News

MILPITAS, Calif., Aug. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTGX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary technology platform focused on discovering and developing peptide-based new chemical entities to address significant unmet medical needs, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 7,500,000 shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $12 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions. The shares are expected to begin trading on The NASDAQ Global Market on August 11, 2016, under the symbol "PTGX." In addition, Protagonist has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,125,000 additional shares at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. This offering is expected to close on August 16, 2016, subject to customary closing conditions.

TOKYO and MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teijin Limited (TSE:3401) and Versartis, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAR) today announced that the companies and their wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively "Teijin" and "Versartis", respectively) have entered into an exclusive license and supply agreement for the development and commercialization of somavaratan (VRS-317) in Japan.  Versartis, an endocrine-focused biopharmaceutical company, has been developing somavaratan, a novel, long-acting form of rhGH, for pediatric and adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in Japan.  Teijin Pharma Limited, the core company of the Teijin Group's medical and pharmaceutical business, markets a variety of pharmaceutical products throughout Japan, including in the areas of metabolic and endocrine disease.

NEW YORK-- Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SGYP) today announced it has reached the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mid-cycle review milestone for the plecanatide new drug application (NDA) in chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Additionally, the company is providing an update on the ongoing irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) program.

STAMFORD, Conn., July 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Loxo Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq:LOXO), a biopharmaceutical company innovating the development of highly selective medicines for patients with genetically defined cancers, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to LOXO-101, a selective inhibitor of tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK), “for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic solid tumors with NTRK-fusion proteins in adult and pediatric patients who require systemic therapy and who have either progressed following prior treatment or who have no acceptable alternative treatments.”

PLEASANTON, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/13/16 -- ZELTIQ^® Aesthetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLTQ), a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing products utilizing its proprietary controlled-cooling technology, today announced that it received approval from the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for fat layer reduction of the abdomen and flanks. Comprehensive multi-center clinical studies have validated that the CoolSculpting^® procedure non-invasively reduces fat cells by an average of 20-25% in the treated area based on histological and ultrasound assessment.

PRINCETON, N.J., July 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agile Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:AGRX), a women's health specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new prescription contraceptive products, today announced that preparations are underway for an initial Phase 2 clinical trial of a novel contraceptive regimen, which will begin the development of its pipeline beyond its current lead product candidate, Twirla^®, a once weekly contraceptive patch currently in phase 3 development. The planned Phase 2 clinical trial will examine the use of Twirla in an innovative regimen designed to allow women to experience shorter, lighter periods.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 29, 2016-- Syros Pharmaceuticals today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 4,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.50 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, Syros has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 600,000 additional shares of common stock from Syros at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any. All of the shares are being offered by Syros Pharmaceuticals. The Company’s shares are scheduled to begin trading on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 30, 2016 under the ticker symbol “SYRS.” The offering is expected to close on July 6, 2016, subject to customary closing conditions.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT) (NASDAQ: GBT), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of grievous blood-based disorders with significant unmet needs, today announced it has initiated a Phase 2a study of GBT440 in adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). GBT is developing GBT440 as a potential disease-modifying therapy for SCD.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT) (NASDAQ: GBT), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of grievous blood-based disorders with significant unmet needs, today announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 6,400,000 shares of common stock, at the public offering price of $18.75 per share. All of the shares in the offering were offered by GBT. GBT estimates net proceeds from the offering to be approximately $112.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

Funding to Take Lead Compound Through to Product Approval and Development of Pipeline Assets F2G Ltd, the UK-based antifungal drug discovery and development company, today announced that it has raised $60 million in financing to develop its pipeline of novel therapies to treat life threatening invasive fungal infections. The round was led by Sectoral Asset Management, with participation from Novo A/S, Aisling Capital and Brace Pharma Capital. Existing investors Advent Life Sciences LLP, Novartis Venture Fund, Sunstone Capital and Merifin Capital each participated in the round.