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Abstract
The time period 16 May–15 June 2012 included the reports of successful fundraising from Flowonix, PhaseBio and Sangart, with almost US$100 million raised. Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) were the subject of several announcements. Merck entered into a collaborative effort with Ambrx to develop novel ADC technology, a deal that could be worth over $300 million, should all milestones be achieved. CellDex provided preliminary results from its Phase II study of ADC CDX-011 in metastatic breast cancer. In a presentation that won top billing at the American Society for Clinical Oncology meeting, Genentech shared Phase III results from the ADC T-DM1, also in breast cancer patients. An improved median time to progression-free survival, evidence of an overall survival benefit and an improved safety profile were reported. Weekly Bydureon™, from Alkermes and Amylin, was reported to show benefits over insulin detemir in Type 2 diabetics, while its would-be competitor albiglutide, from Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline, met a non-inferiority endpoint in comparison with insulin lispro in the same patient population. Among opioids, Nektar‘s NKTR-181 was granted fast-track status by the US FDA, while Alkermes‘ ALKS 37 failed to meet criteria for advancement to Phase III and was dropped.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
P Burke is Principal of Burke Bioventures LLC, providing consultancy and advisory services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including those working in the drug delivery space. Current and ongoing clients cannot be named for confidentiality reasons but may be featured in industry news stories covered. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.