Industry news

Chemotherapy drugs are able to fight inflammation

Anette Breindl / BioWorld

Topoisomerase 1, known for its role in unwinding DNA during transcription and the target of chemotherapy drugs Camptosar (irinotecan, Pfizer Inc.) and Hycamtin (topotecan, GlaxoSmithKline plc.), plays a role in coordinating the innate immune response, and inhibiting it could be a therapeutic strategy in diseases characterized by excessive inflammation, scientists reported in the April 29, 2016, issue of Science.

US National Science and Technology Council Promotes Advanced Manufacturing

Jennifer Markarian / BioPharm International

Advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, including continuous biopharmaceutical manufacturing, are among the "emerging priority" areas highlighted in an April 2016 report, “Advanced Manufacturing: A Snapshot of Priority Technology Areas Across the Federal Government,” by the Subcommittee for Advanced Manufacturing of the National Science and Technology Council. 

NIH Study Identifies Better Parameter to Predict Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

Randi Hernandez / BioPharm International

Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have concluded that an antigen other than the one that is typically used for the creation of flu vaccines may be a more effective target for the prevention of infection.

Digital data connections rule for Gartner's new 'cool vendors' in life sciences

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharmaMarketing

This year's class of Gartner's "cool vendors" are small but mighty. They're not large, established corporations, but they're agile, with the ability to deliver insights and innovation quickly for pharma companies. The five for 2016 include sales and marketing ventures Aktana, InCrowd and Treato, along with more R&D-focused companies AICure and Infinote.

Biotech entrepreneur, Harvard prof Verdine adds WuXi startup player to CV

John Carroll / FierceBiotech

Serial biotech entrepreneur and Harvard professor Greg Verdine can add another title to his lengthy resume: venture partner and biotech startup point man for WuXi Healthcare Ventures.

Better Together: The Next Wave of Cancer Immunotherapy

FierceBiotech

Advances in science and technology have brought about a new wave of promising cancer immunotherapies, which harness the power of the immune system to target and fight disease. Today, this burgeoning field of immuno-oncology is revolutionizing how we perceive and treat cancer. We are witnessing the emergence of a new vision within this field – where rational combinations can benefit more patients faced with life-threatening disease.

Quintiles, IMS Health unveil surprise megamerger

Ben Adams / FierceBiotech

The world’s largest CRO, Quintiles, and healthcare consultancy IMS Health have unveiled a major megamerger deal which could create a company worth nearly $18 billion.

China announces subsidies to wean more hospitals off drug markups

EJ Lane / FeircePharmaAsia

China will splash out subsidies to expand a program to wean public hospitals from markups on drugs sold on site, easing concerns that a revenue shortfall would crimp other services.

Pharma TV ad spending rises in April, led by big brand names from Pfizer, AbbVie and Sunovion

Beth Snyder Bulik / FiercePharmaMarketing

The list of top pharma TV spenders for April featured blockbusters and cliffhangers. The top three spenders Lyrica, Humira and Latuda, in fact, have been major blockbusters for their manufacturers, but are also facing sooner-rather-than-later patent expirations.

02 May 2016

Tobira Announces Interim 12-week Results from the ORION Study

Tobira Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBRA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel treatments for liver and inflammatory diseases, today announced top-line results from a 12-week interim analysis of the Phase 2a ORION study showing that treatment with cenicriviroc (CVC) in obese patients with prediabetes or diabetes and fatty liver disease was well tolerated and associated with improvements in insulin sensitivity.