Oncolytics Announces Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Following U.S. Food and Drug Administration review, the Company is initiating a U.S. Phase 2 clinical trial using intravenous administration of REOLYSIN in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with K-RAS or EGFR-activated tumours. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Miguel Villalona-Calero, Professor Division of Hematology/Oncology and Department of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Gilead Looking Healthy for Takeover

Gilead Sciences remains an attractive takeover target for major drugmakers because of its promising pipeline and consistent revenue, primarily from HIV medicines Viread, Truvada and Atripla. However, a takeover of the biotech firm may prove difficult because Gilead’s growth strategy has always focused on “building a very strong independent company,” Chief Operating Officer John Milligan said.

Funding For Peplin Inc.

An Emeryville company attempting to tap an Australian weed for a treatment of a precancerous skin condition has landed a new top management team and a $24 million investment after a failed IPO.

Peplin Inc — based in Australia until last year when South San Francisco venture capital firm MPM Capital invested in it— said the funding came from New Entrprise Associates, MPM and two other existing investors from Australia. The company also brought on biotech veterans Tom Wiggans as CEO and Dr. Eugene Bauer as president and chief medical officer.