Dendreon to Close New Jersey Plant, Cut 600 Jobs

Source: Reuters (7/30/12)

"The company, whose Provenge treatment for prostate cancer has had disappointing sales since it was launched in April 2010, and which is facing growing competition from easier-to-administer drugs, said the closure of its Morris Plains, New Jersey, factory would greatly reduce its cost of goods sold."

Reuters

Money-losing biotech Dendreon Corp said it would close one of its three manufacturing plants and cut more than 600 full-time and contractor jobs over the next 12 months, with the aim of reducing annual costs by about $150 million a year.

Dendreon had about 1,475 employees as of February 23, 2012, according to a regulatory filing.

The company, whose Provenge treatment for prostate cancer has had disappointing sales since it was launched in April 2010, and which is facing growing competition from easier-to-administer drugs, said the closure of its Morris Plains, New Jersey, factory would greatly reduce its cost of goods sold.

Dendreon expects an initial related restructuring charge of about $4 million and a noncash restructuring charge of about $65 million to be recorded in the third quarter of this year.

It expects full implementation of the restructuring to take about a year and anticipates to continue taking related charges until the plan is complete.

The company expects to begin benefitting from the restructuring plan in the first half of 2013.

Shares of Dendreon fell about 19% to $5.00 on the news. They had closed at $6.18 on Monday on the Nasdaq. . .View Full Article

Novavax Shares Shoot 65% Higher on Phase 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Trial's 89.3% Effectiveness
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/29/2021)

Novavax Inc. shares established a new 52-week high after the firm's COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated an 89.3% efficacy rate in a Phase 3 trial in the U.K. and also showed efficacy against the South African variant in a Phase 2b trial.

Sorrento Shares Rise 35% After Firm Posts Positive Data from Phase 1b ICU COVID-19 Trial
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

Shares of Sorrento Therapeutics traded higher after the company released positive preliminary results from it of Phase 1b COVI-MSC™ Study for treatment of hospitalized ICU COVID-19 patients.

Life Sciences Co. Receives Large Livestock Feed Order from New Client in Mexico
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

Avivagen Inc. reported it has secured a six tonne order for OxC-beta™ Livestock from a new customer in Queretaro City, Mexico.

Coverage Initiated on Biotech 'Improving Drugs Via Prodrug'
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

KemPharm's key near-term catalyst, lead value driver and other pipeline drug candidates are discussed in a ROTH Capital Partners report.

Vir Shares Climb 48% on Initial Phase 1 Chronic Hepatitis B Trial Data
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/26/2021)

Vir Biotechnology shares traded higher after the company reported data from its Phase 1 Chronic Hepatitis B Study that showed VIR-3434 significantly and rapidly reduced hepatitis B surface antigen.

Aurinia Pharma Shares Open at 52-Week High as FDA Approves Adult Lupus Nephritis Drug
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/25/2021)

Shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals traded 30% higher after the company reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its LUPKYNIS™ (voclosporin) for use in treating adults with active lupus nephritis.

AzurRx Doses First Two People in Expanded Phase 2b Trial of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/22/2021)

AzurRx BioPharma shares traded 45% higher after the firm advised it had dosed the first two patients in its Phase 2b OPTION 2 Extension Study of MS1819 for treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Gritstone Oncology Licenses LNP Platform from Genevant Sciences to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/20/2021)

Shares of Gritstone Oncology reached a new 52-week high price after the company advised it entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Genevant Sciences to develop and commercialize self-amplifying RNA vaccines for use against SARS-CoV-2.

Biotech Given Go-Ahead to Proceed with Phase 3 COVID-19 Study
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/20/2021)

Algernon Pharmaceuticals reported that it has been granted approval from the Data and Safety Monitoring Board to conduct a Phase 3 Study of Ifenprodil for SARS-CoV-2.

Aclaris Shares Triple in Value on Positive Topline Data from Phase 2a Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/19/2021)

Shares of Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. soared to a new 52-week high after the company reported positive preliminary topline data from its Phase 2a trial of oral ATI-450 for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.