ImmunoGen, Inc. Announces Encouraging Trastuzumab-DM1 Phase II Clinical Findings Presented At ASCO

ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, announced the presentation of encouraging trastuzumab-DM1 (T-DM1) clinical data at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) taking place in Orlando, Florida.

T-DM1, an antibody-drug conjugate, consists of ImmunoGen’s DM1 cancer-cell killing agent linked to the HER2-targeted antibody, trastuzumab, developed by Genentech, Inc. (a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group). Genentech (US) and Roche (ex-US) are conducting a broad clinical program with T-DM1 in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Gene Network Sciences Announces Broad Cancer Collaboration With UCSF And Initial Results

Gene Network Sciences, Inc. (GNS) announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with the University of California San Francisco Cancer Center (UCSF) aimed at accelerating cancer research and drug development across several therapeutic areas. This collaboration will combine the clinical and research oncology expertise of UCSF with the computational expertise and supercomputer-driven REFS(TM) platform of GNS. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Announces Top-Line Results Of CPP-109 Phase II Trial For Cocaine Addiction

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPRX) announced top-line results from its U.S. Phase II clinical trial to treat cocaine addiction. The data from the trial showed that CPP-109 did not demonstrate statistical significance in the primary endpoint — that a significantly larger proportion of CPP-109-treated subjects than placebo-treated subjects were cocaine-free during the last two weeks of the treatment period (Weeks 11 and 12). The clinical trial did not reveal any unexpected “serious” adverse events.

Gene Network Sciences Announces Broad Cancer Collaboration With UCSF And Initial Results

Gene Network Sciences, Inc. (GNS) announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with the University of California San Francisco Cancer Center (UCSF) aimed at accelerating cancer research and drug development across several therapeutic areas. This collaboration will combine the clinical and research oncology expertise of UCSF with the computational expertise and supercomputer-driven REFS(TM) platform of GNS. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) Announces New Survey Results Highlighting Major Gaps In Public Awareness Of Gout

The Gout & Uric Acid Education Society announced that new survey results reveal alarming gaps in the public’s awareness of gout, a painful and potentially debilitating form of arthritis that affects three to five million Americans. In a survey of more than 2,000 Americans, 65% of adults admitted to being “not at all knowledgeable” about gout and just over 70% did not know that gout is a form of arthritis. In fact, gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis among adults.

Bovie Medical Corporation Announces FDA Submission Of Laparoscopic Device For Solid Organ Resection

Bovie Medical Corporation (the “Company”) (NYSE-AMEX Symbol: BVX), a manufacturer and marketer of electrosurgical products, announced a 510K submission to the FDA seeking pre-market clearance for a laparoscopic SEER device for solid organ resection. The laparoscopic SEER is a line extension of the Saline Enhance Electrosurgical Resection (SEER) device that Bovie launched earlier this year and will address the growing market of minimally invasive liver resection.

SANE Australia Announces Book Of The Year Award

SANE Australia is pleased to announce the 2009 SANE Book of the Year is Back From The Brink Too: Supporting Your Loved One In Overcoming Depression by Graeme Cowan.

The SANE Book of the Year Award recognises outstanding Australian non-fiction titles which promote understanding of mental illness and its effect in the community. Previous winners include Anne Deveson AO for Tell Me I’m Here and Craig Hamilton for Broken Open.

CyDex Pharmaceuticals Announces Successful Completion Of Phase II Clinical Trial For Budesonide/Azelastine Combination Solution Nasal Spray

CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has successfully completed an early proof-of-concept phase II clinical trial of its Captisol-Enabled budesonide/azelastine nasal spray for seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). CyDex has an international PCT patent application pending for this combination nasal spray product.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Way Cross-Over Study was conducted in 108 SAR patients to Compare the Relative Efficacy of Captisol-Enabled Budesonide + Azelastine Nasal Spray (Single Solution) and Rhinocort Aqua (Suspension) + Astelin Nasal Spray (Solution) against Placebo Nasal Spray Solution in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis in an Environmental Exposure Chamber (EEC).

Amira Announces The Successful Completion Of GLP Toxicity Studies For A Novel DP2 Antagonist

Amira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced AM211, Amira’s internally discovered oral drug candidate for the treatment and control of inflammatory and allergic diseases linked to the arachidonic acid pathway, is on target for submission of an IND to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by mid-2009 following the successful completion of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) toxicity studies.

AM211 is an oral, selective antagonist of the receptor DP2 (also known as CRTH2 or chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 lymphocytes). DP2 is a high affinity receptor for prostaglandin (PG) D2 and, in humans, is implicated in Th2-dependent allergic inflammation. Recent studies have shown that a DP2 antagonist has the potential to be an oral treatment for asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and allergic rhinitis.

Washington, D.C.-Based Whitman-Walker Clinic Announces Staff, Program Reductions

The Whitman-Walker Clinic — a not-for-profit health organization that is the largest HIV/AIDS service provider in the Washington, D.C., area — on Tuesday announced that it will be reducing some staff and programs, the Washington Post reports. The clinic announced that it plans to close its office in Northern Virginia, which provides services to 1,100 clients, and shut down an eight-bed residential addiction program in the district. The clinic also announced that it will lay off 45 employees.