Category Archives: Business of Biotech

The 8th Annual BIO Investor Forum is attracting patient advocacy and venture philanthropy groups from across the country, who are interested in partnering to speed cures. Some of the participating organizations include: Fast Forward CureDuchenne The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MDA Venture Philanthropy Epilepsy Therapy Project The Parkinson’s Institute These groups understand how critical it is for patient advocates, venture philanthropists, and biotech companies to work together to speed treatments and cures.

Plexxikon Inc. reports positive clinical data from a Phase 1 extension study of PLX4032 (RG7204) in metastatic melanoma patients. PLX4032 targets the BRAFV600E mutation that occurs in about 50 percent of melanomas and about eight percent of solid tumors. Tumor shrinkage has been observed in nearly all of the currently evaluable patients in the extension study, reflecting a 70 percent response rate. Plexxikon and Roche are co-developing PLX4032 under their 2006 license and collaboration agreement.

Peptimmune, Inc. has formed a collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Naval Medical Research Center for the development of Dengue vaccines and point-of-care diagnostics. The goal of the R&D project is to evaluate the company’s Directed Expansion of Epitope Permutations (DEEP) technology to potentially design DENV-specific peptide copolymers. The results of this effort have the potential to provide insights into dengue immunity and advance the development of a protective vaccine.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA) announced final data results from a clinical trial evaluating IMO-2055, a monotherapy in patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma. Progression-free survival medians for treatment-naïve patients were 4.5 months at 0.16 mg/kg/week and 1.9 months at 0.64 mg/kg/week.  The most common adverse events included fatigue, nausea, chills, headache, and pyrexia.