Home Diagnostics, Inc. and Cellnovo : Strategic Alliance

May 6, 2010 – Building on a shared vision to simplify diabetes management worldwide, Cellnovo, a London-based medical device company, and Home Diagnostics, Inc., a leader in diabetes products, announced a strategic alliance that involves integrating technologies and developing distribution opportunities for Cellnovo’s insulin patch pumps.

The partnership allows both companies to accelerate their growth and has the potential to transform the pump industry. The first phase of the agreement calls for the inclusion of Home Diagnostics TRUE™ blood glucose technology in the Cellnovo wireless mobile handset. The companies will also begin exploring ways to leverage Home Diagnostics’ distribution network to expand Cellnovo’s presence in the United States and other countries... [PDF] Home Diagnostics' Press Release -

IRIDEX : First Commercial Shipment of New IQ 532(TM) Laser Systems

April 30, 2010 - IRIDEX Corporation, (Nasdaq: IRIX) announced the commencement of commercial shipment of the IQ 532 laser systems. The IQ 532 is a high-power, 532 nm, dual port multi-purpose laser system for use by ophthalmologists to treat sight-threatening eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma; and for use by otolaryngologists to correct certain types of conductive hearing loss.

"The time and effort we invested to perfect our core system platform and obtain regulatory approval for a family of laser products has made it possible to introduce the IQ 532 green laser within one year of shipping the IQ 577 yellow laser... IRIDEX's Press Release -

Pro-Tect Pharmaceuticals : Revolutionary Drug Delivery Patents

April 26, 2010 - Pro-Tect Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PRTT) announced that it has completed the acquisition of multiple patents and patents-pending from Nectid, Inc., that enable three revolutionary drug delivery technologies.

The acquired patents would enable Pro-Tect to provide efficient, effective drug delivery platforms for three essential yet currently unmet needs:

- A gastro-retentive platform for drugs that otherwise have short time windows for absorption
- An abuse deterrent platform for prescription drugs that are prone to abuse, especially narcotic pain-killers
- A once-daily platform that allows two or more drugs commonly taken in combination to be delivered via a single dose with fewer side effects

"It's incredible to us that no one previously has developed delivery platforms that meet such obvious and crucial needs," said Pro-Tect CEO Bill Abajian. "In particular, the ability to treat long-term pain without patients becoming opioid-addicted would fundamentally change pain management. We're excited that the success of these drug delivery platforms could not just improve the quality of life for so many people, but actually save lives."


In the near term, Pro-Tect intends to proceed with a comprehensive program to develop and commercialize once-daily drugs for diabetic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, postherpetic neuralgia and epilepsy... Pro-Tect Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Reata Pharmaceuticals : licensing agreement on bardoxolone methyl in Japan and other selected Asian markets

January 7, 2010 - Bardoxolone methyl is a small molecule compound currently being developed in Phase II clinical trials in the US by Reata Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients.- Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Reata) and Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (Kyowa Hakko Kirin) announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement that provides Kyowa Hakko Kirin with the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Reata's lead compound, bardoxolone methyl (bardoxolone), in Japan and other selected Asian markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Reata is eligible to receive up to $272 million in up-front fees and milestone payments, in addition to double-digit royalties.


Bardoxolone activates the Nrf2 gene, which controls the production of over 250 antioxidant and detoxification proteins. Activation of Nrf2 protects tissues by increasing cellular antioxidant content and suppressing inflammatory signaling pathways. It is now known that chronic "metabolic inflammation" promotes Type 2 diabetes and its complications, including cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In two Phase 2 trials, bardoxolone significantly improved renal function in Type 2 diabetic patients with advanced CKD... Reata Pharmaceuticals' Press Release - Kyowa Hakko Kirin's Press Release -

Anthera Pharmaceuticals : VARESPLADIB SHOWED EARLY BENEFIT IN DIABETIC PATIENT POPULATION

May 3, 2010 - ANTHERA PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL DATA FROM FRANCIS STUDY – Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANTH), a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat serious diseases associated with inflammation, announced detailed results from a new biomarker analysis of the FRANCIS study. FRANCIS examined the effects of once-daily varespladib vs. placebo as an adjunct treatment to high-dose atorvastatin and standard of care on inflammatory biomarkers known to be predictive of secondary cardiovascular events in patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This new analysis examines the anti-inflammatory effects of varespladib, an inhibitor of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), in diabetic patients with a recent ACS... Anthera Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -