Drug Companies Update June 2008
Mergers, acquisitions & Joint Ventures
- Roche has acquired Piramed, a privately-owned UK company focused on therapeutics targeting PI3K
- Sepraor has acquired Oryx Pharmaceuticals.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb has acquired Kosan Biosciences. Kosan will remain a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- Antisoma has acquired Xanthus Pharmaceuticals.
- Nastech has changed its name to MDRNA.
New Companies
- Activus Pharma combines organic chemistry, biological redox measurement and nano-particulation technology for creating new therapies for the control of diseases.
- Altheus Therapeutics identifies and implements pharmaceutical strategies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
- ApopLogic Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the development of compounds for the treatment of cancer.
- Archer Biosciences is a New-York based pharmaceutical company, focused on the development of anticancer therapeutics.
- Arcion Therapeutics is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of targeted treatments for severe pain.
- Aursos is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of products for the treatment of osteoporosis.
- Balboa Biosciences is developing therapeutics for disorders affecting the CNS and for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.
- BaroFold is engaged in developing improved biopharmaceuticals for patients suffering from chronic immunological disorders.
- Black Lion Pharmaceuticals is developing oncology drugs with reduced side-effects.
- Privately-owned Blue Note Pharmaceuticals is focused on undervalued drug development candidates with the potential to more effectively treat of help major medical conditions.
- BSP Pharma is engaged in the development of products based on natural ingredients, particularly those found in the fruit of the shea tree.
- Celentyx uses its NCIP application to identify candidate drugs for the treatment of immune-related disorders.
- Cempra Pharmaceuticals discovers and develops well-differentiated medicines for the treatment of bacterial infections and improve the quality of life for those with chronic illnesses.
- Chakra Biotech develops drugs for CNS disorders.
- EyeCyte is focused on stem cell-/progenitor cell-based therapies for opthalmological diseases.
- Falco Biotherapeutics is focused on the development of therapeutics using its proprietary ElCam technology.
- f-star is an antibody engineering company developing improved therapeutic antibodies and antibody fragments based on its Modular Antibody Technology.
- GlycoMar is a privately-held marine biotechnology company, focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel anti-inflammatory drug candidates.
- ImmuneWorks is a biotechnology company committed to developing novel therapeutics for autoimmune diseases of the lung.
- International Drug Development researches and develops healthcare products and cosmetics.
- International Stem Cell Corporation develops treatments for diseases such as diabetes, liver disease and retinal disease, using stem cells. It derives therapeutic cells from human pathenogenetic stem cells.
- iQur is focused on the detection, monitoring and treatment of viral liver disease.
- Link Medicine identifies and develops disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
- Mentor supplies surgical aesthetic products and cosmetic dermatological products to plastic surgeons worldwide. It is moving into therapeutics.
- Meritage Pharma develops therapeutics for unmet medical needs.
- Migco Pharmaceuticals develops treatments for diseases of the nervous system.
- Navitas Pharma is a late-stage pharmaceutical company engaged in the development of products for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
- Nexigen is a start-up company developing its own pipeline of therapeutic peptides.
- Pathway Therapeutics is engaged in the development of anticancer therapeutics.
- Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals is focused on the development of products that address the needs of ageing women.
- PhytoHealth Corporation develops adjuvants for cancer and vaccine administration, cough treatment, osteoporosis, diabetes, hepatitis C and pain control.
- PsychoGenics specializes in preclinical neurobiology, with in-house efforts focused on psychiatric indications.
- Orcrist Bio develops and commercializes therapeutics for areas in which a clear market opportunity exists, including stem cell mobilization technologies.
- Sepal Pharma is developing a portfolio of novel jasmonate-derived anticancers.
- Silamed is engaged in the development of anticancers using its silicon medicinal chemistry platform to improve the activity of new and existing compounds.
- Spaltudaq creates human therapeutic antibodies from IgG memory B-cells for the treatment and/or prevention of debilitating diseases.
- TCA Cellular Therapy is an R&D company developing stem cell therapies for neurological diseases such as spinal chord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and amyotropic lateral sclerosis.
- Tiltan Pharma is an Israeli company developing antiangiogenic cocktails for use in cancer therapies.
- Theravida is focused on the development of combination products for the treatment of urological and CNS disorders.
- TransDerm develops nucleic acid-based therapies to inhibit target gene expression in skin, including RNAi agents.
- Vivendy Therapeutics is focused on the development of an enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis IVA.
- ViraBiotech is developing a biological prophylactic universal anti-influenza treatment.
- VLST is a privately held biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
