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AstraZeneca and Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) $8.46. Today announced that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement for two drug development programmes: NKTR-118, a late stage investigational product being evaluated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation, and the NKTR-119 programme, an early stage programme that is intended to deliver products for the treatment of pain without constipation side effects. Both programmes were developed by Nektar, utilizing their proprietary small molecule advanced polymer conjugate technology platform.
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will assume the responsibility for the continued development of both the NKTR-118 and NKTR-119 programmes, including the initiation of late-stage clinical studies for NKTR-118. AstraZeneca expects completion of the design of the phase III programme in the near term, and anticipates filing the drug with regulators in 2013. AstraZeneca will also be responsible for global manufacturing and marketing for both programmes. Under the agreement, Nektar will receive an upfront payment of $125 million for both NKTR-118 and NKTR-119.
What They Do: Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics based on its PEGylation and advanced polymer conjugation technology platforms.
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: BCRX) $10.02. Today announced that it has been awarded a $77.2 million contract modification by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to complete Phase 3 development of its influenza neuraminidase inhibitor, intravenous (i.v.) peramivir, for the treatment of complicated influenza.
We are very excited to continue working with the U.S. government to advance the development of peramivir," said Jon P. Stonehouse, President and Chief Executive Officer, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. "Peramivir is being developed with HHS to treat seriously ill and hospitalized patients, with the goal of saving lives. This contract modification supports peramivir's Phase 3 clinical development with the aim of gaining U.S. regulatory approval."
What They Do: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals designs, optimizes and develops novel small-molecule pharmaceuticals that block key enzymes involved in infectious diseases, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ARIA) $2.51. Today announced data from a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating oral ridarorolimus, its investigational mTOR inhibitor, in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin®) in heavily pretreated patients with refractory metastatic solid tumors. The data were presented at the Joint Multidisciplinary Congress of the 15th annual European Cancer Organization (ECCO) and the 34th annual European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) taking place in Berlin, Germany.
There is preclinical evidence demonstrating that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the target of bevacizumab, activates the mTOR pathway through binding to VEGF receptors on endothelial cells. In addition, mTOR signaling has been shown to promote angiogenesis, and preclinical studies have demonstrated that ridaforolimus inhibits angiogenesis in addition to its effects on cancer cell growth, proliferation and metabolism.
What They Do: ARIAD’s vision is to transform the lives of cancer patients with breakthrough medicines. The Company’s mission is to discover, develop and commercialize small-molecule drugs to treat cancer in patients with the greatest and most urgent unmet medical need – aggressive cancers where current therapies are inadequate.
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