Vernalis receives milestone payment in Hsp90 inhibitor collaboration

On September 3, 2007 Vernalis plc reported the achievement of a milestone under the company’s joint research and development collaboration with Novartis on the oncology target Hsp90 (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, SEP 3, 2007, View Source [SID1234523385]). The milestone payment was triggered by the start of Phase I clinical trials of a Vernalis compound in a range of solid tumours and liquid cancers.

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The Vernalis Hsp90 programme is the result of a collaboration established in March 2002 with CRT and The Institute of Cancer Research, building on studies funded by The ICR, Cancer Research UK and Wellcome Trust. Under the agreement, Vernalis will pay CRT and The ICR a proportion of its revenues from the agreement with Novartis. The original press release from Vernalis can be viewed here.

Antisoma’s ASA404 lung cancer trial will report positive survival data

On August 22, 2007 Antisoma plc has reported that its single arm phase II trial of ASA404 in non-small cell lung cancer has produced positive final results (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, AUG 22, 2007, View Source [SID1234523386]). In particular, survival data support the findings from an earlier, randomised study in which addition of ASA404 to standard chemotherapy produced one of the largest increases in median survival ever reported in lung cancer.

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Findings from the trial will be presented by Dr Mark McKeage of the Auckland Cancer Centre, New Zealand, on 5 September at the World Lung Cancer Conference in Seoul, Korea.

ASA404 (formerly known as AS1404; DMXAA) is a small-molecule vascular disrupting agent which targets the blood vessels that nourish tumours. The drug was discovered by Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and initially licensed by Cancer Research Technology (CRT) to Antisoma in August 2001. Worldwide rights to the drug were licensed by Antisoma to Novartis AG in April 2007. Novartis plan to start enrolment of patients into a phase III trial in early 2008.

The original press release from Antisoma can be viewed here.

10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Advanced Viral Research has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .

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Integra LifeSciences and IsoTis to Combine Creating a Global Leader in Orthobiologics

On Aug 7, 2007 Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) ("Integra") and IsoTis, Inc. (Nasdaq:ISOT) ("IsoTis") reported a definitive agreement whereby Integra would acquire IsoTis in an all cash transaction (Press release, Integra LifeSciences, AUG 7, 2007, View Source [SID:1234510753]). This strategic combination, unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of IsoTis, will create a global leader in regenerative medicine. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth calendar quarter of 2007. The transaction offers a number of potential strategic benefits to Integra:

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* Combination creates comprehensive orthobiologics portfolio
* Combined company to have one of the largest sales organizations
focused on orthobiologics in the United States
* Extensive channel coverage in neurosurgery, spine and extremity
reconstruction markets expected to drive cross-selling opportunities
and enhanced revenue growth

Upon closing, IsoTis, Inc. will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Integra. Integra will be one of the largest companies in the world focused on advanced technology in orthobiologics and will have a product portfolio that encompasses some of the largest and most trusted orthobiologic brands, such as INTEGRA(R) Dermal Regeneration Template, DuraGen(R) Dural Graft Matrix, Integra Mozaik(TM) Osteoconductive Scaffold, NeuraGen(R) Nerve Guide and the Accell family of demineralized bone matrix products, DynaGraft(R)II and OrthoBlast(R) II. The combined company will have operations in North America and Europe with more than 2,000 employees, including approximately 300 sales and service professionals and over 500 employees in Europe.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, IsoTis shareholders will receive $7.25 in cash for each share of IsoTis common stock they own, which represents total consideration of approximately $51 million, plus debt to be repaid at closing.

"This combination brings together two well-respected industry leaders in the regenerative medicine marketplace," said Stuart Essig, Integra’s Chief Executive Officer. "Both Integra and IsoTis provide some of the most advanced technology addressing surgeons’ needs. By combining our companies’ complementary, best-in-class products and technologies, we expect to drive enhanced revenue growth and value creation. Integra has a track record of successfully executing on and integrating strategic transactions and we expect to realize the benefits of this combination in both our top line growth and earnings per share over the long term."

Pieter Wolters, IsoTis’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said, " We believe this transaction enables both IsoTis and Integra to reach our shared goal of improving patient outcomes in an innovative, cost-effective manner. We are very excited about the benefits this combination of industry leaders will provide to shareholders, employees, business partners, physicians and patients."

Benefits of the Combination

Comprehensive orthobiologic product portfolio using best-in-class technology. Both Integra’s and IsoTis’ products are recognized as best-in-class. The combined company will be uniquely positioned to offer a comprehensive orthobiologic product portfolio.

Extensive channel coverage. The merged company will have one of the largest sales and service organizations focused on orthobiologics in the United States. IsoTis distributes its products through a network of independent distributor agents in the United States, which Integra intends to build upon, a network of international stocking distributors, and private label partners. Integra has direct sales organizations focused on neurosurgery, extremity reconstruction, spinal surgery and general surgery, with over 250 direct sales reps in the United States and over 50 sales professionals in Europe. Integra intends to integrate IsoTis’ domestic and international sales and marketing organization and its global network of independent orthopedics distributors into its own sales efforts and leverage this expanded distribution.

Cross-selling opportunities. By leveraging the combined company’s product offering and broader channel coverage, Integra and IsoTis expect to drive cross-selling opportunities across the organization, increasing penetration of key customer segments such as neurosurgery, spine, extremity, trauma and reconstructive surgery. These initiatives are expected to enhance revenue growth over the long term.

Expanded international presence. The merged company will benefit from a broader global platform with direct selling organizations in North America and Europe. Today, approximately 25 percent of Integra’s and IsoTis’ combined revenues are generated internationally. The companies expect to increase growth in international revenues by capitalizing on the increased scope and scale created by this transaction, which will include an international direct sales and service team of over 75 associates and 200 distribution partners selling in over 100 countries.

Cost savings. Excluding transaction related costs and charges, the combined organization is expected to generate recurring cost savings from enhanced efficiency in manufacturing, purchasing, administrative, research and sales and marketing efforts.

Integra Guidance for 2008

The companies expect to initiate programs that are expected to enhance revenue growth in the long term. Concurrent with the signing of the merger agreement, the companies have announced a strategic alliance whereby Integra will sell on a private label basis IsoTis’ DynaGraft(R) II and OrthoBlast(R) II demineralized bone matrix products through its Integra NeuroSciences and Integra Extremity Reconstruction direct sales organizations in the United States.

IsoTis has recently announced its intention to wind down its European operations. This process has begun and IsoTis expects to achieve pre-tax savings of approximately $3-$5 million per year from these actions. After elimination of its European entities and facilities, IsoTis will maintain research and manufacturing operations at a single site in Irvine, California.

"While the transaction will be dilutive to reported earnings for several quarters as we restructure the business, we expect the restructuring activities surrounding the IsoTis acquisition to generate projected pre-tax cost savings of approximately $9 to $11 million per year for 2008 and beyond, as compared to IsoTis’ historical 2006 results," said Stuart M. Essig, Integra’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "Substantial savings will come from the reduction of public company costs, duplicative board and executive management costs, redundant insurance costs, and reduced advisory, legal and accounting fees. Additionally, by the end of 2008, Integra expects to complete the integration of IsoTis’ marketing, product development, administrative and logistics functions into Integra’s existing infrastructure and generate additional cost savings."

Integra expects to incur pre-tax charges related to these activities of approximately $3 to $5 million. These charges are expected to be incurred during the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first half of 2008, depending upon the actual closing date of the transaction.

Upon the closing of the transaction, Integra will provide more detailed guidance regarding the financial aspects of the transaction and its expected impact on Integra’s future financial results.

Timing and Approvals

The transaction is subject to approval of IsoTis’ shareholders, as well as other closing conditions and approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter of 2007.

Advisors

In connection with the transaction, Thomas Weisel Partners is acting as exclusive financial advisor to IsoTis, and provided a fairness opinion to the IsoTis Board of Directors. Latham & Watkins LLP is legal counsel for IsoTis. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is legal counsel for Integra.

CRT licenses colorectal cancer risk technolgy

On July 31, 2007 Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the oncology-focused development and commercialisation company, reported that it has agreed a non-exclusive licence with ArcticDx Inc. for the development of a Colo Risk test to help health professionals determine an individual’s predisposition to developing colorectal cancer (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, JUL 31, 2007, View Source [SID1234523387]).

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The agreement allows for some results from Cancer Research UK funded genome-wide association studies* to be integrated into the risk assessment technology. It is hoped this Colo Risk technology – which is currently in development – will prove effective in assessing people who may be at higher risk of developing bowel cancer so they can receive tailor-made screening and lifestyle advice.

The technology will be based on recent genome-wide association studies which were the first to identify a number of common ‘genetic variants’ that increase bowel cancer risk. These are known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs appear more frequently in the DNA of people who have developed bowel cancer than of those free from, or at low risk, of developing the disease.

Greg Hines, chief executive officer of ArcticDx Inc. said: "With eight years expertise in the field of in vitro diagnostics development, we’re well placed to take forward these findings and combine them with work we have already done to process information on other risk factors such as age and body mass index which we know also contribute to increased risk of developing the disease. This saliva-based test will be commercially available by the end of this year."

As part of this licensing deal, CRT will receive an upfront payment as well as royalties on any sales.

Dr Phil L’Huillier, CRT’s director of business management, said: "We are committed to ensuring that the most promising findings in the field of cancer research are developed into technology that can be used to fight cancer. This licence agreement with ArcticDx Inc. incorporates important genetic findings into potentially workable technology which could help identify and manage people at higher risk of bowel cancer – it’s an exciting development."