Navidea signs option to license PD imaging agent

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (AMEX:NAVB), formerly Neoprobe,  has entered into a six-month option agreement with Alseres Pharmaceuticals to license [123I]-E-IAFCT Injection, also called Altropane, an Iodine-123 radio-labeled imaging agent, being developed as an aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. “Should we exercise the option, [123I]-E-IAFCT would provide us not only with another strong [...]

David Bupp to retire from Neoprobe board

Former Neoprobe (AMEX:NEOP) president and CEO David Bupp will retire as a director, effective Jan. 4, 2012. “We will miss David’s participation in the board room, but we are pleased that we will continue to have access to his expertise and experience through his existing and ongoing consulting agreement with the company,” chairman Gordon Troup [...]

Neoprobe licenses AstraZeneca imaging agent

Neoprobe (AMEX:NEOP) has in-licensed the worldwide exclusive rights from AstraZeneca to the late-stage radiopharmaceutical imaging candidate, AZD4694, for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “Licensing this important asset is consistent with the growth strategy to build out our precision radiopharmaceutical pipeline and transform Neoprobe into a leader in the development and commercialization of targeted diagnostic [...]

Amorfix turnaround builds broad pipeline

What a difference a year makes. In 2010, Amorfix Life Sciences (TSX:AMF) pulled the plug on its lead blood test to detect the human variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, thereby halving its stock price and prompting a management shakeup. Today, Amorfix has built an innovative, early-stage product pipeline, including diagnostics and therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases and [...]

DiaMedica may hold Holy Grail for diabetes

DiaMedica’s (TSX-V:DMA) drug platform has the potential to protect and create new insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and halt the autoimmune attack against them, which may result in a breakthrough treatment for type 1 diabetes. “We believe this is the Holy Grail for type 1 diabetes research,” CEO Rick Pauls says in an exclusive [...]

Bellus starts study of Alzheimer’s drug

Bellus Health (TSX: BLU) has initiated a Phase I clinical study of its NRM8499, a pro-drug of tramiprosate, which is intended to treat Alzheimer’s disease.  The study is expected to conclude in the second half of 2010. Preclinical studies conducted in rodents showed that NRM8499 increased plasma and brain exposure to tramiprosate by 1.5 to [...]