Alucent Medical said today that it won FDA approval to begin Phase I clinical studies of its Natural Vascular Scaffolding, a novel combination drug-device therapy for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Percutaneous balloon angioplasty, a process that involves drug-coated balloons and metal stents, is the traditional standard of care for peripheral vascular disease. These […]
Pharmaceutical
Powering the next generation of ingestible drug delivery devices
Traditional implants in the gastrointestinal tract are meant to pass through a patient’s system, delivering a drug in short bursts or recording the health of a patient’s colon. But in recent years, scientists have sought after ultra-long lasting ingestible devices that can deliver drugs for several weeks in a patient’s GI tract. Lyndra, Inc., a start-up […]
Novelion CEO leaves Nordisk board due to potential conflict of interest | Personnel Moves – May 16, 2017
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) said this week that the CEO of Canadian biotech Novelion Therapeutics, Mary Szela, left Nordisk’s board effective immediately due to a “potential conflict of interest”. Szela’s departure follows Novelion’s decision to expand into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, also known as fatty liver, according to a Nordisk spokeswoman. As the Danish drugmaker faces increasing pricing […]
Study: Rivanna’s anesthesia placement device boosts accuracy, efficacy
Rivanna Medical touted data from 3 trials today showing that its Accuro automatic spinal navigation system boosts the accuracy of epidural and spinal anesthesia placement compared to traditional techniques, even for residents-in-training. Accuro is a pocket-sized ultrasound system that automatically detects spinal midline, epidural depth and trajectory. One trial at the University of Virginia Medical […]
Nano-drug hitchhikes on white blood cells directly to tumor site
Researchers from Washington State University have developed a way to target drug delivery to a tumor by attaching the therapeutic to white blood cells. The discovery, which the team describes as a 1st of its kind, could help doctors provide more targeted cancer treatment. The researchers attached a nanoscale particle to a white blood cell […]
Trump considers drug-pricing reform with input from industry groups, advocates
President Donald Trump’s administration took aim at drug-pricing reform this month by holding listening sessions with industry groups and advocates. His administration is pursuing actions it can take with and without Congress to combat the industry’s high drug prices, according to a report from The Hill. The pharmaceutical industry, traditionally a powerful lobbying force on Capitol […]
Aptar Pharma’s nasal spray compliance device wins EMA nod
Aptar Pharma said today that the European Medicines Agency approved its electronic nasal lockout device, e-Lockout. The device is the 1st and only fully-integrated electronic nasal drug delivery device to be approved by a European regulatory authority, according to the company. The e-Lockout device is a part of a multi-year development deal with Takeda Pharmaceuticals […]
Genoa raises $62m Series A for inhaled lung drug
Genoa Pharmaceuticals said today that it raised $62 million in a Series A round to support the development of inhaled therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other severe pulmonary conditions. The round was led by F-Prime Capital Partners and Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners. Novo AS, RiverVest Venture Partners and TPG Biotech also invested in […]
MannKind shares dip after Q1 sales miss consensus
Shares in MannKind Corp. (NSDQ:MNKD) fell this week after the biopharmaceutical company missed expectations on Wall Street with its 1st quarter results. The Valencia, Calif.-based company pared its losses to -$16.3 million on sales of $3 million for the 3 months ended March 31, for bottom-line growth of 53% compared with the same period last year. […]
Impax shares climb despite Q1 miss
Shares in Impax Laboratories (NSDQ:IPXL) rose earlier this week even though the pharmaceutical company missed expectations on Wall Street with its Q1 results. The Hayward, Calif.-based company posted profits of $7.7 million on sales of $184.4 million for the 3 months ended March 31, for bottom-line loss of -75% on sales loss of -18.2% compared with the same […]
Amid drug-pricing criticism, industry trade group ousts members
The pharmaceutical industry’s trade group ousted 22 companies earlier this week after it revised membership rules. The move comes as lawmakers in Washington have pressed the pharma industry about U.S. drug prices. The updated membership rules for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) group mandates that members spend at least $200 million each year […]