Tag Archive for 'adenoviruses'

Milestones Mitigate Risk in Biotech Deals

Milestone payments are becoming an increasingly familiar aspect of many biotech deals, as buyers try to mitigate the risks inherent with big purchases. Take Celgene’s $2.9 billion buyout of Abraxis; the biotech giant set aside $650 million in milestone payments if Abraxis’ key drug Abraxane hit certain goals. “These structures are a great way for [...]

Fastest Growing Therapeutic Classes (by Sales)

Oncologics, lipid regulators, respiratory agents, antidiabetics and anti-ulcerants are the five largest drug classes by sales. But annual sales are only half the story. Which drug classes are booming, and which have plateaued–or even dropped? IMS Health has released top-line industry data revealing the 15 largest drug classes, and we’ve crunched the numbers to take a closer [...]

Pipeline to Soften Lilly Patent Losses

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) is looking to its pipeline to fill the gaps left by a number of high-profile drugs coming off patent. In October 2011, blockbuster Zyprexa will fall to generic competition; additionally, about three-quarters of Lilly’s current revenue comes from eight drugs that will lose patent protection between now and 2017. ”We have the challenge [...]

Scientists Grow New Lungs Using ‘Skeletons’ of Old Ones

For someone with a severe, incurable lung disorder such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung transplant may be the only chance for survival. Unfortunately, it’s often not a very good chance. Matching donor lungs are rare, and many would-be recipients die waiting for the transplants that could save their lives.

Antiviral Stem Cell Squad Dispatched to Fight Deadly HIV

Building on research work undertaken in Germany, City of Hope investigators near LA have used modified stem cells loaded with gene sequences to fight off HIV. And the scientists in the study say that the work points to a possible cure for the dread virus, which has killed millions of people around the world.

New Bio-terror Lab Will Target Infectious Disease Therapies

A new, $50 million biomedical research lab has been completed at George Mason University near Washington D.C. and is being ramped up to study new therapies for infectious diseases–including a range of potential bioterror weapons.  Once the 52,000-square-foot facility is licensed and fully operational in a few months, 50 people will be on site to [...]

Importance of Human Genome Sequencing Still Debated – 10 Years Later

Craig Venter has never been reluctant to credit himself for a lead role in sequencing the human genome. And he’s certainly not the least bit shy about placing a high value on the overall significance of the work. “I think it’s far more important than walking on the Moon; not much has happened since walking [...]

Acne Drug Prevents HIV Breakout

Johns Hopkins scientists have found that a safe and inexpensive antibiotic in use since the 1970s for treating acne effectively targets infected immune cells in which HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, lies dormant and prevents them from reactivating and replicating.

Microbe Detective Seeks out Germs

Microorganisms are everywhere and most of them are harmless, but they can do a lot of damage in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals or in tissue transplants. With the aid of a new device, germs can be detected in artificial cartilage within a few hours.

Novartis Eyes Deals in Generics, Vaccines

Now that it’s done a $39.3 billion deal for Alcon, Novartis is joining the “no-megamerger” pharma fraternity. At the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Basel, Switzerland, new CEO Joe Jiminez said Novartis might scout for acquisitions to grow its business in certain areas, but another big-time deal just isn’t in the cards.