Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Announces SFDA Approval to Manufacture and Market Palonosetron in China

On August 12, 2010 Simcere Pharmaceutical Group ("Simcere" or the "Company") (NYSE:SCR – News), a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals in China, reported that its subsidiary company Simcere Dongyuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has recently received SFDA new drug certification and registration approval to manufacture and market Palonosetron material and injections in China (Press release, Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Company, AUG 12, 2010, View Source [SID1234591865]).

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Palonosetron is a second generation 5-HT3 antagonist used for the prevention and control of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). According to industry analysis, 5-HT3 antagonists account for 90 percent of the CINV market in China.

Antibody Licence Agreement with Scancell Holdings Plc

On August 9, 2010 Cancer Research Technology Ltd (‘CRT’) – Cancer Research UK’s commercialisation and development arm, and Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines – reported that they have signed an agreement under which Scancell has been granted a licence to use a human antibody known as 105AD7 (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, AUG 9, 2010, View Source [SID1234523335]).

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105AD7 is a human monoclonal antibody that mimics the complement regulatory protein, CD55. The antibody was discovered and originally developed at the University of Nottingham with support from Cancer Research UK and has previously been evaluated in clinical trials for osteosarcoma. The agreement will give Scancell a worldwide licence to use 105AD7 for the development of new ImmunoBody vaccines for any immunotherapy indication.

The licence will be restricted to the use of the antibody as a framework for future ImmunoBody vaccines. Scancell’s current ImmunoBody vaccines, such as SCIB1, its vaccine currently in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of melanoma, use a deimmunised* antibody as the framework. 105AD7 will allow Scancell to use a fully human framework for the development of future ImmunoBody vaccines.

Under the terms of the agreement, Scancell will make an upfront payment to CRT in addition to development milestone payments, and royalty payments on future sales. Scancell will exclusively fund the development work, and have sub-licensing rights on agreed terms.

Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Executive Officer of Scancell, commented:
"I am pleased that we have secured this important agreement with Cancer Research Technology. By utilising antibody 105AD7, Scancell will be able to further enhance the clinical utility and safety of Scancell’s ImmunoBody platform both in cancer and other immunotherapy indications."

Dr Phil L’Huillier, Cancer Research Technology’s director of business management, said:
"Through this deal with Scancell we are able to take forward this antibody arising from research from our worldclass scientists into commercial development to potentially make new vaccines to treat a range of diseases."

(Filing 10-Q , Exelixis, AUG 5, 2010, View Source [SID:1234501029])

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Tumor specific vaccination therapy for advanced/recurrent cervical cancer using HLA-A*2402 restricted Specific Epitope Peptides Cocktail derived from Tumor genom/Tumor related Angiogenetic factors genom

Cancer, cervical
It is in a Phase I/II tumor specific vaccination therapy for advanced/recurrent cervical cancer using HLA-A*2402 restricted specific epitope peptides cocktail derived from tumor genome/tumor related angiogenetic factors genome (Clinical trial, Trial ID:UMIN000003902, UMIN, JUL 11, 2010, View Source [SID1234520547]). Advanced/recurrent cervical cancer with the conditions of unremoval by surgery, or refractory, chemo-resistant disease. Objective I: To elcidate the feasibility and efficacy of HLA-A*2402 restricted Specific Epitope Peptides Cocktail of FOXM1,MELK,and HJURP. Objective 2: Safety,Efficacy

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"Skills Swap" to exploit expertise for patient benefit

On July 7, 2010 Cancer Research Technology (CRT)* and Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT)** reported it will ‘swap’ medical discoveries to accelerate the translation of early scientific research into patient benefit (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, JUL 7, 2010, View Source [SID1234523336]).

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CRT and MRCT can offer each other rights to manage, develop and license discoveries from research funded by parent charity Cancer Research UK and the government’s Medical Research Council. The arrangement will explore ways to make the most of each organisation’s expertise and speed up the licensing of potential products for patient benefit.

CRT can offer MRCT the opportunity to manage, develop and license certain intellectual property *** outside the field of cancer. And in return MRCT can offer CRT the opportunity to manage, develop and license certain intellectual property **** with an application in cancer.

Dr Keith Blundy, CEO Cancer Research Technology said: "This is in effect a two-way skills transplant between two organisations with expertise in different areas of medical research.

"It’s a win-win-win – for CRT, for MRCT and also for patients. CRT has a solid expertise in forming global networks with industry partners to turn cancer discoveries into exciting ways to treat cancer with aim to increase survival.

"In return the arrangement lets us hand over discoveries from our researchers that fall outside of cancer to the technology transfer leaders in specific disease research fields.

"Both organisations can contribute their skills and knowledge to bring the maximum patient benefit across a range of diseases as efficiently and quickly as possible."

Dave Tapolczay, CEO of MRC Technology, said: "The strengthening of this partnership is of strategic importance. The arrangement will allow both MRC Technology and Cancer Research Technology to use their core strengths to maximise translation of discovery to benefit public health. We are confident this arrangement will speed up delivery of life-changing healthcare treatments and bring further value and strength to UK science."

Both CRT and MRCT will share revenue resulting from the arrangement – agreed on a case by case basis.

Dr Keith Blundy, CEO Cancer Research Technology added: "As well as each organisation providing management commercialisation skills, each will use drug discovery expertise to translate drug targets into commercial opportunities

"This is an enormously important arrangement which will save both organisations and industry money and time and achieve our common goals of increasing survival from a wide range of diseases."