Ipsen, S.A. and Tercica have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which an affiliate of Ipsen will acquire all outstanding shares (approximately 43%) of Tercica for approximately $663 million in cash. This transaction, which is subject to approval by Tercica stockholders, has been approved by Tercica's board of directors.

"The combination of Ipsen's and Tercica's development and product portfolios provides the opportunity to create a leading global endocrinology company," said John A. Scarlett, M.D., chief executive officer of Tercica. "We believe this transaction recognizes the value we have created at Tercica and provides our stockholders with attractive financial terms."

Merck Serono and development partner ZymoGenetics have initiated a Phase II/III trial of atacicept in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug for the treatment of SLE.

The study is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the FDA. A second Phase II/III study in lupus nephritis, a severe form of SLE in which the kidneys are affected, was initiated in December 2007. These two studies are part of a potential registration package to support worldwide applications for marketing authorization.

The one-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled international trial will enroll approximately 500 patients with SLE. The trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of atacicept compared to placebo in preventing SLE flares. The primary endpoint is the proportion of subjects experiencing a new disease flare, based on BILAG (British Isles Lupus Assessment Group) measurements, during the treatment period.

Michael Faughnan has been named business development director of Eden Biodesign's U.S. subsidiary, Eden Biodesign, Inc. He will support Dr. Roger Lias, president of Eden Biodesign, Inc. and group commercial director, with the company’s expansion in the U.S. and is responsible for North American Business Development activities.
 
Located in southern California, Mr. brings more than 14 years of experience in successfully aiding clients in accelerating their biopharmaceutical products into and through clinical development and to commercial launch, according to a company statement. Said Dr. Lias, "Michael brings tremendous experience and will be an invaluable asset as we continue to build our U.S. infrastructure and expand our services to clients in the North American market."
 
Most recently, Mr. Faughnan was manager of sales and business development at Cytovance Biologics, where he was responsible for North American commercial activities.  Previously he spent five years as territory manager in the industrial cell culture media division of Irvine Scientific. Prior to that, he was a sales professional at Woodside Biomedical, now part of Abbott Laboratories.

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