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Roche Licenses First-in-Class Treatments for Chronic Pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals

Roche Licenses First-in-Class Treatments for Chronic Pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals

 
Pappas, Third Rock, Domain and New Leaf Launch New Company Centered on Novel Pain
Management Technology; Afferent to Initiate Clinical Trials in First Half of 2010

Basel, Switzerland and Palo Alto, Calif., 16 December 2009 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today it has licensed its P2X3i receptor program aimed at developing first-in-class treatments for chronic pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals. Afferent was co-founded by Anthony Ford, Ph.D., Pappas Ventures, and Third Rock Ventures, and is focused on developing compounds that treat chronic pain by targeting a novel biological pathway. In conjunction with this announcement, Afferent successfully closed a $23 million Series A financing, which was led by Third Rock Ventures and Pappas Ventures, and included Domain Associates and New Leaf Venture Partners. Proceeds from the financing will be used to accelerate the development of P2X3 receptor targeted pain therapies.

Afferent Pharmaceuticals - 12/16/2009

Plexxikon announces first patient dosed in first of two pivotal trials of PLX4032 for metastatic melanoma

 
Berkeley, CA - September 30, 2009 - Plexxikon Inc. announces that enrollment has been initiated and the first patient has been treated in the first of two pivotal trials of PLX4032 (RG7204) in patients with metastatic melanoma. PLX4032 is a novel, oral and highly selective drug that targets the BRAFV600E cancer-causing mutation occurring in about 50 percent of melanomas and about eight percent of all solid tumors. This single arm Phase 2 B-Raf Inhibitor in Melanoma (BRIM2) trial for previously-treated metastatic melanoma patients, along with a randomized, controlled Phase 3 trial (BRIM3) expected to start by the end of 2009 in first-line patients, are part of the planned registration program for PLX4032. The initiation of the Phase 2 trial has triggered a significant milestone payment to Plexxikon from Roche. Plexxikon is entitled to receive additional payments for milestone achievements as well as royalties on sales of PLX4032. Plexxikon and Roche are co-developing PLX4032 under their 2006 license and collaboration agreement.

Plexxikon - 09/29/2009

LEAD Therapeutics presents new antibiotic with potent activity against drug resistant bacteria at the 49th ICAAC

 
SAN BRUNO, Calif. & SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LEAD Therapeutics, a privately held drug discovery company, announced the discovery of a novel antibiotic with potent activity against many of the most common antibiotic resistant bacteria. LEAD will present the new glycopeptide antibiotic, LT-29, for the first time at the 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). LT-29 is in preclinical development to treat serious infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other gram-positive bacteria.

LEAD Therapeutics - 09/15/2009

NC Biotech Center building $10M HQ addition

To continue the state life science industry’s record-setting growth rate, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, with the help of statewide partners, is building an addition to its Research Triangle Park headquarters.

Uncategorized - 09/09/2009

CardioDx completes validation study of first-of-its-kind genomic test for coronary artery disease

 
PALO ALTO, Calif., August 25, 2009 – CardioDx, a cardiovascular genomic diagnostics company, announced today that the company has successfully completed its multicenter validation study for Corus(TM) CAD, the first and only gene expression test to quantify the likelihood of obstructive(1) coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable chest pain. The company expects to present results of the study by the end of 2009, and will publish the results in 2010.

CardioDx - 08/25/2009

Unlikely treatment identified by Braincells neurogenesis platform improved clinical outcomes in patients suffering from depression

 
SAN DIEGO, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainCells Inc., a company leading the scientific research of neurogenesis using its proprietary platform technology to identify novel pathways for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced today results from the first clinical proof-of-concept study of BCI-952, a combination of low dose buspirone and melatonin, for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The data were presented at NCDEU 2009, a meeting co-sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Neurogenesis is the process by which pre-existing stem cells in the hippocampus of the adult brain produce new brain cells, including neurons.

BrainCells - 07/27/2009

CeNeRx Biopharma completes $9 million financing

 
June 15, 2009

CeNeRx BioPharma, Inc., a clinical stage company developing and commercializing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system, today announced completion of a $9 million financing. The financing includes a $5 million credit facility from MidCap Financial and $4 million in convertible debt from existing investors Aisling Capital, L Capital Partners and Pappas Ventures. CeNeRx plans to use the proceeds to advance its pipeline of promising clinical and preclinical stage compounds for mood disorders, neurodegenerative conditions and pain and spasticity.

CeNeRx BioPharma - 06/15/2009

Bayhill Therapeutics enters exclusive, worldwide collaboration with Genentech for BHT-3021 in Type 1 diabetes

 
SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bayhill Therapeutics Inc. announced today that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the development and potential commercialization of BHT-3021 with Genentech, Inc. a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group. BHT-3021 is Bayhill’s DNA based antigen specific immunotherapy currently in a phase I/II clinical trial in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Bayhill Theraeputics - 06/10/2009
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