Lisa Dreyer - Page 39 - Pappas Capital

Syndax Announces Start of NCI Sponsored Phase 2 Study of Entinostat in Combination in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

--Trial based on data appearing in Cancer Research showing entinostat elicits hormone sensitivity in animal models--

WALTHAM, Mass., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Syndax Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, announced the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will sponsor a multi-center phase 2 study of Syndax’s lead product entinostat, a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDAC), and anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, in postmenopausal women with operable triple negative breast cancer to evaluate biomarkers and surrogates for response. The trial, to be conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) executed between the NCI and Syndax, will investigate whether patient tumors can be reprogrammed to express estrogen receptor and render them to be sensitive to hormonal agents. This trial is based on animal data being published in the March 1, 2011, issue of Cancer Research.

Syndax - 03/01/2011

Daiichi Sankyo to Acquire Plexxikon

Deal Accelerates Expansion of Oncology Franchise

Berkeley, CA—February 28, 2011 - Plexxikon Inc. today announced it has entered into a merger agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, a Japan‐based global pharmaceutical company. The purchase price for Plexxikon is $805 million up‐front. Near‐term milestone payments associated with the approval of PLX4032 could total an additional $130 million. Closure of the transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart‐Scott‐Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act and customary closing conditions.

Plexxikon - 02/28/2011

Chimerix Completes $45 Million Financing to Fund Further Development of Novel Antiviral Therapeutics CMX001 and CMX157

Financing Reflects Significant Clinical Progress and Positive Data in Lead Programs

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, February 14, 2011 – Chimerix, Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing orally- available broad spectrum antiviral therapeutics, today announced the completion of a $45 million Series F financing. New Leaf Venture Partners led the round, with participation by new investors Pappas Ventures and Morningside Group, as well as existing investors Canaan Partners, Sanderling Ventures, Alta Partners, Asset Management Company and Frazier Healthcare Ventures.

Chimerix - 02/14/2011

Marina Biotech and The Debiopharm Group Partner to Develop and Commercialize RNAi-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer

February 3, 2011

The Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a global independent biopharmaceutical development group of companies with a main focus in oncology and serious medical conditions, and Marina Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), a leading RNAi-based drug discovery and development company, announced today that they entered into an exclusive agreement concerning the development and commercialization of Marina Biotech's pre-clinical program in bladder cancer.

Marina Biotech - 02/03/2011

Researchers from Case Western Reserve and Athersys Publish Landmark Study Showing Regenerative Benefit of MultiStem Therapy after Spinal Cord Injury

Results illustrate potential value of Athersys' adult stem cell therapy to reduce damage and promote neuronal regrowth.

CLEVELAND, January 19, 2011 - Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX) announced a joint scientific study on spinal cord injury will be published today in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The study, by leading researchers from the Department of Neurosciences at the School of Medicine and scientists at Athersys, presents data supporting the potential therapeutic benefit of Athersys’ MultiStem® program for spinal cord injury. Researchers observed that administration of Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPC) following spinal cord injury in rodent models prevented the retraction of neurons, a process referred to as “axonal dieback,” reduced inflammation in the region of injury, and also promoted the regrowth of neurons.

Athersys - 01/19/2011

Plexxikon Reports Overall Survival Benefit for Melanoma Patients in PLX4032 Phase 3 Trial

Study Meets Co-Primary Endpoints: Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival Benefit

Plexxikon's U.S. Patent for PLX4032 Issues

Berkeley, CA — January 18, 2011 - Plexxikon Inc. today announced positive data from an interim analysis of the BRIM3 trial, a large multi‐ center Phase 3 clinical study of PLX4032 (RG7204) in patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation. Patients treated with PLX4032 had an improved overall survival (OS) compared to patients treated with dacarbazine, the current standard of care. In addition, these patientslived longer on average without their disease getting worse, as measured by progression‐free survival (PFS). PLX4032 is an oral, novel kinase inhibitor that targets the oncogenic BRAF mutation.

Plexxikon - 01/18/2011

TYRX, Inc. raises $20 million in private financing

Proceeds will Support Continued Commercialization of the AIGISRx® Antibacterial Envelope and Development of Next Generation Products

Monmouth Junction, NJ (December 8, 2010) – TYRX, Inc., the leader in the commercialization of implantable medical devices designed to help reduce surgical-site infections associated with implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, announced today that it has raised $20 million in venture capital funding. The funding was led by new investor, HLM Venture Partners along with previous investors Clarus Ventures and Pappas Ventures. The financing round also included $4 million in debt financing from Comerica Bank. In connection with the financing, Edward L. Cahill, Managing Partner, HLM Venture Partners, will join TYRX’s Board of Directors.

TYRX - 12/08/2010

Genstruct, Inc. changes name to Selventa as company launches re-branding effort

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – November 30, 2010 - SelventaTM, which evolved from Genstruct®, Inc. today announced that it has changed its name and launched a re-branded website as part of an initiative to provide innovative solutions for its client partners. The company’s core strengths embrace a customer-focused approach that leverages existing patient data and innovative analytics to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners accelerate development and clarify decisions on therapeutics and diagnostics.

Selventa - 11/30/2010

TYRX AIGISRx® antibacterial envelope shows low infection rate and high implantation success for CIED procedures

Patients undergoing CIED (Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device) implantation with TYRX, Inc.’s FDA-cleared AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope enjoyed a 99.5% rate of successful implantation with an overall infection rate of 0.48% in the first 1.9 months following the procedure, as reported in newly published results of TYRX’s COMMAND Clinical Study. There were no infections in patients receiving initial implantations of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, or cardiac resynchronization therapy devices. The infection rate within the highest risk cohort, ICD/CRT-D replacements/revisions, demonstrated 70% fewer infections than some previous studies.

TYRX - 10/19/2010

Marina Biotech announces first human use of its proprietary delivery technology

BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwire - September 22, 2010) - Marina Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), a leading RNA-based drug discovery and development company, today announced that the first patient has received a novel cancer therapeutic candidate formulated in the Company's proprietary SMARTICLES(R) delivery technology. ProNAi Therapeutics Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company and licensee of the SMARTICLES technology, dosed their first patient in a Phase I clinical study of PNT2258 in patients with advanced solid tumors. PNT2258 is an oligonucleotide therapeutic encapsulated within a SMARTICLES formulation. The SMARTICLES delivery technology was developed by Novosom AG and acquired by Marina Biotech in July 2010. The SMARTICLES delivery technology is part of a broad and comprehensive patent estate surrounding amphoteric liposomal delivery now owned by Marina Biotech.

Marina Biotech - 09/22/2010