NovaBay lines up investment, Asian distribution deal

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc. could receive investments of up to $5.5 million from a venture related to a Chinese drug company that signed a five-year marketing deal with NovaBay. Naqu Area Pioneer Pharma Co. Ltd. of Shanghai will pay the Emeryville-based company (NYSE MKT: NBY) $500,000 upfront to sell NovaBay's NeutroPhase skin and wound cleaner in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. The commercial launches in select markets is expected by the end of this year, but others will have the product by 2014, NovaBay said Friday. NovaBay will receive up to $200,000 in milestone payments.

FDA extends use of NovaBay wound cleaner, new spray pump

A wound-cleaning system from NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc. was cleared for wider use Monday by the Food and Drug Administration. The NeutroPhase skin and would cleanser and a related spray pump from Emeryville-based NovaBay (AMEX: NBY) were cleared through the FDA's 510(k) process for medical devices. NeutroPhase consists of hypochlorous acid, a common disinfectant, in normal saline.

Sheep help NovaBay target sinusitis

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc. is counting on sheep sinuses to shepherd one of its experimental drugs into flocks of patients and investors.
NVC-422 is one of the Emeryville drug developer’s (AMEX: NBY) so-called Aganocide compounds, designed to kill bacteria quickly and effectively but without the bacteria building up resistance over time. The compound is being studied in everything from the skin infection impetigo to urinary catheter blockage to eye care, though Novartis’ Alcon eye care unit returned rights to the drug this summer.
But recent findings from an Australian study could cause NovaBay to put more attention on sinusitis.