NovaBiotics, which has plans to develop an inhaled version of its Lynovex cysteamine (NM001) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, has announced that it has raised £5 million in a private placement from Woodford Investment Management. According to the company, "NM001 has a unique antibacterial-mucoactive-antibiofilm mode of action that kills bacteria, disables … [Read more...] about NovaBiotics raises £5 million
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Aradigm gets European and Australian patents for Pulmaquin
Aradigm Corporation announced that it has received patents for its Pulmaquin inhaled ciprofloxacin from the European and Australian patent offices. The European patent (EU Patent No. 2,079,443) is titled “Dual Action, Inhaled Formulations Providing Both an Immediate and Sustained Release Profile”; the Australian patent (AU2012211514) is titled “Concentrated, … [Read more...] about Aradigm gets European and Australian patents for Pulmaquin
Alfred Mann steps down as CEO of MannKind Corporation, company gets milestone payment for Afrezza
According to MannKind Corporation, Hakan Edstrom has taken over as CEO after company founder Alfred Mann stepped down from that position effective January 9, 2015. Mann will become the Executive Chairman and "intends to remain engaged with the company in business matters, including those relating to development and financing of MannKind's future therapies," the … [Read more...] about Alfred Mann steps down as CEO of MannKind Corporation, company gets milestone payment for Afrezza
Egalet acquires Sprix ketorolac nasal spray
Egalet Corporation, which is developing several treatments for chronic pain, has announced the acquisition of Sprix ketorolac tromethamine nasal spray from Daiichi Sankyo subsidiary Luitpold Pharmaceuticals for $7 million. Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. The company also announced that it … [Read more...] about Egalet acquires Sprix ketorolac nasal spray
Vectura and Janssen to partner on DPI development
Vectura has announced that it will partner with Janssen Biotech to develop inhaled dry powder anti-inflammatory products for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Janssen's drug candidates will be developed using Vectura's DPI delivery technology, with Janssen taking responsibility for clinical development and Vectura having responsibility for pharmaceutical development. … [Read more...] about Vectura and Janssen to partner on DPI development
Verona Pharma appoints Chief Medical Officer, creates US subsidiary
Verona Pharma has announced that Kenneth Newman, a former Acton Pharmaceuticals CMO and former Boehringer Ingelheim VP, Medical Affairs, will become Verona's Chief Medical Officer as of January 1. At Acton, Newman headed up clinical development and regulatory activities for several OINDPs. Acton was acquired by Meda in 2013. The new position will be based in the … [Read more...] about Verona Pharma appoints Chief Medical Officer, creates US subsidiary
Novartis sues Cipla over generic Onbrez
Novartis has reportedly sued Cipla in the Delhi High Court for infringing patents related to Novartis's Onbrez Breezhaler indacaterol DPI (Arcapta Neohaler). Cipla began marketing a generic indacaterol DPI called "Unibrez" in October; after losing a trademark infringement case, Cipla changed the product's name to "Indaflo." Cipla has claimed that there is a … [Read more...] about Novartis sues Cipla over generic Onbrez
Adapt Pharma to develop Lightlake’s intranasal naloxone for opioid overdose reversal
Lightlake Therapeutics has agreed to license its intranasal naloxone for opioid overdose reversal to Adapt Pharma for possible development and sales milestones of more than $55 million, plus royalties, the company said. Lightlake recently announced that it started a new trial of the product with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). According to … [Read more...] about Adapt Pharma to develop Lightlake’s intranasal naloxone for opioid overdose reversal
GSK to change color of Relvar Ellipta
GSK has announced that it will change the color of the Relvar Ellipta fluticasone/vilanterol DPI starting in January 2015. The company said that it will remove the color blue from the inhaler and its packaging and will change the mouthpiece cover and packaging to yellow. Pharmacists had expressed concerns that patients would be confused because the color blue has been … [Read more...] about GSK to change color of Relvar Ellipta
Shire gets $15 million from CFFT for development of aerosolized mRNA therapy
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT), a nonprofit associated with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, has announced that it will provide Shire with up to $15 million for development of an aerosol messenger RNA therapy designed to produce working CFTR protein in the lungs of CF patients. Gene mutations in CF patients disrupt normal CFTR protein production, … [Read more...] about Shire gets $15 million from CFFT for development of aerosolized mRNA therapy