Since Our Last Issue ...
Shionogi reported positive results from two Phase 3 studies (COMPOSE I and II) demonstrating consistent efficacy and safety of naldemedine in treating opioid-induced constipation in patients with chronic non-cancer pain. The company says data are being presented today during the American Gastroenterological Association Presidential Plenary Session at the 2016 Digestive Disease Week in San Diego, CA,that also showed that naldemedine had a low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects, and did not impact the analgesic effect of opioids. Acorda Therapeutics says it will discontinue developing its Plumiaz (diazepam) Nasal spray being studied for treating seizure clusters in patients with epilepsy, because it failed to demonstrate bioequivalence to Diastat rectal gel. The company says it demonstrated unexpectedly lower nasal mucosa absorption of diazepam in patients with epilepsy compared to studies healthy volunteers. Ionis Pharmaceuticals and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today have formed a strategic alliance to discover and develop novel cancer therapeutics. According to the two parties, the partnership will utilize Ionis’ antisense technology, which provides enhanced potency for effectively engaging targets in solid and liquid tumors, and MD Anderson’s expertise. MD Anderson’s Gordon Mills says that the center has identified many new, traditionally undruggable cancer targets as part of it Moon Shots Program, which he says “could offer a potentially fresh approach to treating cancer.”
Gamida Cell has been awarded a Grant of up to $4.4 million from the Israel Innovation Authority of the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, which will support its ongoing research and development efforts including its Phase 3 registration study of NiCord for hematological malignancies (such as leukemia and lymphoma), and its clinical trials of CordIn for sickle cell disease and thalassemia and NK cells as a potential immune therapy for cancer. Endra Inc. dba Endra Life Sciences has signed a global collaboration agreement with GE Healthcare to develop its Thermo Acoustic Enhanced UltraSound. The company says its TAEUS technology is being developed to enable existing ultrasound systems to visualize tissue function, composition, and monitor a variety of therapeutic interventions at the point of care. It says GE Healthcare will support Endra’s efforts to commercialize the TAEUS technology for use in a fatty liver application by providing equipment and technical advice, and facilitating introductions to GE Healthcare clinical ultrasound customers.