Anulex layoffs followed FDA warning letter (Weekend Rounds)

A review of life science current events reported by MedCity News this week:

Layoffs occur at Anulex following FDA’s warning letter. Following a February warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Anulex Technologies has had to adjust by having a round of layoffs. President and General Manager Tim Miller declined to say how many people were let go but acknowledged that such letters were “extremely disruptive to business.” The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based medical device company develops products for soft tissue repair.

Duke University creates $20 million biomedical endowment. Duke University has established a new $20 million biomedical endowment to support a program that has had a knack for launching new medical companies, focusing in particular on medical technology. The new endowment will allow the program to continue at Duke in perpetuity.

GlaxoSmithKline consolidating RTP space; 1,000 GSK workers to move. GlaxoSmithKline, one of the cornerstones of North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, is selling three of its buildings as part of a consolidation plan to shrink the company’s Triangle footprint.

Orphan drug for Parkinson’s patients slated for 3Q NDA filing, Chelsea says. Drug development company Chelsea Therapeutics plans to file a new drug application in the third quarter for its lead drug candidate, an orphan drug for Parkinson’s disease patients. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Chelsea (NASDAQ:CHTP) reaffirmed the plans following correspondence with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding data from a recent study on its drug candidate Northera.

Growing CRO demand boosts outlook for Kendle. Despite its less-than-stellar financial performance, Cincinnati-based Kendle appears poised to return to growth largely due to skyrocketing demand for the outsourced drug development and clinical trial services work provided by contract research organizations (CROs) like Kendle and its peers.