News Archive 2005
News relating to New Haven, Connecticut, New Ventures Originating from Yale Research, and the Yale Pipeline
September - December 2005
Pharmaceutical Firm Attempts to Attack Bacteria through Ribosomes. By Abram Katz. December 4, 2005. New Haven Register.
Marinus' Series A Nets $29M to Build CNS Drug Pipeline. By Jennifer Boggs. October 26, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Marinus Pharmaceuticals Raises $29.4 Million in Series A Financing. October 25, 2005. BioSpace.com.
Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Bradford, Conn.-based drug company focused on neurological and psychiatric disorders, has raised $28.14 million in Series A funding, according to a regulatory filing. Backers include Domain Associates and Sofinnova Venture Partners. The company has a Phase III clinical candidate to treat infantile spasms, and has in-licensed from Yale University a preclinical compound to treat bipolar disorder. October 20, 2005. Private Equity Week, Thomson Financial.
HistoRx, Inc. and Eli Lilly Enter into a Collaboration. October 13, 2005. HistoRx.
HistoRx and Eli Lilly Enter into a Collaboration. October 13, 2005. Mass High Tech.
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) Gets $7.5 Million as It, Roche (RHHBY) Launch Genome Sequencer. October 7, 2005. BioSpace.com.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End Results & Fiscal 2006 Outlook. October 5, 2005. BioSpace.com.
October 4, 2005. New Haven Register.
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CuraGen Corp., of Branford, Conn., said it expects to complete this week the enrollment of patients in the Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating a single dose of velafermin for the prevention of oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. To date, more than 200 patients have been treated with velafermin in the trial, and the last patient is expected to be enrolled by the end of September. Velafermin is a growth factor that appears to promote both epithelial and mesenchymal cell proliferation in vitro and is active in animal models of OM, the company said. September 29, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Signs to Revamp Shelved Drugs in Pfizer Deal. By Karen Pihl-Carey. September 28, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of Branford, Conn., and TopoTarget A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, initiated patient dosing in a Phase Ib open-label, multicenter, proof-of-concept trial evaluating PXD101, a small-molecule histone deacetylase inhibitor, to treat advanced solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. The trial initially will enroll up to 15 patients with advanced solid tumors to establish the maximum tolerated dose of PXD101 used in combination with 5-fluorouracil. September 28, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corporation (CRGN) and TopoTarget A/S Initiate Phase Ib Clinical Trial with PXD101 for Advanced Colorectal Cancer. September 27, 2005. BioSpace.com.
Gene Logic Enters Agreement with Pfizer to Reposition Significant Number of Drug Candidates from a Broad Range of Therapeutic Areas. September 27, 2005. BusinessWire.
Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., and Nuvelo Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., decided to drop their development of ARC183, which was being tested as an anticoagulant for potential use in acute cardiovascular settings, such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and instead
will pursue an optimized second-generation molecule. The partners closed a Phase I trial after preliminary results showed that the amount of ARC183needed to achieve the desired anticoagulation for use in CABG surgery resulted in a sub-optimal dosing profile. September 23, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., said its first-in-human, single ascending-dose study of NG2-73, its leading drug candidate for insomnia, produced reports of sleepiness among treated subjects. Also in the Phase I trial, the compound was safe and well tolerated across a broad dose range. NG2-73 selectively modulates receptors of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system. A second study is testing multiple ascending doses in healthy subjects, and a pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic study is under way to evaluate its sleep-inducing effects at various dosages in order to establish a range for Phase II. September 23, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., said that during August and September, the company repurchased $23.9 million of face value of its 6 percent convertible subordinated notes due February 2007. The aggregate purchase price for the face value of the 2007 notes was $23.8 million. CuraGen is focused on protein, antibody and small-molecule therapeutics in the areas of oncology, inflammatory diseases and diabetes. September 22, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., entered a pharmacogenomic research collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Tokyo. Terms of the deal call for Genaissance to apply its HAP Technology to identify genetic markers related to drug response. Both companies will jointly own resulting intellectual property, and both will be eligible to receive royalties. September 22, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) Completes Enrollment of Its Eculizumab Phase III SHEPHERD Trial in PNH Patients. September 21, 2005. BioSpace.com.
VION Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., initiated a Phase II trial of Cloretazine in small-cell lung cancer. The objectives of the study are to determine the response rate and toxicity of Cloretazine in patients with locally advanced or metastatic small-cell lung cancer who have either not responded to or relapsed following initial treatment for the disease. September 21, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Unigene Laboratories Inc., of Fairfield, N.J., and Yale University in New Haven, Conn., executed agreements to enable Unigene to acquire exclusive rights to their jointly owned inventions for procedures that might provide physicians with new methodologies for treating and preventing fractures more effectively. Patent applications were filed for two inventions. September 20, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., and TopoTarget A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, started patient dosing in a Phase Ib, open-label, multicenter, proof-of-concept trial evaluating PXD101, a small-molecule histone deacetylase inhibitor, to treat advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. The goal of the proof-of-concept trial is to establish the maximum tolerated dose of PXD101 used in combination with carboplatin and/or paclitaxel in up to 30 patients with advanced solid tumors. Once the maximum tolerated dose is established, an additional 15 ovarian cancer patients in need of relapse treatment will be enrolled. September 14, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (GNSC) and Ipsogen Announce Cancer Biomarker Research Agreements. September 12, 2005. BioSpace.com.
Hana Biosciences Inc., of South San Francisco, initiated a Phase I IPdR trial in colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and liver cancers. The objectives of the trial are to establish the safety, dose and preliminary efficacy of IPdR in combination with radiation therapy. IPdR is an orally available, thymidine analogue and prodrug for IUdR, which demonstrated a survival advantage in Phase II studies in anaplastic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor. September 8, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) Names Sinha CFO. September 2, 2005. BioSpace.com.
January - May 2005
Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., promoted Milind Deshpande to chief scientific officer and senior vice president of research, and Kevin Eastwood to senior vice president of business development. March 28, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Archemix Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., appointed Frank Douglas to its board. March 28, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Initiates Phase III Trial of CloretazineTM (VNP40101M) in Relapsed Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. March 28, 2005. VION Pharmaceuticals.
454 Life Sciences, of Branford, Conn., a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corp., has sold and installed its first 454 Genome Sequencing System at the Genome Sequencing and Analysis program of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a research collaboration of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and its hospitals, and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. The company said the system, which uses technology developed by 454 Life Sciences, has the potential to perform sequencing 100 times faster than conventional sequencing machines and allows one person to prepare and sequence an entire genome after performing a single sample preparation, regardless of the size of the genome being studied. March 28, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Yale-developed Brace Heading for Market. March 25, 2005. Yale Bulletin & Calendar. Volume 33, Number 23.
Yale Technology Translates to Sonic Golf Training Tool. By Janet Rettig Emanuel. March 23, 2005. Yale Office of Public Affairs.
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said initial Phase II data reported at the International Symposium and Workshop on Leukemia and Lymphoma in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, showed that its cancer agent Cloretazine (VNP40101M) produced an overall response rate of 30 percent among 67 elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients and 14 high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients. In another set of patients, among whom 90 percent had either intermediate or unfavorable cytogenetics, there was an overall response rate of 7 percent. Vion said investigators concluded that the data demonstrate significant single-agent activity in high-risk AML and MDS patients for whom current treatment strategies are inadequate. March 22, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., appointed Bertrand Chenard senior vice president, chemistry and process research. March 21, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CFO at Alexion will leave April 1. March 17, 2005. New Haven Register.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., appointed Ruedi Waeger to its board. March 15, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Ambit Biosciences Corp., of San Diego, appointed Robert deGroof senior vice president of development, and Shripad Bhagwat senior vice president of drug discovery. March 15, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Cellular Genomics Inc., of Branford, Conn., appointed Peter Fuller chief business officer. March 15, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., appointed V.W. Brinkerhoff senior vice president and general manager for the preclinical contract research business. March 15, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., released an upgrade of its software system, Genesis Enterprise System 2.5, which expands and accelerates researchers' abilities to assess drug risks using genomics and toxicogenomics data and related clinical information. March 11, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., signed an agreement with St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for providing U.S. soybean plant breeders with technology for more accurate and efficient plant breeding research. The intent of the project is to map single nucleotide polymorphism DNA markers in soybeans, creating a molecular genetic map of the soybean that includes a large number of SNP DNA markers, along with existing simple sequence repeat markers. The collaborators said they plan to make the information available. March 10, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Partnerships Limit Neurogen Losses. By Damian J. Troise. March 10, 2005. New Haven Register.
Yale Spin-off Receives $15 Million to Commercialize M-Brace™ for Spinal Pain. By Janet Rettig Emanuel. March 2, 2005. Yale Office of Public Affairs.
Rell won’t Cut Biotech Firm Incentives. By Damian J. Troise. February 24, 2005. New Haven Register.
Firm Gains $15 Million to Work on Implant. By Damian J. Troise. February 23, 2005. New Haven Register.
Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., launched ToxShield Suite 1.0, a Web-enabled software platform for assessing and rank ordering drug candidates based on potential toxicities. February 23, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Cellular Genomics Inc., of Branford, Conn., completed a performance milestone in its joint kinase discovery program with Serono SA, of Geneva, in which CGI applies its chemical genetics Analogue Sensitive Kinase Allele technology to target kinases selected by Serono. The milestone relates to the development of CGI's in vivo models for kinase drug discovery, and entitles CGI to an undisclosed performance payment. February 16, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Gets SPA Go-Ahead for AML Drug's Phase III. By Randall Osborne. February 11, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Acquisitions Boost Losses, Revenue. By Maria Garriga. February 11, 2005. New Haven Register.
Tax Credit Issue Worries Biotechs. By Maria Garriga. February 10, 2005. New Haven Register.
Vion Announces Agreement with FDA on Special Protocol Assessment for Phase III Trial of Cloretazine (VNP40101M) in Relapsed AML. February 10, 2005. BioSpace.
CuraGen Losses Increase in 2004. By Maria Garriga. February 4, 2005. New Haven Register.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., expanded its ability to provide genetic tests for variants of cardiac ion channel proteins involved in drug-inducted cardiac arrhythmias after receiving exclusive commercial rights to Vanderbilt University's patent. The patent claims screening patients for susceptibility for drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias by testing for they presence of common polymorphism in KCNE1. February 3, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., and TopoTarget A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, initiated patient dosing in a Phase II trial evaluating PXD101, a small-molecule histone deacetylase inhibitor, as a potential treatment for advanced multiple myeloma. That initiation triggered an undisclosed milestone payment to be made to TopoTarget. The open-label, multicenter study is expected to be completed by mid-2006. February 2, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., completed its previously announced sale of 10 million shares of common stock in a registered direct offering of $3.25 per share to raise $32.5 million. The company said proceeds will fund its Phase III trial of the sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent Cloretazine for brain cancer and acute myeloid leukemia, and should sustain the company to 2007. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 27, 2005.). February 2, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Conn. is Praised for Development Efforts. By Katie DeWitt. January 31, 2005. Yale Daily News. (Related Links: Corporation for Enterprise Development => Development Report Card For The States - Honor Roll)
Work Life / Cultural Scene Draws New Generation to Downtown New Haven Apartments. By Jim Shelton. January 30, 2005. New Haven Register.
Vion's $32M Stock Offering will Fund Cloretazine Phase III Trial. By Randall Osborne. January 27, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., expanded its ability to provide genetic tests for critical variants of key cardiac ion channel proteins involved in drug-induced cardiac arrythmias. Drug-induced cardiac arrythmias that are associated with prolongation of the QT interval on the electrocardiogram have led to the withdrawal from the market of certain drugs. Vanderbilt University granted Genaissance exclusive commercial rights to U.S. Patent 6,458,542. January 27, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., completed its previously announced sale of $150 million worth of 1.375 % convertible senior notes due 2012. The closing also included the exercise by the initial purchasers of an option to purchase an additional $25 million in notes. The notes are convertible into Alexion's common stock at an initial conversion rate of about 31.8 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, subject to adjustment (equivalent to a conversion price of about $31.46 per share and a conversion premium of about 35 percent to the last reported per-share price of $23.30 on Jan. 19). Net proceeds will be applied to redeem Alexion's outstanding $120 million worth of 5.75 % convertible subordinated notes due 2007, and for general corporate purposes. January 26, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Tech Still Tempts. Cash Injections into State Firms Rise, Showing Science Sells. By Stacy Wong. January 25, 2005. Hartford Courant.
Investments in State Total $247.8 Million in 2004. January 25, 2005. New Haven Register.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said findings from a 674-subject study, published in the December 2004 issue of Atherosclerosis, suggested that women with a genetic predisposition to protective levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) lose that benefit when taking hormone-replacement therapy. The results are the first published data from the company's STRENGTH (Statin Response Examined by Genetic Haplotype Markers) trial, a prospective pharmacogenetic study undertaken to find genetic markers responsible for differential response to statin drugs for lowering cholesterol. The eight-month trial of 315 men and 359 women also was designed to find genetic markers responsible for pre-treatment levels of biomarkers such as low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and CRP. January 25, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Biotech Looks to be Next Wave of Technology. January 24, 2005. Norwich Bulletin.
Ambit Hits a Triple, Signs BMS, GSK, Pfizer to Deals. By Randall Osborne. January 24, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., priced its private placement of $125 million convertible senior notes due 2012. The notes will bear interest of about 1.4 percent per annum and be convertible into shares of Alexion's stock at an initial conversion rate of about 31.8 shares per $1,000 in notes. Alexion has granted the initial purchasers an option for an additional $25 million in notes. Proceeds will be used to retire Alexion's outstanding 5.75 percent convertible subordinated notes due 2007 and for general corporate purposes. January 21, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion raises $125 million. ALXN raised $125 million in a private placement of convertible senior notes. The notes bear 1.375% interest, mature in 2012 and convert into stock at $31.46, a 35% premium to the company's Wednesday close of $23.30. ALXN proposed the deal, which has a $25 million overallotment, on Tuesday. ALXN said it plans to use the proceeds from the offering to retire its outstanding 5.75% convertible subordinated notes due 2007. ALXN's eculizumab antibody is in two Phase III trials to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The company's pexelizumab antibody is in two Phase III trials: one in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and the other in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. On Thursday, ALXN was off $0.24 to $23.06. January 20, 2005. BioCentury. (Subscription Required)
Agilix Corp., of New Haven, Conn., was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,824,981 titled "Ultra-Sensitive Detection Systems Using Alterable Peptide Tags," for isobaric protein labeling, part of Agilix's i-PROT labeling technology. January 20, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Agilix Corp., of New Haven, Conn., said it presented data showing the versatility of its i-PROT technology for the identification and validation of biomarkers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at the Cambridge Healthtech Institute's "PepTalk" conference in San Diego. January 20, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., plans to sell about $125 million in convertible senior notes due 2012 to qualified institutional buyers. The company expects the offering to include an option for the initial purchasers to buy an additional $25 million in notes. It plans to use the proceeds to retire its outstanding 5.75 percent convertible subordinated notes due 2007 and for general corporate purposes. January 20, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Seeking $125M Note Deal. ALXN proposed to raise $125 million in a private placement of convertible senior notes due 2012. The deal has a $25 million overallotment. ALXN plans to use a portion of the proceeds to retire its outstanding 5.75% convertible subordinated notes that are due in 2007. ALXN's eculizumab antibody is in two Phase III trials to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The company's pexelizumab antibody is in two Phase III trials: one in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and the other in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. January 18, 2005. BioCentury. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., appointed Craig Saxton chairman. January 19, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
New Haven is Hot. By Alix Boyle. January 16, 2005. Hartford Courant.
Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said that the shelf registration statement filed on Dec. 14 with the SEC was declared effective Monday. The registration statement allows Vion, from time to time, to sell up to an aggregate of $75 million of common stock and/or warrants to purchase common stock. Vion is developing agents for cancer treatment. January 12, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cheshire, Conn., began the treatment section of the Phase III SHEPHERD trial, evaluating eculizumab in patients with the chronic orphan blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The SHEPHERD trial, along with the already enrolling TRIUMPH trial, comprises the Phase III PNH program agreed on with the FDA under the special protocol assessment process. The SHEPHERD trial will generate safety data on eculizumab in hemolytic PNH patients with a history of transfusion. Additional endpoints include hemolysis and quality-of-life measures. The trial is expected to enroll about 75 patients in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, and results from six months of therapy are expected during the second half of 2005. Alexion agreed to the SPA in July. (See BioWorld Today, July 21, 2004.) January 11, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., appointed Craig Saxton chairman of the company's board. Saxton, 62, is a former executive of Pfizer Inc., where he oversaw global drug development. He has served on Neurogen's board since January 2002 and succeeds Frank Carlucci, who remains on the board as chairman emeritus. January 10, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Ziopharm Inc., of New Haven, Conn., agreed to a two-year collaboration with Southern Research Institute, of Birmingham, Ala., to develop a series of IPM (isophosphoramide mustard) analogues. Ziopharm also signed a two-year option agreement for exclusive worldwide rights for the alkylating agents and said a patent covering those analogues has been issued in the U.S. In November, the company announced it secured exclusive global rights to a form of IPM (Z10-201) from DEKK-Tec Inc. of New Orleans. January 10, 2005. BioWorld Today. (Subscription Required)
Pipeline to Profits. By Maria Garriga. January 9 , 2005. New Haven Register.
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