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Abstract
The present industry update covers the period 1–31 December 2014, with information sourced from company press releases, regulatory and patent agencies as well as the scientific literature. December is traditionally the month of last year-closure announcements or starting looking back into the recent past. The financing community for biotech seems on strong recovery as indicated by reports, but also in view of many deals discussed in these proceedings. The teaming up of a company owning a (novel) active ingredient and another one having a drug-delivery device addressing certain limitations proves to be a recipe for success (Asante, Unilife, Catalent and Endo Pharmaceuticals). Easier use of established treatments such as for diabetes (Asante, Medtronic) as well as expanding limited therapeutic windows such as in stroke (NuvOx Pharma, gelatine-based particles) is becoming as common strategies as the increasing use of nanotechnology (ProNAi, 3D vacines) and highly integrated devices (mPhase Technologies, Microchip Biotech, Dexcom).
Financial & competing interests disclosure
O Steinbach is an employee of Royal Philips Electronics North America Corporation. 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.