Life Science Briefs

09 October 2000 00:00  [Source: ICB Americas]

AFFYMETRIX Inc has agreed to acquire Neomorphic Inc., a privately held computational genomics company.

BIOVAIL Corporation has agreed to acquire DJ Pharma for $212.2 million, which includes $162.5 million in cash plus the assumption of roughly $50 million of debt.

CIBA Vision Corporation, the eye care unit of Novartis AG, has completed its merger of Wesley Jessen VisionCare Inc.

DURA Pharmaceuticals Inc. has signed an exclusive US distribution agreement with a purchase option for Glaxo Wellcome's dermatological product line. The line includes Cutivate (fluticasone propionate), Temovate (clobetasol propionate), Aclovate (aclometasone dipropionate), Oxistat (oxiconazole nitrate) and Emgel (erthromycin). In 1999, these drugs had sales of over $1.4 billion. Glaxo will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of the products for Dura, and Dura will make annual payments in 2001 and 2002. If Dura exercises its option to buy the products at the end of 2002, it will also assume responsibility for the manufacture and supply of the products.

HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE Inc. and Trimeris Inc. are entering Phase II clinical trials for their drug, T-20, a fusion inhibitor to treat HIV.

INCYTE Genomics Inc. and Sequenom Inc. are collaborating to create validated SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) assays for use in genetics research.

INTEGRATIVE THERAPEUTICS Inc. has acquired Vitaline Corporation, a dietary supplement and pharmaceuticals manufacturer. In August, Vitaline applied for orphan drug designation for a high-dose Coenzyme Q-10 formula that is currently being used in two National Institutes of Health funded neurodegenerative disease studies.

INVITROGEN Corporation is reorganizing following its acquisition of Life Technologies Inc. The company will reorganize into two divisions: molecular biology and cell cultures. Lyle C. Turner, chairman and CEO of Invitrogen, will continue in these roles in the combined company.

LIGAND Pharmaceuticals plans to file an investigational new drug application for LY510929, an oral treatment for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, or its back-up compound in the second half of 2001. The drug is being developed as part of a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company.

NOVARTIS AG and Merck KGaA have received Swiss regulatory approval for Starlix (nateglinide) to treat type 2 diabetes.

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