Drug Companies Update Mar 2007
Mergers, acquisitions & Joint Ventures
- US giant Eli Lilly has acquired ICOS, which will remain a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- Hospira has acquired oncology-focused Mayne Pharma.
- Inologic has changed its name to ISM Therapeutics.
- California-based IntraBiotics has changed its name to Ardea Biosciences.
- Johnson & Johnson has acquired cardiovascular device company Conor Medisystems, which remains a subsidiary.
- Kiadis and Celmed BioSciences have merged to form a Dutch-Canadian oncology product development company, Kiadis Pharma.
- Nanobac Life Sciences has changed its name to Nanobac Pharmaceuticals.
- Novozymes has acquired Australia-based GroPep.
- Vectura has acquired fellow inhalation specialist Innovata, which remains a subsidiary.
New Companies
- Acretia is focused on developing drugs for hyperproliferative inflammatory diseases of the skin or cancer.
- Advanced Cell Technology is a biotechnology company, applying human embryonic stem cell technology in the field of regenerative medicine.
- Using its proprietary cell permeable peptide technology, Aileron Therapeutics is developing treatments for cancer and other diseases.
- Geneva-based company Anavex Life Sciences is working to discover and develop drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases.
- Aprogen employs monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders and viral diseases.
- Arbor Vita is a biopharmaceutical company, investigating drugs and diagnostics targeting PDZ proteins.
- Ardea Biosciences develops and commercializes novel treatments for HIV, cancer and inflammatory diseases.
- Emiliem is using its K-STAR technology to identify oncology-drugs that target multiple kinases.
- FirstString Research is a spin-off from the Medical University of South Carolina, and is developing a novel wound-healing technology.
- Glide Pharma, formerly Caretek Medical, is building its pipeline based on its proprietary Glide technology.
- Glucox Biotech is a Swedish biotechnology company geared towards treatments for Type II diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Hillcrest Therapeutics develops drugs for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
- Humanetics is developing bioactive compounds for the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic dysfunction.
- Immuno-Biological Laboratories is a pharmaceutical company focused on antibody production.
- Integrated BioPharma is a nutraceutical company, which additionally develops vaccines and therapeutic antibodies using its plant-based technology.
- India-based Intellect Neurosciences develops disease-modifying agents for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
- New York-based company JDS Pharmaceuticals develops compounds for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder.
- Nerviano Medical Sciences is oncology-focused Italian company that was formed following a reorganization by Pfizer.
- Neogenix is an oncology-based pharmaceutical company, furthering research using tumour-associated antigens.
- Israeli company NeuroDerm focuses on the transdermal delivery of approved pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurological diseases.
- Par Pharmaceutical is an established generics company, which now develops its own novel pharmaceuticals.
- Early stage biopharmaceutical company PhytoMedical Technologies produces plant-derived pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compounds.
- OBEcure is an Israeli drug discovery company, focused on the development of antiobesity therapies.
- R&D-Biopharmaceuticals is developing novel small molecules, based on tubulysins and epothilones, for diseases with unmet medical needs.
- Royalmount Pharma develops and commercializes innovative, affordable medicines to address underserved demand in various pharmaceutical markets.
- Variation Biotechnologies is developing vaccines using its proprietary Variosite technology.
- Vicus Therapeutics is focused on finding novel combinations of approved drugs to address major cancer supportive care indications.
