Healthcare - Today Stories

More Diagnostics, Inc., an employee owned developer and manufacturer of clinical diagnostic controls and Emery Pharma, a full-service contract research & development organization, specializing in microbiology, cell biology medicinal chemistry and bioanalytical services, announced the signing of a four-year agreement with Emery Pharma to provide Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) services to More Diagnostics. The agreement covers the analysis of the full range of analytes available in the controls for immunoassays used for testing immunosuppressant drugs, such as Everolimus, Tacrolimus, Cyclosporine and Sirolimus (Rapamycin). "We are very pleased to team with Emery Pharma as our partner in maintaining the highest level of quality and integrity of our products and collabora…

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (NYSE: AMN) today announced that it has completed two acquisitions: MedPartners, a leading national mid-revenue cycle firm; and two related brands in healthcare leadership solutions, Phillips DiPisa and Leaders For Today. MedPartners MedPartners, based in Tampa, Florida, provides solutions that help maximize healthcare facilities' revenue integrity, improve patient care management and support care-quality reporting requirements. The purchase price was $195 million, with up to an additional $20 million based on future financial performance. MedPartners generated 2017 revenue of approximately $125 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16%. The MedPartners acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to AMN's earnings per share.  …

VER today announced that, as part of a comprehensive transaction supported by its second lien lenders, including funds managed by GSO Capital Partners, it has entered into an agreement to merge with an entity controlled by Production Resource Group LLC ("PRG"). To facilitate the implementation of this pre-negotiated transaction, VER today filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. These filings only affect the Company's North American operations. By uniting, PRG and VER will meet evolving client needs and offer solutions, resources and expertise in ways neither company could achieve independently. Clients will have access to an extraordinary array of equipment and services, and the mo…

- Gene discovery could lead to future individualised therapy in myeloma - Researchers have revealed 40 genes involved in the development of myeloma, increasing our understanding of the complex genetics behind the incurable blood cancer. The discovery will help drive the development of more personalised treatments for myeloma, which is the second most common blood cancer in the UK. The team, based at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and largely funded by the charity Myeloma UK, uncovered new areas of coding, and non-coding DNA, that drive the early progression of myeloma. The research was published in the journal Leukemia today (Monday), and was also supported by Bloodwise and Cancer Research UK. Myeloma arises from the bone marrow and approximately 5,500 people are diagnosed…

Diaceutics, the diagnostic commercialization company that improves patient outcomes via better diagnostic testing, today announces that it has raised £3.75 million in new mezzanine financing from two partners, WhiteRock Capital Partners* and Silicon Valley Bank. The money will be used to support the organization’s continued global expansion.   Specifically, Diaceutics will use the funding to invest in the data analytics services that it provides to pharmaceutical clients and continue to expand its global laboratory network. The company will also look to grow the internal team of experts to deliver data-driven insights designed to improve diagnostic testing that benefits patients.   A recent analysis of Diaceutics’ testing data revealed that, globally, over 150,000 cancer pati…

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT) and the CHDI Foundation, Inc. (CHDI) today announced a research collaboration to advance PTC's Huntington's disease program. The program is optimizing small-molecule compounds—identified using PTC's splicing technology platform—that decrease the production of huntingtin protein. The current compounds have been shown to be orally bioavailable in animals, blood-brain barrier penetrant, and effective in decreasing the amount of huntingtin protein in a mouse model that has the expanded human huntingtin transgene. "We are excited to collaborate with CHDI to advance our small-molecule huntingtin-lowering program for the treatment of Huntington's disease," said Stuart W. Peltz, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of PTC Therapeutics. "Finding a pote…

NN, Inc., (NASDAQ: NNBR) a diversified industrial company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PMG Intermediate Holding Corporation, the parent company of Paragon Medical, Inc. for $375 million in cash.  Paragon Medical is a medical device manufacturer which focuses on the orthopedic, case and tray, implant and instrument markets. NN anticipates the transaction will close in the second quarter of 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.  Additional information about the transaction can be found in the supplemental deck on NN's website, www.nninc.com. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey is acting as the financial advisor to NN, and Bass, Berry & Sims PLC is serving as the legal advisor to NN. Paragon Medical cr…

Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), a leader in predictive discovery and development of first-in-class therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy, today announced it entered into an exclusive license agreement with MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, to enable the development of bi-specific and multi-specific immuno-oncology antibody products. Under the terms of the agreement, Compugen will provide an exclusive license to MedImmune for the development of bi-specific and multi-specific antibody products derived from a Compugen pipeline program. MedImmune has the right to create multiple products under this license and will be solely responsible for all research, development and commercial activities under the agreement. Compugen will receive a $10 million upfr…

Biocept, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOC), a leading commercial provider of liquid biopsy tests designed to provide physicians with clinically actionable information to improve the outcomes of patients diagnosed with cancer, announces that it has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. to collaborate together commercially.  In the first phase of the collaboration, the parties plan to work together to validate Thermo Fisher's Oncomine™ next-generation sequencing (NGS) liquid biopsy panels in Biocept's CLIA-certified laboratory.  Once validation is complete in addition to other requirements, Thermo Fisher intends to designate Biocept as a "Center of Excellence" for oncology-focused liquid biopsy initiatives and jointly pursue various commercial…

TiGenix NV (Euronext Brussels and NASDAQ: TIG) (“TiGenix”) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) (“Takeda”) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Alofisel (darvadstrocel), previously Cx601, for the treatment of complex perianal fistulae in adult patients with nonactive/mildly active luminal Crohn’s disease, when fistulae have shown an inadequate response to at least one conventional or biologic therapy. Darvadstrocel should be used after conditioning of fistula.2 This marks the first allogeneic stem cell therapy (originating from donor stem cells) to receive central marketing authorisation (MA) approval in Europe.   The European approval follows a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Hum…

VIFOR PHARMA GROUP has granted japanese company ZERIA pharmaceutical co., ltd. exclusive rights to develop and commercialise VELTASSA® in japan.   Under the terms of the agreement, Zeria will have the exclusive right to develop Veltassa® for the Japanese market and, once marketing authorisation has been granted, to commercialise it in Japan.   The collaboration with Zeria represents an important step in Vifor Pharma's promise to make Veltassa® available to patients worldwide. Having Veltassa® and Ferinject® commercialised through the same partner represents a substantive step for Vifor Pharma in its goal towards expanding its cardio-renal network and becoming the global leader in cardio-renal therapies.   "We are very pleased about strengthening our partnership with Ze…

Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: CPH) and Cardiome Pharma Corp. (Nasdaq: CRME and TSX:COM), today announced their entry into a definitive arrangement agreement pursuant to which Cipher will acquire the Canadian business portfolio of Cardiome.  The proposed transaction will be completed pursuant to the acquisition by Cipher of all of the outstanding shares of Cardiome, following a restructuring of Cardiome pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act.  Pursuant to the arrangement, Cardiome shareholders will receive common shares, on a one-for-one ratio, of a newly created Canadian entity named Correvio Pharma Corp. that will apply for a substitution listing on the Nasdaq and TSX. Correvio will acquire and hold all of Cardiome's pre-transa…

United Neuroscience, Ltd., (UNS), today announced that it has entered a research collaboration agreement with the Ronald Melki laboratory at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) to investigate applications of the United Neuroscience Endobody technology platform in targeting pathogenic forms of alpha-synuclein protein. Under the agreement, United Neuroscience will contribute novel candidates targeting specific protein aggregates using the Endobody technology platform. Researchers in the CNRS laboratory will provide expertise in characterization of these candidates for key properties for their potential in generating therapeutics for Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. "Our vision at United Neuroscience is to leverage the expertise of a select few research…

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced that it has acquired IntegenX Inc., which provides a rapid DNA platform for use in forensics and law enforcement applications. IntegenX products significantly enhance Thermo Fisher's existing HID portfolio and complement its leading human identification chemistries, as well as its qPCR and capillary electrophoresis systems. IntegenX solutions include the RapidHIT platforms, software analysis tools and related consumables that are highly compatible with Thermo Fisher's short tandem repeat (STR) chemistries for human identification. IntegenX currently provides support to prosecutors and law enforcement in 17 countries where its technology is used in government laboratories to generate forensic DNA profiles f…

Novartis announced today the launch of two new Joint Working Projects with national Cancer Vanguard sites, which aim to identify ways to improve cancer patient care pathways and access to services. The projects will be based at The Christie in Greater Manchester and within the UCLH Cancer Collaborative region (north and east London), covering a catchment population of 6.9 million people. The two projects are part of Novartis’ ongoing commitment to combine resources, time, and expertise with the NHS, with the aim to significantly improve cancer patient outcomes. With one in two people born after 1960 expected to develop cancer at some point in their lifetime1, optimising working practices and addressing variations in care is essential to ensure the best outcomes for cancer patients. Centra…

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) and Prexton Therapeutics BV (Prexton) today announced signing of a definitive agreement in which Lundbeck will acquire Prexton. Under terms of the agreement, Lundbeck will pay EUR 100 million (approximately DKK 750 million) upfront and is furthermore required to later pay up to EUR 805 million (approximately DKK 6 billion) in development and sales milestones to the group of current owners. By acquiring Prexton, Lundbeck will obtain global rights of an attractive compound (foliglurax) which currently is in clinical phase II testing for symptomatic treatment of OFF-time reduction in Parkinson's disease and dyskinesia including Levodopa Induced Dyskinesia (LID). First data from the ongoing clinical phase II programme is expected to be available during the first hal…

Zecotek Photonics Inc. ("Zecotek" or the "Company") (TSX-V: ZMS, Frankfurt: W1I, OTCPK: ZMSPF), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for healthcare, industrial and scientific markets, is pleased to announce that it has signed a marketing and distribution agreement with the Shanghai Fortune Techgroup Co. Ltd., a China-based authorized distributor of integrated circuits and related optoelectronic products, to generate sales of its patented LFS crystals to customers in China. "The Shanghai Fortune Techgroup is a well-established distributor of photonic technologies with customers in China and around the world, and we are very pleased that they will now include our patented LFS scintillation crystals on their product list," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairma…

Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHX) and HEALIOS K.K. ("Healios") announced today their intent to significantly expand their existing development and commercialization collaboration.  As part of this expansion, Healios is making an approximate $21 million equity investment at $1.76 per share, will deposit $10 million into escrow, and has entered into a letter of intent ("LOI") with Athersys to expand Healios' license to develop MultiStem® products for indications to include acute respiratory distress syndrome ("ARDS"), trauma in Japan and the use of MultiStem products in conjunction with organ bud technology and certain ophthalmological indications globally.  Healios will also obtain an exclusive option to a license to develop and commercialize MultiStem products for ischemic stroke…

Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) (the "Company") and Integrated DNA Technologies ("IDT") announced today that Danaher has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire IDT, a privately-held provider of high-value consumables for genomics applications in molecular biology, qPCR, next generation sequencing, synthetic biology, gene editing and molecular diagnostics.  IDT's primary business is the manufacturing of high-quality, custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotides serving customers in the academic and biopharmaceutical research, biotechnology, agriculture, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development end markets. Founded in 1987 by Joseph Walder, MD, PhD, IDT has grown to become a leader in its served markets with more than 1,200 employees and over 100,000 customers worldwide. IDT…

Sanofi announced today the successful completion of its acquisition of Bioverativ Inc. ("Bioverativ") for $105 per share in cash. "The addition of Bioverativ provides us with a strong position in the large and growing hemophilia market and expands our presence in specialty care," said Olivier Brandicourt," Sanofi's Chief Executive Officer.  "Through a series of three strategic transactions-the addition of Bioverativ, our planned acquisition of Ablynx and our agreement for fitusiran-we are well on our way to creating a leading franchise in the field of rare blood disorders." The tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Bioverativ common stock expired as scheduled at one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The minimum tender condition an…