Company and People Notes: Boehringer Ingelheim Expands Facility, Regulus Therapeutics Names President and CEO, More

Company Notes

Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada (Nov. 29)-Axcan Pharma, a pharmaceutical company specializing in gastrointestinal disorders, entered into an agreement to be acquired by TPG Capital and its affiliates in an all-cash transaction for $1.3 billion. Axcan expects the deal to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.

Biberach, Germany, Nov. 29-Boehringer Ingelheim (BI)  inaugurated an expanded and modernized biopharmaceutical production plant at its research and development and biotechnology site in Biberach/Riss, Germany. BI invested EUR 80 million ($117 million) in the project, which began in 2005.

Hamburg, German and Oxford, England (Dec. 3)-Evotec completed the sales of its previously announced acquisition of its chemical and pharmaceutical development business to Aptuit (Greenwich, CT). With the acquisition, Aptuit gains an active pharmaceutical ingredient facility in Oxford, England and a recently expanded parenteral (injectables) fill-finish facility in Glasgow, Scotland.

Basel, Switzerland (Dec. 2)-Novartis expanded its collaboration with MorphoSys (Martinsried/Planegg, Germany), a biotechnology company specializing in fully human antibodies. Under a new 10-year agreement, which may be extended by Novartis for an additional two years, Novartis and MorphoSys will jointly discover and optimize antibodies in a wide range of diseases. MorphoSys will also offer increased personnel support for these projects.  Novartis will make total payments, including full-time equivalent support, technology transfer, and annual licensing fees of approximately $600 million to MorphoSys. Potential payments could exceed $1 billion depending upon achieving certain clinical milestones

Paris (Dec. 3)-Sanofi-Aventis opened its first Asian pharmaceutical development center in Goa India. The project is the company’s single largest investment in India to date. The 2600-m2center is the company’s first Asian hub for analytical and formulation development and will have the capacity to develop 12 pharmaceutical compounds per year. The facility is located near the company’s manufacturing facility in Goa.

Rockville, MD (Nov. 27)-The US Food and Drug Administration issued a MedWatch Alert for the kidney transplant drug “Myfortic” (mycophenolic acid) “Myfortic” by Novartis (Basel, Switzerland). FDA said that Myfortic delayed-release tablets during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of pregnancy loss and congenital malformations and the prescribing information for the drug be revised to reflect this risk.

People Notes

Pasadena, CA (Dec. 3)-Arrowhead Research Corporation appointed Christopher Anzalone as president, CEO, and board member. Anzalone is the founder of Benet Group, LLC, a private equity firm that focuses on building nanotechnology companies. Arrowhead Research has begun the process of acquiring Benet Group.

Montreal, Canada (Dec. 3)-Ambrilia Biopharma appointed Philippe Calais, PhD, as president, CEO. and member of its board of directors. The company also announced that Richard La Rue, vice-president of legal affairs, human resources, and corporate secretary will resign from the board.

Carsbad, CA (Dec. 3)-Regulus Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on microRNA therapeutics, appointed Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, PhD, as president and CEO. The company is a joint venture between Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Isis Pharmaceuticals. Xanthopoulos was previously a managing director of Enterprise Partners Venture Capital and cofounder, president, and CEO of Anadys Pharmaceuticals.

Richmond, CA (Dec. 3)-Sangamo BioSciences appointed H. Ward Wolff as executive vice-presient and chief financial officer. Wolff will oversee the company’s administrative, financial, and business development acitivities. Sangamo BioSciences develops DNA-binding proteins for therapeutic gene regulation and modification.

Madison, NJ (Nov. 30)-Wyeth announced two promotions of its executives to new leadership positions, effective Jan. 1, 2008. Joseph M. Mahady will serve as president of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and senior vice-president of Wyeth. Mahady previously served as president, global business for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Richard R. DeLuca will serve as the company’s president, Fort Dodge Animal Health, succeeding E. Thomas Corcoran. DeLuca is currently chief operating officer at Fort Dodge Health.