By Maureen Martino Sanofi-Aventis R&D chief Marc Cluzel said last year that his company plans to focus on diabetes, cancer and ophthalmology drugs. Today, the company unveiled two deals that fit with that strategy. First, the Sanofi is teaming with Columbia University Medical Center to develop new diabetes treatments. The three-year deal will examine the role …
By John Carroll MedImmune is paying close to $7 million and promising $335 million more to partner up with Evotec on new research into regenerating insulin-producing beta cells. The German biotech says that the technology has the potential to prevent or reverse the development of diabetes. In addition to the potential milestones Evotec will also receive …
By John Carroll With all the buzz last week about Sanofi’s new Covance deal and its ongoing struggle to gain control of Genzyme, it was easy to overlook CEO Chris Viehbacher’s pipeline review for the Big Pharma company. Viehbacher has been engaged in a head-to-toe revamp of R&D from his first day at the helm. Late last …
By John Carroll San Diego-based Phenomix is out looking for a new partner for its late-stage diabetes drug. Forest Laboratories abruptly terminated their $340 million pact on dutogliptin, a 2008 deal that provided the pharma company with North American marketing rights. Phenomix says that the therapy hit its primary goal of lowering HbA1c levels in Phase III. …
By John Carroll Sanofi-Aventis has gained some fresh evidence to back lixisenatide, its late-stage GLP-1 therapy for Type 2 diabetes. Researchers say that the drug improved glycemic control in patients and reduced glucose in blood cells, making its Phase III study a success. The therapy was licensed from Zealand Pharma. “We are pleased with the …
