February 22, 2006 – CombinatoRX stopped further development of CRx-140, which it was testing as a therapy for psoriasis, after it failed a Phase II test; Schering-Plough won priority review for Noxafil, a drug seeking approval to treat invasive fungal infections; Geron said its stem cell technology prevented heart attacks in rats with infarcted hearts; Biovest reported BiovaxID produced remission in 70% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients; The US CDC recommended that all infants be vaccinated with Rotateq, the new anti-diarrhea vaccine from Merck; CuraGen reported velafermin, its therapy for oral mucositis, failed a Phase II test; Axcan Pharma announced that Itopride, an anti-dyspepsia drug, failed a Phase III trial; CryoCor will lay off one-third of its staff to save cash; Progenics Pharma won fast-track designation for an HIV therapy that seeks to prevent the virus from entering cells; and Antares reported positive Phase II results for Auturol, a gel-based treatment for overactive bladder. The Centient Biotech 200™ was 32 points higher at 3969.98, a rise of .80%. More details...
