Sanofi-aventis and Exelixis reported that sanofi-aventis obtained an exclusive global licence to early-stage oncology compounds XL147 and XL765, and that the two companies will collaborate on the discovery of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors to treat solid tumours.
The alliance, which includes an upfront payment of $140 million to Exelixis as well as $21 million in guaranteed [...]

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Cloudy days are starting to turn brighter for the biotech industry, many of whose smaller players have been strapped for cash amid the recession. A run-down of recent deals and other positive developments:
Exelixis is licensing two experimental cancer drugs to Sanofi-Aventis, and getting an upfront payment of $140 million.
MAP Pharmaceuticals reported very positive results for [...]

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Medivation reported Thursday that it would offer 2.75 million common shares for $21 each and use the net proceeds for “general corporate purposes.” Assuming the offer’s underwriters exercise options for additional stock, the sale could raise up to $66.4 million.
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The biopharmaceutical company explained that the proceeds would contribute to funding R&D and commercialisation costs for [...]

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A few flu news items from around the world:
Eton, the British boys’ school founded in 1410, will be closed until June 7 because a 13-year-old student was diagnosed with the H1N1 swine flu. The boy has mild symptoms and is recovering at home, the Times of London reports. The UK has had a total of [...]

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Low-dose aspirin should not routinely be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes, contrary to official guidance, say UK researchers.
Analysis of data from over 100,000 clinical trial participants found the risk of harm largely cancelled out the benefits of taking the drug.
Only those who have already had a heart attack or stroke should be advised [...]

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Johnson & Johnson announced that it filed a demand for arbitration requesting the termination of its partnership with Schering-Plough for Remicade (infliximab) and Simponi (golimumab), due to Schering-Plough’s proposed merger with Merck & Co.
The arbitration demand seeks a ruling that the agreement between Merck and Schering-Plough triggers a change in control that would allow Johnson [...]

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The FDA issued a complete response letter regarding the application for approval of Xarelto (rivaroxaban), and requested more information, Bayer and its US development partner Johnson & Johnson announced on Thursday.
The companies remarked that the agency did not request any new clinical or non-clinical data on the safety or efficacy of the drug as a [...]

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Data from the American Cancer Society’s annual cancer statistics report showed that from 1990 to 2005, death rates from cancer in the US dropped by 19.2 percent in men and 11.4 percent in women. The ACS attributed the changes to improved treatments as well as better prevention and detection practices.
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Figures showed that 80 percent of [...]

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The number of under-fives in Europe with type 1 diabetes is set to double between 2005 and 2020, say experts.
The researchers, from Ireland and Hungary, warn cases in older children will also rise substantially.
Writing in The Lancet, they say genetics alone cannot account for the rapid rise, and suggest lifestyle factors are likely to play [...]

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It’s been nearly five years since Merck pulled Vioxx off the market, but it will be a while longer before the legal system is through with the case.
The Supreme Court said yesterday that it would hear Merck’s appeal in a lawsuit filed by shareholders who argue that the company misled them by downplaying data that [...]

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