration of Cornerstone Therapeutics,which Chiesi acquired … [Read more...] about Chiesi reports significant growth in respiratory drug sales, R&D expenditures for 2015

Apotex has launched a generic version of Merck's Nasonex mometasone furoate nasal spray in the United States, the company said. In June 2012, A US District Court judge upheld a Merck patent on mometasone furoate (US Patent No. 6,127,353) but ruled that Apotex's nasal spray did not infringe on that patent. According to the FDA, the agency approved Apotex's ANDA for … [Read more...] about Apotex launches generic version of Nasonex in the US