Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCMP) (SPI) und Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. gaben heute bekannt, dass Lubiprostone den primären Endpunkt in einer klinischen Phase-3-Studie erreicht hat. In der Studie wurde die Behandlung von opioidinduzierter Darmfunktionsstörung (OBD) bei Patienten mit chronischen, nicht krebsbedingten Schmerzen geprüft, wobei Patienten, die Methadon einnehmen, von der Studienteilnahme ausgeschlossen waren.

Die grösste Exportindustrie der Schweiz konnte ihre Exportleistung im Jahr 2011 dank Life-Science-Produkten insgesamt gut halten. Die Gesamtexporte Chemie Pharma Biotech gingen gegenüber dem Vorjahr um -1.7% leicht zurück und erreichten 74.6 Mrd. CHF. more

Spectranetics Corporation (Nasdaq:SPNC) today announced six month interim results from the PATENT (Photo-Ablation using the TURBO-Booster® and Excimer Laser for In-Stent Restenosis Treatment) study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Spectranetics peripheral laser atherectomy catheters for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in the femoropopliteal artery in the leg. There is no device currently cleared or approved by the FDA to treat peripheral in-stent restenosis, which remains a major unsolved medical problem.

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCMP) (SPI) and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. announced today that lubiprostone met the primary endpoint in a phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OBD) in patients with chronic, non-cancer pain, excluding those taking methadone.

ePRO Systems provider PHT Corporation turned ePRO innovation into profit as it achieved its best year in company history, capping 12 consecutive profitable quarters and reaching an industry landmark 500 ePRO trials. PHT is the only ePRO Systems provider that covers every clinical research phase from exploratory to post market.

Die strenge Zulassungspolitik der US-Gesundheitsaufsicht FDA wird viel von den Investoren und Unternehmen kritisiert. Die Behörde geniesst den Ruf, streng und pendantisch zu handeln und damit die Kosten für die Medikamentenentwicklung (unnötig) in die Höhe zu treiben. more

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that it has provided notice to Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) that it will nominate a slate of highly qualified, independent candidates for election to Illumina's Board of Directors and propose certain other matters for the consideration of Illumina's shareholders at Illumina's 2012 annual meeting, which, if adopted, would result in Roche-nominated directors comprising a majority of the Illumina board. Roche also named five alternate nominees for election to Illumina's board.

Mehrere Pharmafirmen, darunter Novartis und Merck Serono, wollen in den kommenden zehn Jahren 14 Milliarden Behandlungen zur Bekämpfung von Tropenkrankheiten spenden. Diese Krankheiten betreffen eine Milliarde Menschen in armen Ländern. more

Cenduit, LLC, ein global tätiger Lösungsanbieter für die in klinischen Studien eingesetzte Interactive Response Technology (IRT), hat angekündigt, dass zwei seiner Fachleute an bevorstehenden Veranstaltungen für Anbieter von Material und Know-how für klinische Studien in Europa und in den USA als Redner vortragen werden. Anthony Frankland, globaler Vertriebs- und Marketingleiter, und Kirsten Ferrandiz, Bereichsleiterin Account Management, werden über den Einsatz von Interactive Response Technology (IRT) zur Optimierung der globalen Lieferkette im klinischen Bereich sprechen.

Cenduit, LLC, a global provider of Interactive Response Technology (IRT) solutions for clinical trials, announced that two of its experts will present at upcoming clinical trial supply events in Europe and the United States. Anthony Frankland, Global Head of Sales and Marketing, and Kirsten Ferrandiz, Senior Director Account Management will discuss the use of Interactive Response Technology (IRT) to optimize the global clinical supply chain.

We kindly invite investors and analysts to participate in a conference call that will be held on Wednesday, 25 January at 7:00 am ET / 1:00 pm CET.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that it is proposing to acquire all outstanding shares of Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) for $44.50 per share in cash, or an aggregate of approximately $5.7 billion on a fully diluted basis. This offer represents a 64% premium over Illumina's stock price on December 21, 2011 ? the day before market rumors about a potential transaction between Roche and Illumina drove Illumina's stock price significantly higher ? a 61% premium over the one-month historical average and a 43% premium over the three-month historical average of Illumina's share price, both as of December 21. It also represents a 30.1x multiple of Illumina's projected forward earnings based upon analysts' current consensus estimates for 2012.

Regulatory News:

Numab AG, a Swiss Biotech company completes Management. more

Regulatory News:

Pevion Biotech AG today announced further data from the ongoing clinical study of its therapeutic Candida vaccine PEV7, demonstrating the generation of specific and functional B cell memory in 100% of vaccinees. more

Syngenta hat heute den Abschluss der Gehaltsverhandlungen 2012 für die Werke Basel, Dielsdorf, Kaisten, Münchwilen und Stein bekannt gegeben. more

ProteoMediX AG, a diagnostic company developing noninvasive diagnostic tests for the accurate detection, prognosis and therapy-selection of cancer, has announced the successful closing of a Series A equity financing round. more

APR Applied Pharma Research s.a. ("APR"), Labtec GmbH ("Labtec") and Norgine BV ("Norgine") announce the signature of an exclusive licensing agreement under which Norgine will market and distribute Setofilm? Ondansetron Oral Dispersible Film ("ODF"), in Europe and selected non-European countries.

2012—IBM scientists have developed a flexible, non-contact microfluidic probe made from silicon that can aid researchers and pathologists to investigate critical tissue samples accurately for disease diagnostics and drug discovery more

BASF-Pflanzenbiotechnologie-Zentrale wird in die USA verlegt, Aktivitäten werden auf Hauptmärkte in Nord- und Südamerika konzentriert more

Neue Geschäftsführerin bei der Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation (SCTO) Wie bereits angekündigt hat der Vorstand der SCTO Annette Magnin als neue Geschäfts­führerin der SCTO gewählt. more