Brian Abrahams

Biogen’s MS Pill Delayed in Europe as Patent Extended

Biogen Idec Inc., the world’s biggest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, said a European regulatory decision on its new pill will be delayed until the second half of the year after a patent on the medicine was extended.

XenoPort Sinks as Spasticity Drug For MS Fails in Trial

XenoPort Inc., the maker of the drug Horizant for Restless Legs Syndrome, sank the most in almost three years after an experimental medicine failed to meet goals of a late-stage clinical trial.

Vertex Gains as Cystic Fibrosis Combo Eases Breathing

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., maker of the cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco, rose the most ever after the company said the medicine combined with another eased patients’ breathing in a clinical trial.

Rigel Sinks as Arthritis Medicine Shows Mixed Results

Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc., a drugmaker with no products on the market, fell in early trading after its experimental rheumatoid arthritis medicine being developed with AstraZeneca Plc showed mixed results in a trial.

Gilead-Medivir Hepatitis C Drug Clears Virus in Patients

An experimental drug combination from Gilead Sciences Inc., Medivir AB and Johnson & Johnson eradicated the virus that causes hepatitis C in patients with the liver disease in a study.

Biogen’s Tecfidera MS Drug Wins EU Agency’s Backing

Biogen Idec Inc. won European Union backing for Tecfidera, one of the first therapies for multiple sclerosis available in an easy-to-take pill that analysts say may generate $3.25 billion in annual sales.

InterMune's Surprise U.S. Rejection of Lung Drug Sends Shares Plunging

InterMune Inc. ’s application for a potential $1-billion-a-year lung treatment was rejected by U.S. regulators, causing the drugmaker to lose three-quarters of its value in Nasdaq trading.

InterMune Falls After German Agency Says New Lung Drug Shows Low Benefit

InterMune Inc., which won European approval in February for lung-disease drug Esbriet, fell the most since May 2010 after a German health agency said the therapy offered little benefit to patients.

Incyte Climbs on Arthritis Drug Results: Wilmington Mover

Incyte Corp., a maker of cancer and autoimmune drugs, climbed for a second trading day after a study showed improvement for patients on the experimental rheumatoid arthritis treatment it’s developing with Eli Lilly & Co.

Vertex Draws Collaboration Interest For Hepatitis C Combo

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., maker of the hepatitis C drug Incivek, has received interest from other companies to collaborate on tests of one of its experimental medicines for the liver disease, Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Leiden said.

"Though we believe Tecfidera will likely be safe from generics due through at least the late-2020s through its IP exclusivity, the delay in confirming EU regulatory exclusivity does highlight an incremental risk that may not have been appreciated."

- Brian Abrahams on May 30, 2013

New York

Europe

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Germany

Europe Shares, Asian Stocks Gain With Won as Fed Concern Eases

Turkey Clashes Persist as Erdogan Predicts Early End to Protest

Topix Profits Tripling World Even in $400 Billion Wipeout

Senators Near Plan to Abolish Fannie Mae, Shrink U.S. Backstop

Lautenberg Vacancy Pick Is Christie’s Political Challenge