November 21 - November 28, 2005

November 21st:

Pfizer Inc. To Buy Incyte Corporation Drugs For Up To $803 Million

Pfizer Inc, and Incyte Corporation announced today that the two companies have entered into a global collaborative research and license agreement for the development, manufacture and marketing of novel oral CCR2 antagonists. Under the agreement: Pfizer gains exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights to Incyte's portfolio of CCR2 antagonist compounds, the most advanced of which is currently in Phase IIa studies in rheumatoid arthritis and insulin-resistant obese patients. Pfizer's rights extend to the full scope of potential indications, with the exception of multiple sclerosis and one other undisclosed indication, where Incyte retains exclusive worldwide rights, along with certain compounds. Incyte will not have obligations to Pfizer on pre-clinical development candidates it selects for pursuit in these indications. Incyte will receive an upfront payment of $40 million and will be eligible to receive additional milestone payments of up to $743 million for the successful development and commercialization of CCR2 antagonists in multiple indications, as well as royalties on worldwide sales.

November 22nd:

Bayer, Inverness Reach Deals for Diagnostics

German drugs and chemicals group Bayer and U.S. firm Inverness Medical Innovations have signed four agreements in diagnostics. Bayer said that the first agreement would expand access to doctors worldwide, excluding Japan, to diagnosing congestive heart failure using a test for B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) testing. The second agreement covers the use of Inverness' urotensin marker in Bayer's testing kits. Urotensin, used with BNP, is used in diagnosing congestive heart failure. Under the third agreement, Bayer and Inverness will work together to develop an application for Inverness Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) test for use on Bayer analysers. IMA is used in the early evaluation of acute coronary syndrome. The final agreement gives Bayer non-exclusive rights to an Inverness hybridoma cell line capable of making monoclonal antibodies against a Hepatitis B protein, and the right to use tests using this antibody on its automated systems.

X-Cell Medical Completes Enrollment for Clinical Trial of ETHOS I Estradiol Eluting Stent

X-Cell Medical, Inc. announced that the Company has completed enrollment in its multinational clinical trial to study the safety and effectiveness of the ETHOS I Coronary Stent System. ETHOS I stents are coated with slow-release and moderate-release formulations of 17 beta-estradiol, an approved and safe drug used in hormone replacement therapy and other indications.

November 23rd:

FDA Approves Spinal Implant Invented at St. Mary's Medical Center; New Procedure Offers Alternative to Invasive Surgery, Quicker Recovery Time

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of X STOP(R), an innovative new spinal implant invented at St. Mary's Medical Center, which will be the exclusive United States training center for this new low-risk medical procedure. James Zucherman, MD, medical director of St. Mary's Spine Center and Ken Hsu, MD, director of spine surgery at St. Mary's Spine Center, together invented the X STOP in response to the need for treatment options for a common condition called lumbar spinal stenosis, caused by age-related narrowing of the spine resulting in pressure on the spinal nerves. The implant opens spaces in the lower spine to relieve pressure on the nerves, requires a minimally invasive procedure that is usually performed in about an hour under local anesthesia and mild sedation allowing many patients to return home in about a day.

November 24th:

Medtronic submits first PMA module for Talent Thoracic stent graft system, minimally-invasive therapy provides option for treating aortic aneurysms.

Medtronic Inc submitted its first pre-market approval (PMA) module to the FDA for the Talent Thoracic stent graft system. These stent grafts are used to treat thoracic aneurysms, which are dangerous bulges in the aorta (the body's largest artery) that can rupture without warning. The stent is advanced under fluoroscopic guidance to the site of the thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection where it is then deployed. Once placed in the correct location, the stent graft expands to fit within the diameter of the aorta and provides a new path for the blood flow.