Report: Biotech licensing, M&A deals dropped in 2012

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April 1, 2013 Are you part of a BD or licensing team and want to improve your skills in contracts, intellectual property, valuation and deal structuring? Register for BIO's Executive Training Courses, April 19-21, in Chicago. 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  Report: Biotech licensing, M&A deals dropped in 2012 Biotech and biopharmaceutical firms struck fewer licensing and acquisition deals in 2012 compared with 2011, perhaps fueled by greater confidence in drug pipelines and fewer worries about patent expirations, according to a new report from EP Vantage. Total licensing-deal value declined 19%, to $20.9 billion, and the number of products licensed dropped from 1,037, to 759. Merger and acquisition deals reached $42.6 billion, down 24%. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (3/29)        Health Care & Policy  J&J's first-in-class Invokana gets FDA OK for type 2 diabetes The FDA approved Johnson & Johnson's Invokana, or canagliflozin, as an adjunct therapy to diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug, from J&J unit Janssen Pharmaceuticals, is the first sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor approved for diabetes. The approval was based on data from nine late-stage studies that showed improvements in hemoglobin A1c levels and fasting blood sugar levels. HealthDay News (3/29), Reuters (3/29), The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (3/29)      Firms to develop freeze-dried human plasma Entegrion and Kedrion Melville agreed to collaborate in the development and commercialization of the latter's freeze-dried human plasma Resusix, a shelf-stable alternative to fresh-frozen plasma. The partners plan to initiate clinical studies this year. Kedrion will invest in Entegrion under the agreement. American City Business Journals/Raleigh/Durham, N.C./Morning Call blog (3/29), WRALTechWire.com (Raleigh, N.C.) (3/28)      FivePhusion gets commercialization rights to colon cancer drug FivePhusion secured the rights to commercialize a new formulation for metastatic colorectal cancer from the University of Wollongong in Australia. FivePhusion will support a Phase IB/IIA study. Australian Life Scientist (3/28)      Eye institute and Dainippon to develop iPS cell-based therapies Retina Institute Japan will receive about $16 million in an investment from Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma as part of a deal to work on new induced pluripotent stem cell-based therapies. The investment will give Dainippon a 5% stake in the institute. The partnership's focus will include treatments for refractory retinal disease and age-related macular degeneration. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (3/29)        Company & Financial News  T2 Biosystems pulls in $40M in Series E funding round A Series E funding round led by Goldman Sachs has brought in $40 million for T2 Biosystems. The Lexington, Mass.-based company will use the money to develop and commercialize its T2Candida test, which can detect Candida fungal infections known to cause sepsis from whole blood samples in under two hours. American City Business Journals/Boston/BioFlash blog (3/28)      Funding extension brings in $8M for antibody drug developer Theraclone Sciences secured an additional $8 million, bringing the total raised in its Series B funding round to $50 million. The Seattle biotech is developing two antibodies for severe flu and cytomegalovirus infection. MedCityNews.com (3/29)      Biogen sets pricing for new MS drug Biogen Idec said it would price its newly approved multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera at $54,900 annually, lower than those of rivals including Novartis' Gilenya but higher than analysts had forecast. "We think this represents solid value to the MS community and demonstrates our commitment to patient access," Biogen spokeswoman Kate Niazi-Sai said. Yahoo/Reuters (3/29)        Food & Agriculture  Paraguayan farmers indicate agreement with Monsanto Paraguay's main farm groups said Monsanto agreed to waive certain royalties starting in 2014. A deal could end a dispute in the key soybean-producing nation. Reuters (3/28)        Hot Topics  Top five news stories selected by BIO SmartBrief readers in the past week. Report: 465 chronic-disease drugs are under development (PharmaTimes (U.K.)) Biogen's multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera gets FDA approval (Reuters) Drug firms call on FDA to add to guidance on trial enrichment (OutSourcing-Pharma.com) Pioneering botulism antitoxin from Cangene gets FDA nod (Medscape (free registration)) Booz: Pharma should take individual approach to emerging markets (PharmaTimes (U.K.)) Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   Industrial & Environmental  Report: Renewable energy output has risen under Obama's watch Domestic production of renewable energy, including biofuels, increased by 23.48% during President Barack Obama's first term, according to an Energy Information Administration report that compared 2012 and 2008 data. Biofuel production rose 40.66% during the four-year span and accounted for 21.94% of domestic energy output from renewable sources in 2012, the report showed. DomesticFuel.com (3/28)        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. Sign up for the e-newsletter.      Learn more about BIO -> Conferences  |  Join BIO  |  Media  |  Issues  |  Industry   SmartQuote  Dreams have only one owner at a time. 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