Aegerion's cholesterol drug Juxtapid gets FDA nod

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December 26, 2012 More than 2,700 companies nationwide are saving on lab supplies, shipping, news distribution, office products and more through the BIO Business Solutions cost-savings program. Find out how. The news summaries appearing in BIO SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The information is not compiled or summarized by BIO. Questions and comments should be directed to SmartBrief at bio@smartbrief.com.   Today's Top Story    Aegerion's cholesterol drug Juxtapid gets FDA nod The FDA approved Aegerion Pharmaceuticals' Juxtapid, or lomitapide, for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Because of the possibility of liver damage, Juxtapid will be available through a restricted program and will carry a boxed warning. Reuters (12/24), Medical News Today (12/26)      Earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles from your business expenses and enjoy exclusive rewards and benefits • Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles* • First eligible checked bag is free* • Priority Boarding* • Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible business purchases* *Learn more.   Health Care & Policy  FDA OKs use of Cangene's Varizig to ease effects of chickenpox Cangene's Varizig has been approved by the FDA to reduce the severity of chickenpox symptoms within four days after exposure to the varicella zoster virus among individuals at high risk for chickenpox. High-risk patients include newborns, pregnant women, premature babies, children less than a year old, those with compromised immune systems and those without viral immunity, according to the agency. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News (12/21)      Pfizer licenses Halozyme's technology for biologics development Pfizer struck a licensing and collaborative agreement with Halozyme Therapeutics involving the latter's Enhanze drug delivery platform and the development of subcutaneous biologics against up to six targets. Halozyme will get $8 million upfront and as much as $507 million in milestone fees plus sales royalties. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (12/24), Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (12/21)      Amgen to develop cancer drugs using ImmunoGen's antibody platform ImmunoGen granted Amgen the right to use its Targeted Antibody Payload technology to develop cancer drugs against a third target. The deal entitles ImmunoGen to $1 million upfront and $34 million milestone fees plus royalties. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (12/24)      Spectrum's belinostat shrinks tumors in blood cancer study Spectrum Pharmaceuticals' investigational drug belinostat achieved the primary goal of shrinking tumors in a Phase II trial involving patients with relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma who had not responded to at least one previous treatment. The firm plans to submit the drug, which has fast-track and orphan-drug status, for marketing approval by the middle of next year. Reuters (12/21)        Company & Financial News  Cancer molecular Dx firm seeks to obtain $6.6 million Epigenomics hopes to obtain $6.6 million in a funding round it plans to launch next month. The company is the maker of the Epi proColon test, a blood-based assay for screening colorectal cancer. Proceeds from the planned fundraising will be used to finance the company's operations as well as expand its capabilities for product distribution. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (12/20)        Food & Agriculture  BIO: FDA draft report on biotech salmon is a step forward An FDA draft evaluation on the safety of AquaBounty Technology's transgenic salmon is a good sign, said David Edwards, BIO's director of animal biotechnology. "It certainly looks good for the fish moving forward," Edwards said. "It shows that the Obama administration is willing to move forward on these technologies and allow the United States to be the leader that we should be." United Press International (12/22), Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (12/21)        Industrial & Environmental  Bill allowing U.S. military use of advanced biofuels clears House The House last week voted in favor of the proposed $633 billion National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, which would enable the U.S. military to continue initiatives aimed at developing and using advanced biofuels. The Senate will now take up the bill. BiodieselMagazine.com (12/21)        News from BIO  BIOtechNOW BIOtechNOW is the first in a number of new products from BIO intended to enhance our communications with the biotech community -- not only with our members, but with other stakeholders as well. This e-newsletter, combined with its website, serves as our flagship in that effort. BIOtechNOW will offer original content that emphasizes the business needs of the industry; highlight BIO's advocacy efforts; and provide a portal to all BIO activities and events. Most importantly, it will spotlight for those outside the industry the value of biotechnology. 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