EpiTherapeutics and Abbott Enter Into Oncology Collaboration on Epigenetic Targets
EpiTherapeutics and Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced a collaboration agreement to develop new anti-cancer drugs by making small-molecule inhibitors against selected epigenetic oncology targets. Under the terms of the agreement EpiTherapeutics receives an up-front payment and will receive funding of research activities at EpiTherapeutics. Further, EpiTherapeutics is eligible, under certain conditions, to receive milestone payments as well as potential royalties on future revenues. Additional financial details were not disclosed. 
Merck KGaA has signed a worldwide research and development agreement with sanofi-aventis U.S. Inc., under which its division Merck Serono and sanofi-aventis U.S. Inc. will collaboratively investigate novel experimental combinations of agents that could block specific pathways in cancer cells. This collaboration could deliver novel targeted oncology treatments with high therapeutic potential. 
GlaxoSmithKline ('GSK') and Maxinutrition Group Holdings Limited ('Maxinutrition') have entered into an agreement for GSK to acquire Maxinutrition, a UK company that manufactures protein-enhanced functional nutrition products, from Darwin Private Equity. Subject to approval from the Office of Fair Trading, GSK will acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Maxinutrition for a cash consideration of approximately £162 million including the repayment of outstanding debt. 
Bayer HealthCare has submitted an application for marketing authorization in Europe for a new innovative oral contraceptive regimen based on YAZ® (ethinylestradiol/drospirenone) which enables women to manage their periods individually. The submission is based on positive data of an international Phase III study programme, which will be presented in due time at a scientific meeting. The Netherlands will serve as the reference member state in the decentralized procedure for gaining marketing authorization in European countries. 
New data to be presented show that afatinib (BIBW 2992) leads to a significant four-fold extension (4.4 months vs. 1 month for placebo) in progression-free survival - the time before a tumour starts to grow again - for lung cancer patients most likely to have an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. In addition, this sub-group of patients showed a trend towards prolonged overall survival. In previously presented results, the lack of overall survival seen in the overall trial population may have been due to confounding effects by the use of extensive subsequent therapies.