Biotherapeutics News for October 2009

Biotherapeutics News Archive

Novartis biological drug Ilaris approved in EU to treat children and adults with CAPS, a rare auto-inflammatory disease Novartis biological drug Ilaris approved in EU to treat children and adults with CAPS, a rare auto-inflammatory disease

The new biological medicine Ilaris® (canakinumab) has been approved in the EU to treat adults and children as young as four years old with CAPS, a rare life-long auto-inflammatory disease.

FDA approves new treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia FDA approves new treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Arzerra (ofatumumab) for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

New Phase II data show ACZ885 gave better pain relief and flare prevention for patients with chronic gout than an injectable corticosteroid New Phase II data show ACZ885 gave better pain relief and flare prevention for patients with chronic gout than an injectable corticosteroid

New results have shown that the novel biological therapy ACZ885 (canakinumab) is significantly more effective than an injectable corticosteroid at reducing pain and preventing recurrent attacks or ‘flares’ in patients with hard-to-treat gout, one of the most painful forms of arthritis.

Hope for pioneering immunotherapy treatment for childhood cancer Hope for pioneering immunotherapy treatment for childhood cancer

Cancer Research UK scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a potential new antibody treatment that, in the laboratory, shows significantly increased survival from neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer that grows from undeveloped tissue of the nervous system.

Sanofi-aventis to acquire Fovea Pharmaceuticals Sanofi-aventis to acquire Fovea Pharmaceuticals

Sanofi-aventis announced recently that it has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA (‘Fovea‘), a privately held French research and development biopharmaceutical company, focused on ocular diseases.