News Archive 2004
News relating to New Haven, Connecticut, New Ventures Originating from Yale Research, and the Yale Pipeline
January - May 2004
Agilix Corp., of New Haven, Conn., applied its i-PROT proteomics technology to clinical samples for biomarker discovery in drug development. In rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases, early detection using protein biomarkers might allow for earlier and more effective intervention. i-PROT are labels that are attached to proteins so they can be quantified or analyzed using mass spectrometry. May 28, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen (NRGN) Announces Milestone Payment from Merck & Co. (MRK) Under Pain Management Drug Alliance. May 27, 2004. BioSpace.com
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., released its FAMILION Test, a genetic test for cardiac channelopathies, at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting. The company said the test confirms the presence of mutations known to cause cardiac channelopathies and identifies family members who have similar mutations. May 21, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
454 Life Sciences, of Branford, Conn., a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corp., received a two-year, $2.4 million grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute to fund the scale-up of the company's technology for the sequencing of larger genomes, such as fungi. The company plans to develop measurement systems that sequence an individual's human genome on a PicoTiter plate. May 20, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., said results of its Phase III trial of pexelizumab were published in the May 19, 2004, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. A summary of data from the 3,099-patient study, which examined the terminal complement inhibitor's efficacy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, were first reported last fall at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Fla. It showed that pexelizumab might beneficially impact inflammation and ischemia/reperfusion, thereby reducing the frequency and severity of myocardial infarction following CABG surgery. (See BioWorld Today, Nov. 11, 2003.) May 19, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen May Let Town Use Property for Field. By Marissa Yaremich. May 18, 2004. New Haven Register.
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., provided the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) a gene-expression dataset derived from vehicle-treated rat liver samples. The data, which are part of Gene Logic's GeneExpress System, correspond to specific FDA-selected gene fragments that are common to multiple microarray platforms. CDER researchers will mine, evaluate and use portions of the data to compile a list of invariant genes across multiple microarray platforms. May 14, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharma 1Q Losses 7c/Share versus 8c. By Josephine Li of Dow Jones Newswires. May 13, 2004. Wall Street Journal.   (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Revenue Up 74 Percent. By Kimberly S. Johnson. May 12, 2004. New Haven Register.
VION Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said that articles related to its clinical stage anticancer products, Triapine and Cloretazine, were published in a pair of scientific journals. Results of a Phase I trial of Triapine administered by continuous 96-hour intravenous infusion, reported in the May 1, 2004, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, demonstrated that Triapine could be administered on an every-other-week schedule with tolerable and reversible toxicity. Prolonged stabilization of disease or decreases in serum tumor markers associated with stable disease was observed in four patients with advanced cancer. Findings from a Phase I trial of Cloretazine in patients with refractory leukemia, published in the May 1, 2004, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, demonstrated single-agent antitumor activity, including complete responses in a patient with myelodysplasia and a patient with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia. May 7, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Revenue Rises, Loss Shrinks at Neurogen. By Kimberly S. Johnson. May 6, 2004. New Haven Register.
Technology Council in Drivers Seat. By Steve Higgins. May 1, 2004. New Haven Register.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., signed an amendment to its license agreement with the University of Utah and Yale University, gaining certain rights to a patent estate related to five cardiac ion channel genes associated with Long QT, Brugada and related syndromes. Genaissance entered the license agreement in May 2003 as part of its acquisition of DNA Sciences Inc. The amendment simplifies the royalty structure for the genetic test for cardiac ion channel mutations, which Genaissance expects to launch in May, and other genetic tests and products. It also extends Genaissance's license rights to the patent estate, including the company's right to grant sublicenses. April 30, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Crossroads Venture Fair draws over 500. By Kimberly S. Johnson. April 29, 2004. New Haven Register.
Honoring Elm and Ivy Leaders. By Gila Reinstein. April 28, 2004. Yale Office of Public Affairs.
Venture Investment Nearly Triples in State. By Stacy Wong. April 27, 2004. Hartford Courant.
State Tech Funding Continues Rise. By Steve Higgins. April 27, 2004. New Haven Register.
IN THE REGION | CONNECTICUT: Apartments with Movie Theater Set for New Haven. By Eleanor Charles. April 25, 2004. New York Times.
A BioHaven Event sponsored by Yale OCR, CURE, Yale Entrepreneurial Society, and Yale Biotechnology Student Interest Group: Roger Longman, Editor of In Vivo. "Trends in Pharma-Biotech Dealmaking." 5-7:30 P.M. Wednesday, April 21, 2004. The Anlyan Center for Medical Research & Education, located at the Yale University School of Medicine.
Neurogen Announces Common Stock Sale. April 21, 2004. New Haven Register.
Neurogen (NRGN) Announces Closing of $100 Million Private Placement. April 20, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Pfizer ‘Tops Off’ New Research Unit. By Kimberly S. Johnson. April 15, 2004. New Haven Register.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., filed a mixed shelf registration statement with the SEC to periodically sell up to $150 million worth of debt, stock and warrants. The company said it would use any resulting proceeds for general corporate purposes. April 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Eyetech Signs Aptamer Leader Archemix to Ophthalmic Deal. By Randall Osborne. April 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Eyetech Pharmaceuticals (EYET) and Archemix Corporation Announce Collaboration to Discover and Develop Therapeutic Aptamers for Ophthalmology. April 14, 2004. BioSpace.com
RESCHEDULED EVENT: BioHaven Speaker Series Revived Lecture: "Trends in Pharma-Biotech Dealmaking." By Karen N. Peart. April 14, 2004. Yale Office of Public Affairs.
Make State Science-Friendly. An Editorial. April 13, 2004. Hartford Courant.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., appointed Larry Mathis to its board. April 12, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Crossroads Venture Fair comes to city April 27-28. By Kimberly S. Johnson. April 9, 2004. New Haven Register.
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., entered a multiyear agreement with the National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis in Bethesda, Md., to provide preclinical safety and pharmacology studies focused on NCI's core research areas of interest: cancer, AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses. The agreement provides for Gene Logic to achieve up to $6.9 million in revenue over the next seven years based on specific studies and services requested by the agency over the life of the agreement. April 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
With $50M Series B, Archemix Has Funding To Last Until 2007. By Kim Coghill, Washington Editor. April 7, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., signed agreements with the University of Rochester and the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research to develop and launch tests for cardiac conditions. Genaissance gains access to clinical expertise, research samples and associated data as part of the agreements. It expects to launch in May the first test, a genetic test for cardiac ion channel mutations, including mutations responsible for causing Familial Long QT and Brugada syndromes. April 7, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Biotech To Offer 1st Public Gene Tests. By Kimberly S. Johnson. April 7, 2004. New Haven Register.
Archemix Corporation Completes $50 Million Series B Financing. April 6, 2004. BioSpace.com
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said it renewed its agreement with Sankyo Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, to use certain components of Gene Logic's information services as part of Sankyo's programs. The companies established the agreement in April 2001. With the renewal, Sankyo gains access to focused data sets related to core areas of Sankyo's research efforts. Sankyo has opted for more focused access to a specific ToxSuite and a Custom BioExpress Suite. Financial details were not disclosed. April 6, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Invitrogen Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., acquired Protometrix Inc., of Branford, Conn., a company developing what it called the world's first microarrays representing the essence of the human proteome. The protein arrays are aimed at enhancing drug discovery and development by enabling researchers to reveal new disease pathways, identify drug targets and discover how drugs exert their intended effects and side effects. Invitrogen plans to globally launch Protometrix's initial product, the Yeast ProtoArray, in the middle of the year, and to introduce a series of human protein microarray products and services later this year. April 5, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Invitrogen Corporation (IVGN) Acquires Protometrix Inc. Breakthrough Protein Microarray Technology to Offer Benchtop Access to the Human Proteome. April 2, 2004. BioSpace.com
Genaissance Merger with Lark Completed. April 2, 2004. New Haven Register.
Kémia Raises $33.5M in Series B for Work in Kinase Inhibitors. By Kim Coghill. March 30, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., began a Phase II trial of Cloretazine (VNP40101M) as a single agent in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The company expects to accrue up to 80 patients in multiple U.S. and European sites. The study's objective is to determine the response rate of the cancer agent in patients with AML or high-risk MDS who are older than 60 years old and have not received prior chemotherapy, and AML patients of any age who have relapsed after a first complete remission that lasted less than 12 months. March 30, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Kémia Raises $33.5 Million in Series B Financing led by JPMorgan Partners. March 29, 2004. BioSpace.com
Vion Pharmaceuticals Registers 17.2M Shares for Holders. By Donna Hemans of Dow Jones Newswires. March 29, 2004. Wall Street Journal.   (Subscription Required)
Agilix Corp., of New Haven, Conn., said a study published in Nature Biotechnology validates its transcriptional analysis microarray platform capable of detecting both known and new genes from any organism. The Agilix Universal Microarray System, which the company is marketing as GenCompass, is the first microarray-based open-expression profiling system. Unlike closed gene-expression methods, GenCompass can analyze samples in which the specific genetic sequences are not known. March 24, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Ikonisys Inc., of New Haven, Conn., appointed Paul Marks to its scientific advisory board. March 24, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., launched the ToxPlus program, a combination of toxicology services, combining the company's toxicogenomics data and services with its traditional preclinical safety and pharmacology studies capabilities. The ToxPlus program was scheduled for introduction at the Society of Toxicology annual meeting in Baltimore that began Sunday and continues through Wednesday. March 23, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Cool 'TLRs Growing Hot' in Biotech; Coley out in Front. "VaxInnate is hardly alone in TLRs." By Randall Osborne. March 22, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
$100M in Private Funds Expected to Expand Neurogen's Portfolio. By Karen Pihl-Carey. March 22, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
NINE LIVES. Ninth Square Comes Alive with New Shops, Apartments. By Kimberly S. Johnson. March 21, 2004. New Haven Register.
Neurogen Stock Sale Worth $100 Million. By Kimberly S. Johnson. March 20, 2004. New Haven Register.
Neurogen (NRGN) Announces $100 Million Private Placement. March 19, 2004. BioSpace.com
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., expanded its contract study services facilities located in Gaithersburg. The company completed construction of additional laboratory space dedicated to its preclinical toxicology studies. The expansion includes a specialized teratology suite and neurotoxicology suite, as well as additional study rooms. March 19, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., issued an additional $10 million of convertible subordinated notes as part of an overallotment option from its $100 million notes offering last month. The notes, which bear a 4% interest rate, are due in 2011. The conversion price is $9.69 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. CuraGen is using proceeds to repay its existing debt. (See BioWorld Today, Feb. 11, 2004.) March 18, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., entered a worldwide nonexclusive license agreement for its Melasyn technology with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., of New Brunswick, N.J. Melasyn is a synthetic form of melanin that dissolves readily in water. The agreement does not include up-front or milestone payments. If products including Vion's technology are developed, Vion will receive a royalty based on sales in countries where it has issued patents. Vion is focused on developing treatments for cancer. March 16, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals (VION) Licenses Melasyn® Rights. March 15, 2004. BioSpace.com
Vion Licenses Melasyn Rights [to Johnson & Johnson]. By Jenny Park of Dow Jones Newswires. March 15, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
VaxInnate Series B Pulls Down $23.1M to Push TLR Research. By Randall Osborne. March 12, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
VaxInnate Corporation Raises $23.1 Million in Series B Financing. March 11, 2004. BioSpace.com
Biotechs in State Bouncing Back. By Kimberly S. Johnson. March 11, 2004. New Haven Register.
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., established Gene Logic Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary in the UK that will facilitate sales, marketing and customer support in Europe for the company's genomic-based services. The move is designed to enable Gene Logic to work more closely with customers and access prospective customers. The company has been managing the European market for the past four years from its headquarters in Gaithersburg. March 11, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion 4Q Loss 8c/Shr. By Eamon Beltran of Dow Jones Newswires. March 10, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., said results of a meta-analysis reported at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans showed that the investigational drug pexelizumab significantly reduced 30-day mortality across multiple acute cardiovascular disease trials. In the studies, which enrolled coronary artery bypass graft patients and acute myocardial infarction patients, pexelizumab treatment was associated with a statistically significant 31 percent relative reduction in mortality when compared to placebo across the four trials (2.9 percent vs. 4.2 percent, p=0.017). The trials were conducted by Alexion and its partner Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, an affiliate of Procter & Gamble Co., of Cincinnati. March 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Reports $8.5 Million Loss in 4Q. By Steve Higgins. March 9, 2004. New Haven Register.
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said it received fast-track designation from the FDA for cloretazine in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Cloretazine is a sulfonyl hydrazine DNA alkylating agent. March 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals (VION) Receives Fast Track Designation for CLORETAZINE™ (VNP40101M) in Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia. March 8, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said it would focus its efforts on one of two second-generation TAPET (Tumor Amplified Protein Expression Therapy) vectors, which are modified Salmonella bacteria used to deliver cancer agents directly to tumors, after analyzing results from veterinary trials of dogs with spontaneous tumors. The company said it would continue to treat up to 15 additional dogs with the vector, with complete data expected to be available by the end of this year. March 8, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Molecular Staging Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Mass., chose Molecular Staging's Repli-g whole-genome amplification technology to expand the amount of DNA available from more than 20,000 patient samples. March 4, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
TransMolecular's Scorpion Drugs Garner $33.2M in Series C Round. By Randall Osborne. March 3, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen CEO Elected to National Academy. March 2, 2004. New Haven Register.
TransMolecular, a neuroscience biotechnology company focused on diseases of the central nervous system, said it closed $33.2 million led by Easton Hunt Capital Partners, with investors including Tullis-Dickerson, TVM Techno Venture Management, Oakwood Medical Investors, MDS Capital, and Aperture Venture Partners also participating. And Igeneon, a biopharmaceutical developer focused on cancer immunotherapies designed to prevent or delay the formation of metastases, said it has raised $34.3 million co-led by Burrill & Co. and 3i. March 1, 2004. VentureWire Alert. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Drug Gains Special Status from FDA. By Kimberly S. Johnson. February 26, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for CG53135 in Oral Mucositis Indication. February 25, 2004. BioSpace.com
Board to Explore how to Profit from University Research. By Kimberly S. Johnson. February 25, 2004. New Haven Register.
City among Nation's "Boom Towns." By Kimberly S. Johnson. February 24, 2004. New Haven Register.
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., received a multiyear renewal from Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, of Ingelheim, Germany, to continue to use Gene Logic's information services in its pharmaceutical research and development programs. Boehringer Ingelheim first established an agreement in December 2000. Financial terms were not disclosed. February 23, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Tech Sector Appears Positioned For Growth. Life Science, Fuel Cell Firms Attracting Lots of Attention. By John M. Moran and Stacy Wong. February 22, 2004. Hartford Courant.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said the SEC declared effective its registration statement for its proposed $19.9 all-stock merger with Lark Technologies Inc., of Houston. A meeting at which Genaissance stockholders will vote on the merger is scheduled for April 1. The merger was made public in December. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 22, 2003.) February 20, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Brass Say It Could Turn a Profit by 2005. By Kimberly S. Johnson. February 13, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., priced a private placement of $100 million aggregate principal amount of convertible subordinated notes due 2011, bearing an interest rate of 4 percent. The notes will be convertible into about 103.2 shares of the company's common stock for each $1,000 of principal amount of notes representing a conversion price of $9.69 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The initial conversion price represents a premium of 37 percent relative to CuraGen's closing stock price Tuesday of $7.07. The placement of notes is expected to close Feb. 17. The company granted a 30-day option to the initial purchaser of the notes to purchase up to an additional $20 million aggregate principal amount of the notes to cover overallotments. The company said Tuesday it would privately raise funds. (See BioWorld Today, Feb. 11, 2004.) February 12, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Raises $100 Million. CRGN raised $100 million in a bumped-up private placement of convertible subordinated notes. The notes mature in 2011, bear 4% interest and convert into stock at $9.69, which is a 37% premium to CRGN's Feb. 10 close of $7.07. On Feb. 9, CRGN proposed to raise $75 million in the note deal. The financing has a $20 million overallotment. CRGN will use a portion of the proceeds to repay debt. The company is in Phase I testing of its CG53135 to treat oral mucositis. CRGN was off $0.18 to $6.89 on 3.6 million shares on Wednesday. February 11, 2004. BioCentury. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Planning to Pull Down $75M in Convertibles Placement.By Randall Osborne, National Editor. February 11, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Raising $35.2M to Fund Triapine, Cloretazine Progress. By Kim Coghill, Washington Editor. February 11, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals (VION) Enters into Agreements for $35.2 Million Private Placement. February 10, 2004. BioSpace.com
Vion Enters into Agreements for $35.2M Private Placement. By Josephine Li of Dow Jones NewsWires. February 10, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Vion Stops Triapine Single Agent Study, Focuses on Combination. By Karen Pihl-Carey, Staff Writer. February 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CURE Pushes Tax Credits for Biotechs. By Kimberly S. Johnson. February 7, 2004. New Haven Register.
Vion Pharmaceuticals (VION) Provides Update on Clinical Trials of Triapine® as a Single Agent; Drug Not Effective in Remaining Patients; Company Ends Separate Phase II Trial for Prostate Cancer. February 6, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Vion Provides Update on Clinical Trials of Triapine® as a Single Agent. By Jenny Park of Dow Jones Newswires. February 6, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., published its eculizumab clinical trial results in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in the Feb. 5, 2004, issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. In the three-month, open-label trial involving 11 transfusion-dependent patients all receiving eculizumab, notable reductions in red-blood-cell destruction, hemoglobinuria and blood transfusions were achieved. Patients also reported an improvement in quality of life after initiating eculizumab therapy. Eculizumab has orphan drug status in the U.S. and Europe. February 6, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., said Phase IIb data of eculizumab in rheumatoid arthritis showed the primary endpoint was achieved with statistical significance. The endpoint was the improvement in ACR20 score after a six-month treatment period. The trial enrolled about 350 patients with chronic disease undergoing treatment with methotrexate or leflunomide. Eculizumab treatment also appeared to be safe and well tolerated, with the most common adverse events being upper respiratory tract infection, headache and nausea. January 30, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Rib-X Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., added George Milne to its board. January 29, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) Reports Preliminary Results of Its Phase IIb Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trial; Shows Mixed Trial Results. January 28, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Risk Takers Return. By Stacy Wong. January 27, 2004. Hartford Courant.
Venture Capital Pours into State. By Kimberly S. Johnson. January 27, 2004. New Haven Register.
Biotech Firm Gets $22.3 Million in 3rd Round of Financing. By Kimberly S. Johnson. January 22, 2004. New Haven Register.
Cellular Genomics' Initial Close of Series C Gathers Up $22.3M. By Aaron Lorenzo. January 22, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Evotec OAI AG, of Munich, Germany, formed a medicinal chemistry partnership with Rib-X Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn. Evotec will use its integrated medicinal chemistry and parallel synthesis platform to facilitate Rib-X's efforts to identify antibiotics for clinical development. Financial terms were not disclosed. January 21, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., consummated its previously reported alliance with Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J., to discover and develop next-generation drugs for pain. The deal received clearance from the Federal Trade Commission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the companies have now begun the collaboration. The alliance, reported Dec. 1, enables Merck, through a subsidiary, and Neurogen to pool drug candidates targeting the vanilloid receptor and combine their ongoing VR1 programs to form a global research and development collaboration. Neurogen received $30 million from Merck, including a $15 million up-front license fee payment and a $15 million equity investment in Neurogen stock. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 2, 2003.) January 20, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Appoints Howard B. Johnson President. By Riva Richmond of Dow Jones Newswires. January 15, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals (VION) Appoints CFO Johnson as President. January 15, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Evotec OAI AG, of Munich, Germany, formed a medicinal chemistry partnership with Rib-X Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn. Evotec will use its integrated medicinal chemistry and parallel synthesis platform to facilitate privately held Rib-X's efforts to identify antibiotics for clinical development. Financial terms were not disclosed. January 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., entered a pair of development deals. A worldwide collaboration agreement with Nuvelo Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., aims to develop and commercialize Archemix's thrombin inhibitor, ARC183, for potential use in coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention and other acute anticoagulant applications. Archemix initially will lead development and be responsible for all clinical development activities. Nuvelo will have the option to lead commercialization efforts, in which both companies may participate. They will share equally all costs associated with ARC183 and will have 50/50 ownership of the compound. Archemix will receive an undisclosed up-front payment and additional development and milestone payments over the first year of the partnership and upon initiation of Phase II work. Additional financial terms were not disclosed. Separately, privately held Archemix entered a funded target-validation collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development LLC, of Raritan, N.J. The collaboration will focus on validating G protein-coupled receptor targets. Financial terms were not disclosed. January 14, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Shares Dip after Drug Fails Test. By Kimberly S. Johnson. January 14, 2004. New Haven Register.
Neurogen (NRGN) Drug Fails to Benefit Asthma Patients. January 13, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., completed an analysis of DNA samples for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the USDA's effort to trace the origin of the animal infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Genaissance's chief technology officer said the company sees the use of DNA testing for animal identity and traceability as a new market opportunity. Its stock (NASDAQ: GNSC) gained 88 cents Friday, or 30.1 percent, to close at $3.73. January 12, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Traced Cow's Origin. By Kimberly S. Johnson. January 10, 2004. New Haven Register.
Young Find New Haven: Small-Scale Approach to Urban Revitalization Creates a New Vibrancy. By Tara Weiss. January 2, 2004. Hartford Courant.
June - August 2004
Ambit and Roche Announce Collaboration and Venture Financing. August 26, 2004. Ambit Biosciences.
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., signed a clinical trial agreement with the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., for PXD101, a histone deacetylase inhibitor in Phase I trials. The institute will sponsor several trials evaluating the activity of PXD101, either alone or in combination with other cancer therapies, for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers. CuraGen licensed PXD101 from TopoTarget A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the companies are jointly developing PXD101. August 25, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., expanded its European and Asia-Pacific operations as a result of revenue growth in those areas. The company added sales and support staff to its London office, Gene Logic Ltd., and also hired a business development representative who will be based in Germany. In addition, it established Gene Logic KK as a wholly owned subsidiary in Japan to provide marketing and customer support there. Gene Logic said 14 percent of its total revenue for the period ended June 30 resulted from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies based in Europe, with 33 percent coming from Asia Pacific. August 19, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Reports $7.8 Million Loss in 2nd Quarter. August 13, 2004. New Haven Register.
Vion Loses $3.7 Million during 2nd Quarter. By Kimberly S. Johnson. August 11, 2004. New Haven Register.
Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., and Nuvelo Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., began dosing in a Phase I trial of ARC183, an antithrombin aptamer being developed as an anticoagulant/antithrombotic for use in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The open-label, dose-escalation study will evaluate the compound's safety, tolerability, anticoagulation activity and titratability. The initial phase will be conducted in 16 normal volunteers, after which ARC183 will be evaluated in patients with coronary artery disease. August 10, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Archemix and Nuvelo Announce Initiation of Phase I Trial for Thrombin Inhibitor, ARC183. August 9, 2004. Archemix
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., promoted Charles Ritrovato to senior vice president of drug development and regulatory affairs, and Thomas Pitler to vice president of business development. August 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Rib-X Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., appointed C. Boyd Clarke to its board. August 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Archemix Names Augustine Yee Vice President, Business Development. Will Lead Archemix’s Outlicensing and Business Development Efforts. August 5, 2004. Archemix
Neurogen Loses $4.2 Million in 2nd Quarter. By Steve Higgins. August 5, 2004. New Haven Register.
Investors’ Zeal for State Firms Falls Slightly in 2Q. July 29, 2004. By Kimberly S. Johnson. July 29, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corp. 2Q Loses 57c/Share vs. 48c. By Agnes K. Nikoi of Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400. July 29, 2004. Wall Street Journal, Page C1. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said NV Organon, of Oss, the Netherlands, agreed to use its platform of toxicogenomics services to assist in the assessment and prioritization of a preclinical pipeline. Over the next 18 months, Gene Logic will provide a series of ToxScreen reports and Mechanism of Toxicity reports for use in evaluating the safety and toxicity of Organon's drug candidates. Financial terms were not disclosed. July 29, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Sirna Therapeutics Inc., of Boulder, Colo., and Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., entered an exclusive four-year process and analytical development and manufacturing alliance for all of Archemix's cGMP aptamers through Phase IIa development. Sirna also granted Archemix a worldwide, perpetual, nonexclusive license to its intellectual property for the manufacture and commercialization of aptamers. In addition to payments for the manufacture of aptamers, Sirna will receive certain downstream consideration for the license granted to Archemix. July 29, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Sirna Therapeutics (RNAI) and Archemix Corporation Form Exclusive Aptamer Manufacturing Alliance. July 28, 2004. BioSpace.com
Agilix Corp., of New Haven, Conn., said findings reported at the BioArrays 2004 meeting in New York describe its discovery of low-level transcripts not previously identified in canine and human brain tissues. The findings were made using GenCompass, the company's microarray-based, open-expression profiling system in combination with CustomArray, a custom microarray from CombiMatrix Corp., of Mukilteo, Wash. Agilix used the products to discover 250 previously unknown transcripts that might be associated with human brain diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and also to identify more than 2,000 new canine transcripts. CombiMatrix's stock (NASDAQ: CBMX) gained 34 cents Tuesday, or 11.9 percent, to close at $3.19. July 28, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Venture Financing Slows in State. By John M. Moran. July 27, 2004. Hartford Courant.
Gene Logic Acquires Discovery Program, Team from Millennium. By Karen Pihl-Carey. July 26, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Acquires Technology Program from Millennium Pharmaceuticals; Launches Business to Identify New Indications for Drugs; Millennium Becomes First Customer for New Service. July 23, 2004. BioSpace.com
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., said the underwriters of its follow-on public offering exercised their overallotment option to purchase another 500,000 shares. With a total of 5.5 million shares sold at $15.50 each, the company raised $85.25 million. Alexion expects to receive $80 million net of fees and expenses from the offering, and plans to use proceeds for general corporate purposes. The underwriters were Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and SG Cowen & Co. LLC, both of New York. (See BioWorld Today, July 21, 2004.). July 23, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Raises $77.5M to Fund Phase III Product Development. By Karen Pihl-Carey. July 22, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Moving Eculizumab into Phase III after SPA OK. By Karen Pihl-Carey. July 21, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., and Nuvelo Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., submitted an investigational new drug application to the FDA to begin a Phase I trial of the thrombin inhibitor ARC183 for potential use in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. ARC183 is an anti-thrombin aptamer. The Phase I trial is expected to begin in the second half of this year. In January, Archemix and Nuvelo entered a collaboration to develop and commercialize ARC183. July 1, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., and TopoTarget A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, began a Phase I trial of PXD101 in patients with hematologic cancer and solid-tumor cancers. The trial complements the ongoing Phase I study in cancer patients with solid tumors initiated in 2003. The study is a dose-escalating, open-label trial expected to enroll about 15 patients. July 1, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Russell 2000 Reconfigured. By Matthew Lubanko. June 30, 2004. Hartford Courant.
Eight State Companies Added to Russell 3000 Index. By Steve Higgins. June 29, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., is presenting preclinical data on CG53135, its product being investigated for the prevention and treatment of radiation- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis, at the 16th annual International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer in Miami Beach, Fla. The data demonstrate preclinical single-dose activity for the prevention of OM after the appearance of initial signs and symptoms in predictive animal models. June 25, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen, Seattle Genetics Form Cancer Deal Worth up to $32M. By Kim Coghill. June 23, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
DAY TRIPS. Culture, History and the Sidewalks of New Haven. By James Prosek. June 18, 2004. New York Times.
More Development 'Unlikely' after Neurogen's RA Drug Phase II Miss. By Karen Pihl-Carey. June 17, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen (NRGN) Says Arthritis Drug Fails to Meet Objective. June 15, 2004. BioSpace.com
Alexion, P&G Get FDA Clearance on Pexelizumab Phase III Design. By Kim Coghill. June 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
FDA OKs Plans for Tests of Alexion Heart Drug. By Abram Katz. June 15, 2004. New Haven Register.
Kémia Inc., of San Diego, appointed Richard Canote vice president of finance. June 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) Reaches Agreement with FDA for Pivotal Phase III Pexelizumab Trials in Two Acute Cardiovascular Indications. June 14, 2004. BioSpace.com
Cellular Genomics Adds $12.6M to Close Third-Round Financing. By Aaron Lorenzo. June 14, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Another Step for New Haven. By Jane Gordon. June 13, 2004. New York Times.
Invitrogen Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., reported the upcoming launch of the Yeast ProtoArray. The high-throughput technology is designed to allow screening of thousands of proteins in a miniaturized format that is compatible with standard laboratory equipment. June 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Enzo Biochem Inc., of Farmingdale, N.Y., filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut against Applera Corp. and its subsidiary Tropix Inc., alleging patent infringement arising out of the misappropriation of Enzo's technologies related to DNA sequencing systems, and other products. Four of the patents are licensed to Enzo by Yale University, which also is named as a plaintiff. June 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Access Scientific Secures Seed Financing. Vascular Access Device Innovator to Introduce Next-Generation Products. June 8, 2004. Carrot Capital.
Invitrogen Releases First Microarray with Yeast Proteome. Breakthrough Technology Will Follow with Human Protein Array Subsets in Late 2004. June 8, 2004. Invitrogen Corporation.
CuraGen, TopoTarget Form HDAC Inhibitor Deal Worth Up To $100M. By Karen Pihl-Carey. June 7, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Slow but Steady. New Haven region’s economy continues to improve. By Maria Garriga. June 7, 2004. New Haven Register.
City Gets Award for Farmington Canal Trail Efforts. By Randall Beach. June 5, 2004. New Haven Register.
Alexion's Net Losses Lower than Last Year. By Kimberly S. Johnson. June 4, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) and TopoTarget A/S Announce License and Collaboration Agreement for Development and Commercialization of Novel Phase I HDAC Inhibitor for Oncology. June 3, 2004. BioSpace.com
CURE Releases 9th Annual Economic Report. Connecticut's Bioscience Industry Shows Solid Growth in 2003. June 3, 2004. Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE).
Healthy Growth. By Stacy Wong. June 3, 2004. Hartford Courant.
Bioscience Firms Spend Big. By Kimberly S. Johnson. June 3, 2004. New Haven Register.
Higher One on Growth Path. By Steve Higgins. June 2, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Lets Town Use 6 of Its Acres. By Marissa Yaremich. June 2, 2004. New Haven Register.
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said it started a Phase II trial of Cloretazine at the Brain Tumor Center of the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Durham, N.C., to assess the activity and toxicity of the drug in adults with recurrent gliomas. The company said current treatments for glioma are inadequate and that Cloretazine has shown its ability to distribute into the brain, as well as advantages over other treatments. Cloretazine is a DNA-damaging alkylating agent. Vion plans additional Phase II trials in other solid tumors and has an ongoing program in hematologic malignancies. June 2, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., received an undisclosed payment after achieving a preclinical milestone in its research and development alliance with Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J. Focused on the discovery and development of next-generation drugs for pain, the alliance enables the partners to pool drug candidates targeting the vanilloid receptor, an integrator of pain signals in the nervous system, and combine their ongoing VR1 programs to form a global research and development collaboration. June 1, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
September - December 2004
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., identified genetic markers the company said might predict whether schizophrenics under treatment are at risk of developing clozapine-induced agranulocytosis. The
company said findings from its CARING (Clozapine and Agranulocytosis Relationships Investigated by Genetics) study might apply to other drugs that affect white blood cell counts and require frequent blood testing. December 21, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., began Phase I human testing of its insomnia drug, NG2-73, which selectively modulates receptors of the gamma animobutyric neurotransmitter system. The company said preclinical studies suggest its drug might mark a reduction in next-day side effects associated with first-generation GABA hypnotic agents. Neurogen also is reviewing data from its Phase 1 study of NGD 96-3, also for insomnia,
which began testing at Pfizer Inc., of New York, in March 2002. December 21, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Testing Insomnia Drug. By Maria Garriga. December 21, 2004. New Haven Register.
Doctors Say Herbal Blend Can Help Cancer Patients. By Abram Katz. December 19, 2004. New Haven Register. (See also: PhytoCeutica, Inc.)
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said the Phase II trial of Triapine in combination with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer showed an objective response rate of 11 percent, median progression-free survival of 4.7 months and median survival of 7.1 months. The first patients were enrolled in May 2003 and accrual is closed with 60 patients. Further data will be presented in January at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2005 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. December 16, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals Files $75M Mixed SEC Shelf. By Shira Ovide of Dow Jones Newswires. December 14, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Student Services Lead to Rapid Growth for Local Company. By Maria Garriga. December 12, 2004. New Haven Register. (See also: Higher One)
New Haven is a Hospital and College Town and Opportunities Abound. By John DeStefano Jr. December 12, 2004. New Haven Register.
Hospital and City Tied Together. Yale-New Haven’s Planned expansion at Heart of City’s Future. A New Haven Register Editorial. December 12, 2004. New Haven Register.
Transmolecular Inc., of Birmingham, Ala., said that based on the favorable initial safety and tolerability profile of its cancer therapeutic, 131I-TM-601 for recurrent glioma or metastatic brain cancer, it is initiating a Phase II multicenter North American trial to include 66 patients with adult recurrent glioma. 131I-TM-601 incorporates a tumor-targeting, biologically active and chemically synthesized 36-amino-acid peptide derived from a naturally occurring protein found in scorpion venom that is conjugated with a medicinal radioisotope referred to as iodine 131. December 8, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Posts $19 Million Loss, Flat Revenue during 1st Quarter. By Maria Garriga. December 4, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., received fast-track designation from the FDA for CG53135, a protein therapeutic being developed for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis. CG53135 will be investigated for the prevention of mucositis in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation following myeloablative chemotherapy with or without total-body irradiation. CG53135 is an investigational protein designed to promote epithelial- and mesenchymal-cell proliferation. December 3, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., signed a research agreement with Sygen International plc, of Oxfordshire, UK, for Sygen to use Genaissance's high-throughput genotyping capabilities to accelerate Sygen's genetic discoveries in three meat animal species. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Genaissance is engaged in the discovery and use of human gene variation for the development of deoxyribonucleic acid-based diagnostic and therapeutic products. December 3, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) Receives Fast Track Designation for CG53135. PRNewswire. December 2, 2004. BioSpace.com.
CuraGen Up 13%; FDA Fast-Tracks Mucositis Drug. By Chhandasi Pandya of Dow Jones Newswires. December 2, 2004. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Achillion Sets Deal on Virus Drug. By Maria Garriga. November 30, 2004. New Haven Register.
Achillion Could Get $110M in Gilead HCV Agreement. By Karen Pihl-Carey. November 30, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gilead and Achillion Announce Collaboration for the Development and Commercialization of Achillion's Hepatitis C Compounds. November 29, 2004. Gilead. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., entered definitive agreements with institutional investors and other accredited investors with respect to the private placement of 3.55 million shares of newly issued stock, together with warrants to purchase 3.55 million shares of common stock, for a total purchase price of about $6 million. The transaction was expected to have closed on Friday. November 22, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Area Entrepreneurs Find Funding, Support through the Elmseed Enterprise Fund. By Susan Gonzalez. November 19, 2004. Yale Bulletin & Calendar. Volume 33, Number 12.
Abgenix to Receive Milestone Payment from CuraGen for Advancement of CR002 Antibody Product Candidate into Clinic. Business Wire. November 18, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., appointed Page Bouchard senior vice president of preclinical drug discovery and development. November 17, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., and Ipsogen, of Marseille, France, signed a co-marketing agreement, under which the companies will jointly offer an integrated package of gene-expression and genotyping technologies to developers and marketers of cancer drugs. It combines Ipsogen's Oncogenomic platform for gene-expression profiling with Genaissance's HAP technology and high-throughput genotyping platform. November 17, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said its wholly owned subsidiary, Gene Logic KK, officially opened its offices in Tokyo to provide sales support and customer service to pharmaceutical customers in Japan. The company hired two technical support managers and is searching for a general manager. More than 30 percent of Gene Logic revenue is from Japanese-headquartered pharmaceutical companies. November 17, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (GNSC) and Ipsogen to Offer Comprehensive Package of Pharmacogenomic Technologies for Oncology Drug Development. November 16, 2004. BioSpace.com.
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., said the FDA granted orphan drug designation to CR002, a fully human monoclonal antibody, as a potential treatment to slow the progression of IgA nephropathy and delay kidney failure in patients affected by the disease. CR002 neutralizes PDGF-D, a mediator known to stimulate mesangial-cell proliferation and that is implicated in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. November 12 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Guilford man lauded as bioscience leader. November 11, 2004. New Haven Register.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., said Phase III findings reported at the American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans showed that pexelizumab reduced the composite endpoint of death or myocardial infarction through postoperative day 30 in each of the seven individual pre-specified risk-factor patient groups, which together constituted the entire 3,099 patients in PRIMO-CABG, a previously reported study of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Other data reported at the meeting showed that pexelizumab significantly reduced mortality (60 percent) through postoperative day 180 in patients undergoing combined aortic valve and CABG surgery (p=0.043), another patient subpopulation from the study. November 11, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) Receives Orphan Drug Designation from FDA for CR002 in IgA Nephropathy Indication. November 11, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Ziopharm Inc., of New Haven, Conn., secured an exclusive worldwide license to a form of isophosphoramide mustard from Dekk-Tec Inc., of New Orleans. The compound, ZIO-201, is in a Phase I trial at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Michigan. It is the second product that Ziopharm has licensed in the last three months, the first being two classes of organic arsenicals, including ZIO-101 and ZIO-102. The Phase I trial of ZIO-201 is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2005. The company intends to initiate a Phase II study in adults with soft-tissue sarcoma in the second half of 2005. November 11, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Lays Off 10% of Staff. By Steve Higgins. November 10, 2004. New Haven Register.
TransMolecular Inc., of Birmingham, Ala., appointed John Ezcurra director of manufacturing. November 10, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., promoted Ann Cahill to vice president of clinical development. November 10, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter Results for 2004. Cost savings, including workforce reduction, implemented to better position company to reach goal of positive operating income by the end of 2005. New revenue generating opportunities in agricultural and consumer genomics markets. Source: Genaissance Pharmaceuticals. November 9, 2004. Yahoo! Finance.
VaxInnate Corp., of New Haven, Conn., appointed Janet Smart manager of intellectual property and David Jackson vice president of manufacturing and product development. November 9, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Posts 3Q Loss of 7 Cents a Share. By Steve Higgins. November 9, 2004. New Haven Register.
Cellular Genomics Inc., of Branford, Conn., appointed Udo Klein senior vice president of drug development. November 8, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Drug Company Neurogen Cuts Expenses, Increases Revenues. By Steve Higgins. November 6, 2004. New Haven Register.
Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., appointed Gautam Shah vice president of regulatory affairs. November 5, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Archemix names Bouchard SVP of Preclinical Drug Discovery and Development. November 5, 2004. Dow Jones VentureWire People. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., began treating patients in its pivotal Phase III TRIUMPH trial, evaluating eculizumab in patients with the chronic orphan blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Earlier this year, the company reached an agreement with the FDA on the design for the TRIUMPH trial, and the companion safety trial called SHEPHERD, under the agency's special protocol assessment process. (See BioWorld Today, July 21, 2004.) November 1, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
TransMolecular, Inc. Names John E. Ezcurra, Ph.D. Director, Manufacturing. October 26, 2004. BioSpace.com.
3 Area Firms in Top 10 on ‘Fast’ List. By Steve Higgins. October 28, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., and Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp., of West Haven, Conn., advanced into preclinical development a new orally active small molecule for the management of Type II diabetes. The companies' collaboration aims to identify and develop drugs targeted at the treatment of diabetes and obesity. CuraGen also said CG53135 moved into a Phase II trial for the prevention of oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation, and that CR002 will soon begin a Phase I trial in IgA nephropathy. October 27, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
VION Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., was granted orphan drug designation from the FDA for Cloretazine (VNP0101M) in acute myelogenous leukemia. Cloretazine is a sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent that is being evaluated by the company in a Phase II trial for acute myelogenous leukemia. The company plans to begin a Phase III trial of Cloretazine in combination with Ara-C in relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia no later than the first quarter of 2005. October 27, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Big Deals Boost Investment in Connecticut. Venture Stakes in 3rd Quarter Put Connecticut On Pace For Best Year Since Tech Wreck. By Stacy Wong. October 26, 2004. Hartford Courant.
State Sees Boost in Venture Capital. By Steve Higgins. October 26, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) and Bayer AG (BAY) Advance Investigational Compound for Diabetes to Preclinical Phase of Drug Development. October 26, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Vion Pharmaceuticals (VION) Receives Orphan Drug Designation for CLORETAZINE™ (VNP40101M). October 26, 2004. BioSpace.com.
YES Adds Biotech Division to Contest. New Category Reflects City's Focus on Research. By Katie DeWitt. October 22, 2004. Yale Daily News.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., and Pyxis Genomics Inc. signed a multiyear deal in which Genaissance will provide its high-throughput genotyping services to Pyxis for the commercialization of the company's Profile-1 system. Comprised of a panel of SNPs and a search engine and database created by IBM Life Sciences, the system tracks animals and meat products through production and distribution. The companies collaborated on validating the assays and expect commercial samples later in the quarter. Pyxis will pay Genaissance a fee per test. Separately, Genaissance decreased its revenue guidance for 2004 from $25 million to between $20 million and $21 million, including the acquisition of Lark Technologies Inc. in April. On a pro-forma basis the updated revenue guidance, previously $27 million, now is $22 million to $23 million. The adjustments resulted from changes in the timing of specific contracts and receipt of related samples, the company said. October 22, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Slashes Workforce. Waiting for Approval on Four Drugs. By Stacy Wong. October 20, 2004. Hartford Courant.
CuraGen lays off 110 from 3 Offices. By Steve Higgins. October 20, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Trims Employees for Third Time in Two Years. By Aaron Lorenzo. October 20, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) Announces Restructuring to Focus on Its Expanding Therapeutic Pipeline. October 19, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Cellular Genomics Inc., of Branford, Conn., appointed Udo Klein senior vice president of drug development. October 18, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
454 Life Sciences Inc., of Branford, Conn., a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corp., received a $5 million grant over three years from the National Human Genome Research Institute to develop the company's technology as a method to sequence individual human genomes on PicoTiterPlates. The technology could lower the cost of sequencing a single mammalian genome, the company said. October 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., is advancing CR011, a fully human monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate, which will be investigated as a treatment for metastatic melanoma. CuraGen expects it will enter clinical trials during the first half of 2006. CR011 uses technology licensed from Seattle Genetics Inc., of Bothell, Wash., to attach cell-killing payloads to a fully human monoclonal antibody developed by CuraGen. October 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
State Rated a Top Biotech Spot, Study Ranks Connecticut No. 3 in Nation for Life Sciences. By Stacy Wong. October 13, 2004. Hartford Courant.
State 3rd in Biotech Capability. October 13, 2004. New Haven Register.
CuraGen Advances CR011 as Potential Treatment for Metastatic Melanoma. By Rob Curran of Dow Jones Newswires. October 13, 2004 5:49 p.m. EDT. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
VaxInnate Corp., of New Haven, Conn., received a contract from the Department of Health and Human Services for the study of innate immune receptors and adjuvant discovery. Recent evidence shows that fusing a polypeptide ligand specific for a Toll-like receptor to an antigen of interest generates a vaccine that is more potent and selective than the antigen alone. The company also said it signed a lease for a new 20,000-square-foot facility in Cranbury, N.J. Three-quarters of it will be used for laboratory space, quality control and research and development, while the remaining space will be used as administrative offices. October 12, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., could receive $6 million in revenue over the next four years after entering an agreement with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., to provide preclinical safety and pharmacology studies focused on developing safe and effective medications for the treatment of drug addiction. The project is federally funded and provides for Gene Logic to achieve up to $6 million based on specific studies and services requested by the agency over the life of the agreement. October 11, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Aureon Biosciences Corporation Announces Appointment of Vijay Aggarwal, Ph.D., as Its New CEO. October 8, 2004. BioSpace.com.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., signed a cooperative agreement with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to determine the distribution of known bovine SNPs in different types of beef and dairy cattle. The parties will construct and validate assays for the SNPs. ARS will make the panel of assays available to trace the origin or parentage of cattle. The Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service has awarded Genaissance a contract to conduct genotyping services to determine the susceptibility of sheep to scrapie as part of the National Scrapie Eradication Program. October 7, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
RxGen Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said the National Institutes of Health has funded the company's fast-track Phase I and II SBIR application for $1.4 million to initiate the development of PrimaTox, a predictive toxicology technology that will examine the mechanisms of human drug toxicity with a goal to improve pharmaceutical candidate selection and preclinical validation. October 6, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Strategic agreement sees Asilas Genomic Systems launch commercial activities. Asilas Genomic Systems, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a strategic agreement with a major, multinational European pharmaceutical group. The agreement was signed at the end of August 2004 and marks the launch of commercial services for the company. One of the first projects to be undertaken will be the generation of a set of disease models, using the company’s proprietary pClasper technology to study a major, chronic respiratory condition and develop novel therapeutics as a result. October 3, 2004. Asilas Genomic Systems.
Bioscience Seeks Vitality. After weathering booms and busts, industry strives to energize region. By Kendra Locke. October 1, 2004. Yale Daily News.
Sopherion Gains $47 Million in Venture Financing. By Kimberly S. Johnson. September 30, 2004. New Haven Register.
Applied Spine Technologies to Present at Windhover Information and Medtech Insight's "Investment in Innovation" Conference. Source: Applied Spine Technologies. September 29, 2004. Yahoo!
Qiagen Pays $28.5M Cash for Molecular Staging Technology. By Cormac Sheridan. September 29, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
2 Biotechs Open for Business in Elm City. By Kimberly S. Johnson. September 29, 2004. New Haven Register.
Agilix Corp., of New Haven, Conn., received U.S. Patent No. 6,773,886, covering the technology embodied in its GenCompass Universal Microarray System. September 28, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
QIAGEN (QGENF) Acquires Key Assets of Molecular Staging Inc. September 27, 2004. BioSpace.com
Vion Expands Triapine Trials, Moves Cloretazine to Phase III. By Karen Pihl-Carey. September 27, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
'Focused' Alexion Reports $20 Million Loss in 4th Quarter. By Steve Higgins. September 25, 2004. New Haven Register.
Neurogen Deal with Aventis Dissolves. By Kimberly S. Johnson. September 25, 2004. New Haven Register.
Yale pathologists Dr. David Rimm (left) and Dr. Robert Camp, two of the co-founders of HistoRx Inc., developed the AQUA™ technology.
New Bioscience Company at Science Park Offering Digital Diagnostic Technology Developed at Yale. September 24, 2004. Yale Bulletin & Calendar. Volume 33, Number 4.
Completes Initial Financing. September 14, 2004. BioSpace.com
Yale Digital Diagnostic Technology is Basis of New Company, HistoRx Inc. By Janet Rettig Emanuel. September 20, 2004. Yale Office of Public Affairs.
HistoRx Inc., of New Haven, Conn., raised $1.5 million in a Series A financing. Proceeds will be used to initiate commercialization of a new molecular-based imaging technology developed at Yale University for tissue and tissue microarrays called AQUA (Automated Quantitative Analysis). The microarrays enable researchers to identify relationships between protein expression and therapeutic response that were undetectable using conventional methods of pathology analysis. Navigator Technology Ventures served as lead investor. Other investors were Genentech Inc., Sachem Ventures LLC and Marnat Investments. September 15, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance In-Licenses Merck's Depression Drug For Up To EUR36M. By Karen Pihl-Carey. September 24, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Sopherion's Myocet Licensing Inspires $47M Series B Round. By Randall Osborne. September 24, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharma to Begin Phase III Trail for Cloretazine. By Karen M. Lee of Dow Jones Newswires. September 23, 2004 5:10 p.m. EDT. Wall Street Journal. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (GNSC) Licenses Compound from Merck KGaA (MKGAF.PK). September 23, 2004. BioSpace.com
Sopherion Therapeutics, Inc. Raises $47 Million in Series B Funding and Acquires North American Rights to Myocet®. September 23, 2004. BioSpace.com
Ziopharm Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said mouse study data of ZIO-101 showed researchers were able to increase the arsenic dose 30- to 50-fold over that of inorganic arsenic without experiencing any severe side effects. Further testing with ZIO-101 in dogs showed no evidence of heart damage or other toxicity. The findings were presented by The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center researchers at the 7th annual meeting of New Trends in the Treatment of Acute Leukemia. The researchers also presented laboratory data that suggest ZIO-101 kills cancer cells more effectively than inorganic arsenic by using different mechanisms. September 21, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
TransMolecular Inc., of Birmingham, Ala., appointed Randall Riggs vice president of business development. September 20, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
St. Petersburg/New Haven Partnership for HIV/AIDS Care, Treatment and Support Launched Today. By Karen N. Peart. September 20, 2004. Yale Office of Public Affairs.
40 Start-up Companies Sign Up for Venture Fair. By Kimberly S. Johnson. September 17, 2004. New Haven Register.
Neurogen Gets Back All Rights to CRF Program from Aventis. By Aaron Lorenzo. September 17, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Ziopharm Finding Ways to Optimize Arsenic in Cancer. By Karen Pihl-Carey. September 16, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen to Assume Rights Under CRF-1 Collaboration. September 15, 2004. Neurogen.
Ziopharm Inc., of New Haven, Conn., relocated its corporate and development offices to New Haven. The facilities will house the company's executive staff and medical and clinical affairs activities. Ziopharm was founded in January to develop and commercialize a portfolio of in-licensed cancer therapies. September 14, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
RxGen Inc., of New Haven, Conn., named Steven Gullans president and CEO. Most recently, he was chief scientific officer at U.S. Genomics Inc., of Woburn, Mass. Gullans replaces interim CEO Harry Penner, who will remain chairman of the company, a central nervous system therapeutics firm that also operates contract research services. September 14, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
RxGen Appoints Steven R. Gullans, Former US Genomics CSO, as New Chief Executive Officer. September 13, 2004. BioSpace.com
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., appointed Matthew Kalnik senior vice president of business development. September 10, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Achillion Gets $10.4M as Part of Series D, Names New CEO. By Kim Coghill. September 3, 2004. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Achillion Taps New CEO with Eye on Sales. By Steve Higgins. September 3, 2004. New Haven Register.
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Appoints Michael D. Kishbauch Chief Executive Officer. Achillion Secures $10.4 Million Financing. September 2, 2004. BioSpace.com
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