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Long-Acting VRS-317 Efficacy and Safety Comparable to Daily Growth Hormone Therapies Company to Hold Conference Call at 5:00 p.m. EDT (4:00 p.m. CDT) CHICAGO, June 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Versartis, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAR), an endocrine-focused biopharmaceutical company that is developing a novel, long-acting form of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), today presented positive Phase 2a data from its six month clinical trial demonstrating the safety and efficacy of VRS-317 in the treatment of naïve, pre-pubertal children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). These results are being presented by George Bright, MD, Versartis Vice President of Clinical Development, during the clinical poster session, "Growth and GH: Diagnostic Issues and Treatment" from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT today at the 16th International Congress of Endocrinology and The Endocrine Society's 96th Annual Meeting and Expo (ICE/ENDO 2014) in Chicago, IL.

Durata Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DRTX) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DALVANCE^TM (dalbavancin) for injection for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). DALVANCE is the first and only IV antibiotic approved for the treatment of ABSSSI with a two-dose regimen of 1000 mg followed one week later by 500 mg, each administered over 30 minutes.

Optegra, the specialist eye hospital group, announces today that it is further investing in the advanced LENSAR™ Femtosecond Cataract Laser distributed by Topcon. Optegra will become the first national eye care provider to offer this state-of-the-art laser technology to patients across all of its UK hospitals, for either cataract surgery or Clarivu^TM permanent lens replacement.

CLEVELAND, Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ViewRay™ Incorporated, a privately held medical device company, has secured $30 million in funding from existing equity investors, Aisling Capital, Fidelity Biosciences, Kearny Venture Partners and OrbiMed Advisors, new investor, Cowealth Medical Holding Co Ltd (TT: 4745), as well as with debt financing provided by Hercules Technology Growth Capital (NYSE: HTGC), a Palo Alto-based specialty finance company whose focus is providing senior secured loans to venture capital backed technology companies. The funds are intended to support the worldwide commercialization of the ViewRay system, which has already been acquired by five leading cancer treatment centers worldwide.

HORSHAM, PA, NOVEMBER 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Janssen Biotech, Inc. [“Janssen”] today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved IMBRUVICA^™ (ibrutinib) capsules for the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior therapy.¹ This indication is based on overall response rate (ORR). An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not been established.

ORLANDO, FL--(Marketwired - Oct 2, 2013) - LENSAR Inc., developer of the next-generation LENSAR™ Laser System for refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery (ReLACS), today announced the closing of $27 million in private equity financing and up to $60 million in debt financing. New investor PDL BioPharma (NASDAQ: PDLI) is providing the credit agreement while Aisling Capital, Florida Growth and Florida Opportunity Funds participated in the equity round.

SafeStitch Medical, Inc. (OTCBB: SFES) and TransEnterix, Inc., a privately-held company, today announced that they have closed SafeStitch's previously announced acquisition of TransEnterix. The combined company is expected to be renamed TransEnterix, subject to stockholder approval, and headquartered in the Research Triangle, NC. The company will continue to trade under the name SafeStitch Medical, Inc. on the OTCBB under the symbol SFES until the anticipated name change is approved by stockholders, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2013.

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 19, 2013) - Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Aragon), a leader in developing drugs for hormone-driven cancers, today announced the closing of its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson. Deal terms included an upfront payment of $650 million in cash with an additional $350 million in potential development milestone payments for a total transaction value of up to $1 billion. The acquisition includes Aragon's androgen receptor antagonist program, including its most advanced compound, ARN-509, a second generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in a Phase II trial in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.