March 14, 2006 – Human Genome Sciences took a hit after the company said Albuferon, its hepatitis C drug candidate, was effective in an every-two-week dosing regimen, but not at the once-a-month level; Corautus temporarily halted a Phase II trial of a new angina treatment because of 3 cases of pericardial effusion; AstraZeneca will owe $3.3 billion to Merck in 2008, the first of several payments resulting from a Merck-Astra partnership; Renovis reported that its stroke drug met safety endpoints in a Phase IIb trial; the FDA advisory committee recommended against approving Gemzar from Lilly for relapsing ovarian cancer; Pfizer presented data showing that a new drug will build HDL cholesterol; XenoPort has begun a Phase III trial of its restless leg syndrome drug; and Avicena Group announced that its Parkensons disease drug passed a Phase II test and will be advanced into Phase III trials. The Centient Biotech 200™ rose 37 points to 4021.70, a .92% climb. More details...
