Bio Saga Blog - A Chronicle of Life Sciences & Informatics

Sandoz has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Oriel Therapeutics, a privately held US pharmaceuticals company, gaining exclusive rights to a portfolio of generic drug candidates and related technologies targeting medicines in the inhalable respiratory drug market. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The latter focuses on developing respiratory products with known pathways as generic alternatives to patented drugs for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The acquisition provides the former with three development projects targeting leading medicines in this field. Regulatory approvals of these medicines, if achieved, would enable the former to increase access to affordable, quality therapeutic alternatives for these increasingly prevalent diseases. Details of the latter's development programs, including anticipated timing of future regulatory submissions, are not disclosed for competitive reasons. The acquisition of the latter, which will be integrated as ...

Sandoz has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Oriel Therapeutics, a privately held US pharmaceuticals company, gaining exclusive rights to a portfolio of generic drug candidates and related technologies targeting medicines in the inhalable respiratory drug market. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The latter focuses on developing respiratory products with known pathways as generic alternatives to patented drugs for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The acquisition provides the former with three development projects targeting leading medicines in this field. Regulatory approvals of these medicines, if achieved, would enable the former to increase access to affordable, quality therapeutic alternatives for these increasingly prevalent diseases. Details of the latter's development programs, including anticipated timing of future regulatory submissions, are not disclosed for competitive reasons. The acquisition of the latter, which will be integrated as ...

The year of the mega-merger continues with Merck & Co’s move to buy Schering-Plough for $41.1bn, with the intention of boosting its pipeline, entering new markets and creating a “ powerful biologics presence ”. Merck follows Pfizer and Roche to become the third company this year to launch a takeover bid worth over $40bn, drawing on their sizeable cash reserves in an attempt to equip themselves for challenging years ahead. Although critics argue that mergers of scale do not maximise stockholder value and diminish R&D returns, many feel they are necessary to ensure earnings per share continue to grow in the current environment. Among the proponents of mega-mergers is Merck’s CEO Richard Clark, who believes the acquisition of Schering will create “ a strong, global healthcare leader built for sustainable growth and success ”. Clark added: " The combined company will benefit from a formidable research and development pipeline, a sign...

Pfizer has entered into a series of agreements with Aurobindo Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in India, to commercialize medicines that are no longer patent protected, and have lost market exclusivity in the US and Europe. Under the terms, Pfizer has acquired rights to 39 generic solid oral dose products in the US and 20 in Europe, plus an additional 11 in France. These medicines cover a range of therapeutic areas including cardiovascular disease and Central Nervous System disorders, and will be commercialized in the US through Pfizer's Greenstone subsidiary. The company has also acquired rights to 12 sterile injectable products in the US and Europe. These medicines are antibiotics including penicillins and cephalosporins. The global non-exclusive market represents about $270 billion with solid oral dose products representing the largest drug category. This category is anticipated to continue its rapid increase in market share and has an estimated growth potential of over $5...

In keeping with Roche's commitment to developing cancer therapies, the company has acquired worldwide exclusive rights to an early stage cancer therapy that is being co-developed by Belgian biopharmaceutical firm Thrombogenics and Swedish antibody developer BioInvent. Under the agreement the two companies will share an upfront payment of EUR50mn (US$78mn) plus up to EUR450mn (US$700mn) based on reaching pre-agreed milestones. The two companies will also receive royalties from eventual product sales, with a 60% share for Thrombogenics and 40% going to BioInvent. The two original developers have retained a co-promotion option covering the Benelux, Nordic and Baltic

Boehringer Ingelheim will acquire Actimis Pharmaceuticals through a structured buyout in which Boehringer Ingelheim will acquire shares of Actimis depending on the achievement of several successive milestones with Actimis’ leading asthma compound AP768. If AP768, currently in Phase I development, is successfully advanced into a Phase III, Boehringer Ingelheim will own 100% of Actimis’ shares. Upon successful completion of the entire development program, the total deal will be worth $515 million. AP768 interacts with CRTH21, a target for asthma and allergic rhinitis. Previous to the currently ongoing Phase I trial, the compound was shown to have a more effective mechanism of action across multiple available animal models compared to currently marketed leukotriene receptor antagonists , according to the companies.

Life Sciences is the next big thing to IT and that is happening to India now, Ranbaxy to develop anti-infective drugs for Merck... India's Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (Ranbaxy) is to develop new anti-infective drugs for Merck & Co Inc, (Merck) in a major deal underlining the growing use of Indian pharmaceutical research by multinational Companies. Ranbaxy and Merck announced today that they have signed a strategic Product Development Agreement (the “Agreement”) providing for a drug discovery and clinical development collaboration for new products, in the anti-infective field. Potential Payments Totaling More than $100 Million . Ranbaxy and Merck will work together to develop clinically validated anti-bacterial and anti-fungal drug candidates. Ranbaxy will carry-out drug discovery and clinical development through Phase IIa clinical trials, with Merck conducting development and commercialization of drug candidates thereafter. The Indian group will get an undisclosed upfront su...

Indian Drug Database An attempt is made to collect/design the Indian approved drugs and the experimentally determined and computed three-dimensional (3D)-structures and their functional annotations are deposited... Do you want to know more?