February 5, 2012

Baker’s Dozen Trying to Beat the Odds in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer Image

November marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month – a baker’s dozen are trying to beat the odds in treating the disease.

To Partner, or Not to Partner: That is the Question

MD Becker Partners' Life Science Digest: To Partner, or Not to Partner - That is the Question

Traditional wisdom holds that biotechnology companies benefit from collaborations with their larger pharmaceutical peers, which can help validate a company’s technology, provide capital to help fund clinical development, and enable access to experienced clinical, regulatory and commercial infrastructure.  While this was certainly true in the early days of biotechnology, the industry has now matured – [...]

FDA Advisory Panels: No Means No, Yes Means Maybe

MD Becker Partners' Life Science Digest: FDA Advisory Panels - No Means No, Yes Means Maybe

As the only company to receive a positive United States Food and Drug Administration [FDA] Advisory Committee [AdCom] recommendation for a product candidate to treat obesity in 2010, Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (OREX) appeared well positioned to receive marketing approval for Contrave® [naltrexone HCl/bupropion HCI].  However, on January 31, 2011, Orexigen and its partner Takeda Pharmaceutical [...]

Biotech Deal Activity a Mixed Bag During Major Conference

MD Becker Partners' Life Science Digest: Biotech Deal Activity a Mixed Bag During Major Conference

Last week, thousands of registrants gathered in San Francisco, California for the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference [JPMHC] to hear 25-minute presentations from 364 life science companies.  For industry executives and investors, deal activity emanating from the annual event typically serves as a good barometer for the rest of the year. Adding to an already hectic [...]

Past Pitfalls and Potential Promise for Pancreatic Cancer

pancreatic_slide

Next month [November] marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.  Visibility for the disease is already on the rise due to recent celebrity victims, including Apple’s Steve Jobs and Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with the worst mortality rate and an overall 5-year survival rate lower [...]