On January 25, 2017 Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation ("Integra") (NASDAQ:IART), a global leader in medical technology, reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Integra Derma, Inc. ("Offeror"), is commencing a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding common and preferred shares of Derma Sciences, Inc. ("Derma Sciences") (NASDAQ:DSCI) at an offer price of $7.00 per share for Derma Sciences’ common stock, $32.00 per share for Derma Sciences’ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and $48.00 per share for Derma Sciences’ Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Press release, Integra LifeSciences, JAN 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234517586]). The tender offer is being made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, dated January 25, 2017 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 10, 2017, among Integra, Offeror and Derma Sciences (the "Merger Agreement"), which Integra and Derma Sciences previously announced on January 10, 2017.

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The tender offer will expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, unless the offer period is extended or earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). Offeror is required to extend the offer period for any period required by applicable law or rules and regulations of the SEC and for one or more periods of up to ten business days each until, and including, July 15, 2017, if at the Expiration Date any of the conditions to the tender offer have not been satisfied.

There is no financing condition to the tender offer. The obligation of Offeror to pay for shares tendered pursuant to the tender offer is conditioned on the tender and acceptance of that number of shares that, together with the number of shares (if any) then owned by Integra, represents at least a majority of (i) the voting power of all outstanding common and preferred shares, voting together as a single class, (ii) the outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and (iii) the outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, as well as other customary conditions. Following the completion of the tender offer, Integra expects to consummate a second-step merger at the same per-share price paid in the tender offer for shares not purchased in the tender offer.

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as information agent and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. is acting as depositary and paying agent in the tender offer. Requests for documents and questions regarding the tender offer may be directed to information agent by telephone at (800) 290-6424.

(Filing, Annual, Novartis, 2016, JAN 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234517556])

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On April 12, 2016 Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOTA) reported that the Company has changed its name to Aviragen Therapeutics, Inc., ("Aviragen Therapeutics"), a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of the next generation of direct-acting antivirals that address infections that have limited therapeutic options (Press release, Aviragen Therapeutics, JAN 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234517553]).

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"A meaningful transformation has taken place over the last two years as we transitioned from a drug discovery and early-stage licensing organization to one focused on drug development and progressing key late-stage product candidates in important viral diseases. Our name change reflects this transition and better defines our strategic initiatives moving forward," said Joseph Patti, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviragen Therapeutics. "Specifically, our recent initiation of a Phase 2a efficacy study of BTA585 for the treatment of RSV infections highlights our focus on bringing new medicines to treat and prevent viral infections with limited therapeutics options. As Aviragen Therapeutics, we will continue to advance and expand our promising pipeline of anti-viral drugs."

The name change become effective on April 11, 2016 and the Company’s common stock will begin trading on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol "AVIR" on April 13, 2016.

On January 24, 2017 Propanc Health Group Corporation (OTCQB: PPCH) ("Propanc" or "the Company"), an emerging healthcare company focusing on development of new and proprietary treatments for cancer patients suffering from solid tumors such as pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers, reported an update on the progress of additional pending patent applications, since the recent allowance of the Company’s first key patent application in the US this year (Press release, Propanc, JAN 24, 2017, View Source [SID1234517563]).

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The Company received a written opinion from the International Search Authority regarding the novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability of a recent Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, filed in November 2016, in Australia. The PCT application titled "Proenzyme composition" is directed to a composition comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen, targeting specific weight ratios and certain dosage levels for the Company’s lead product, PRP. The majority of claims in the written opinion were considered novel and inventive, as determined by the Authorized Officer from the Australian Patent Office. The PCT assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions and can assist national patent offices with their patent granting decisions. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in over 150 countries.

Another patent application filed in Spain in January, 2016, titled "Cancer Treatment", was updated with animal data showing reduced density in tumors excised from mice post treatment with trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen and as a result, a second application was filed with additional claims regarding a method of minimizing cancer progression, preventing recurrence, or preventing cancer in a subject by either reducing, or controlling the amount of cancer stem cells. The method may also include the step of identifying cancer stem cells in the subject.

"We are making new and exciting discoveries regarding the application of PRP in a clinical setting, which I firmly believe could become a breakthrough product that revolutionizes the way we treat cancer and reduces the threat of this killer disease for many different cancers," said Dr Julian Kenyon, Propanc’s Chief Scientific Officer. "I have been treating cancer patients for many years and have seen a number of innovations, particularly with the recent advancements of immuno-oncology. In my opinion, PRP, as a once daily IV administration with minimal toxicity, compared to standard treatments, whilst minimizing the threat of recurrence, or preventing cancer in patients, could become one of the most important discoveries made in the next 20 years."

The Company’s lead product, PRP, is a novel, patented, formulation consisting of two pancreatic proenzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. Currently in formal preclinical development and progressing towards first-in man studies, PRP aims to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis in solid tumors. Eighty percent of all cancers are solid tumors and metastasis is the main cause of patient death from cancer. The Company’s initial target patient populations include pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers.

PTX-200, previously known as TCN-P (triciribine phosphate monohydrate), is a potent small molecule inhibitor of the AKT pathway, which plays a key role in the development of many cancers, including breast, ovarian cancer as well as hematologic cancers such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

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PTX-200 is currently the subject of two proof of concept trials in breast and ovarian cancer that have commenced at prestigious US Cancer Centers. The first is a Phase 1b/2 study examining PTX-200 in breast cancer patients at the prestigious Montefiore Cancer Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. A Phase 1b/2 trial of PTX-200 in combination with current standard of care carboplatin is also underway in patients with recurrent or persistent platinum resistant ovarian cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center. In addition, a Phase 1b/2 trial evaluating PTX-200 in combination with cytarabine in acute myeloid leukemia is scheduled to begin accrual in mid-2016.