GSK returns drug to Anacor

GlaxoSmithKline has stopped work on a compound from Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. after finding resistance among a "small number" of patients in a mid-stage trial in complicated urinary tract infections, Palo Alto-based Anacor said Friday.

Biotechs find new ways to tackle 'neglected' diseases

Eric Easom of Palo Alto's Anacor.

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Smaller is better when it comes to tackling drug development for some of the world’s most serious diseases.

Yet even as a cadre of small Bay Area companies take the lead in discovering and developing treatments and diagnostic tools for so-called “neglected diseases,” industry leaders say more are needed. That could be a challenge given the rising cost of drug development, funding pressures on nonprofit supporters and the difficulty of delivering these drugs in markets with some of the world’s poorest people.

But according to a new report from BIO Ventures for Global Health and theBiotechnology Industry Organization   , the small number of biotech companies focused on neglected diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and sleeping sickness have become more committed and creative about how to fund that work.

Hyperion's IPO a model for biotech — and that's not all good

Hyperion Therapeutics Inc.’s planned $57.5 million IPO is a story of risk, potential reward and even a hint of desperation.
It is a familiar story of Bay Area biotech initial public offerings, which have been far and few between in the past couple of years. In fact, Hyperion’s back story is not very different from that of Novato’s Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.: young company, improved drug, small patient population and, possibly, a product on the market by early next year.
But there are some twists and turns in Hyperion’s tale — including one that might catch the interest of federal antitrust investigators.

GSK 'finding' halts four trials of Anacor antibiotic

GlaxoSmithKline plc suspended enrollment in four trials of an Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. antibiotic after a “microbiological finding” in some patients in one of the studies.
The stock of Palo Alto-based Anacor (NASDAQ: ANAC) was down 36 cents, or nearly 5 percent, to $7.06 per share by mid-afternoon, after GSK said Monday that it suspended enrollment around GSK-052 in patients with complicated urinary tract infections.
The finding isn’t related to three other studies of the drug — a Phase IIb trial in complicated intra-abdominal infections and two Phase I trials — but GSK said it voluntarily suspended enrollment in those trials as well.

Anacor skin rash drugs scratch out mid-stage trial success

A mid-stage trial of two experimental skin rash treatments developed by Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. met their goals, the Palo Alto company said.
The drugs, known as AN-2728 and AN-2898, are designed to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, a chronic rash that involves inflammation and itching. It affects about 40 million people in seven major countries, the company (NASDAQ: ANAC) said, including about 20 percent of children in the United States.

GSK returns rights to 3 Anacor drug targets, expands deal on another

GlaxoSmithKline plc will return the rights to three drug targets to Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. but pay $5 million up front as it expands the deal around drugs zeroing in on a bacterial enzyme, malaria and tuberculosis.
Palo Alto-based Anacor (NASDAQ: ANAC) said the new deal could land another $11.3 million in milestone and research funding by the end of 2012.

Anacor barks up right tree with neglected diseases focus

Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. is going to the dogs — and that’s just fine with CEO David Perry. The sooner it gets there, the faster the Palo Alto company can tackle more neglected human diseases.
It’s this simple: Some of the same parasites rampant in Fifi and Fluffy also cause some of the most devastating neglected diseases in humans. But while people willingly plunk down cash to acquire the latest drug to flush out a pet’s heartworm, poor people in developing countries must settle for older and cheaper — and, perhaps, less effective — treatments for tuberculosis, malaria or river blindness, for example.
The trick for a young drug-development company like Anacor (NASDAQ: ANAC) then is to come up with deals that balance those competing interests.
Anacor, whose website lists "neglected diseases" alongside its human commercial drug prospects, may have a few solutions.

Anacor, partners target African sleeping sickness

A public-private-nonprofit partnership, including Palo Alto’s Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. , has completed early work on the first new oral drug candidate discovered specifically to combat sleeping sickness.
Anacor (NASDAQ: ANAC), Scynexis of North Carolina and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative on Tuesday published results of their preclinical studies in the journal PLos Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Phase I clinical trials in humans will start soon.

Anacor to develop malaria treatment

Anacor Pharmaceuticals on Thursday said it entered a development agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture.
Palo Alto-based Anacor (NASDAQ:ANAC) said its compound AN3661 will be developed to treat malaria.
AN3661 was developed as part of a research agreement signed by the two parties in April 2010 to identify new compounds for the treatment of malaria using Anacor’s boron chemistry.

Anacor to get up to $160M in Medicis acne deal