February 7, 2006 – Vertex Pharma said patients in a small Phase II trial of its hepatitis C drug showed no trace of the disease after four weeks of treatment; Nabi reported positive results from a Phase I test of two vaccines that treat hospital acquired infections; New River Pharma received a $50 million milestone from Shire after its hydrocodone drug successfully completed a Phase II trial; Ciphergen signed a collaboration with Sanofi-Aventis to find cancer biomarkers; ViroPharma has been granted fast track status for maribavir, its oral drug that treats CMV infection; Alphatec Holdings filed to raise $150 million in an IPO; Oscient Pharma sublicensed the rights to its pneumonia/cronchitis durg in Mexico to Pfizer; and the FDA bestowed fast track status on Gardasil from Merck, a vaccine for human papillomavirus. The Centient Biotech 200™ sank 35 points to 3884.94, a loss of .88%. More details...
