GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) subsidiary Stiefel Labotories must pay a former employee $1.5 million, according to a jury verdict awarded in a stock buyback case. If other verdicts go that way — including a Securities and Exchange Commission complaint — Stiefel could be on the hook for more than $100 million more.Former Stiefel employee Timothy Finerty won [...]

A biotechnology executive confessed to me this week an interest in blogging. More than talking about his company, he has thoughts and ideas he’d like to share about the broader life sciences industry. Sounds great. I’d read that, I told him. So what’s stopping him? He nodded in the direction of his investor and corporate [...]

The rare bone cancer chordoma can’t be treated with drugs right now, but the National Institutes of Health has identified 40 already-approved drugs that show promise as potential treatments. Now, a Johns Hopkins University scientists has funding to start screening the 10 most promising drugs from that list.The Chordoma Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant [...]

A noninvasive eye imaging system developed by medical device company Bioptigen now has regulatory clearance for use on patients in the United States.Bioptigen received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its hand-held Envisu Spectral Domain Ophthalmic Imaging System. Bioptigen’s devices use a technology called optical coherence tomography. The company’s noninvasive device [...]

GlaxoSmithKline‘s (NYSE:GSK) phase 3 clinical trial on a combination melanoma treatment is just starting, but the pharma giant already has reason to be excited. Midstage results showed that in some patients, the drug works better than Roche‘s (OTC:RHHBY) Zelboraf — a drug that set the cancer care community abuzz even before it was approved last [...]

The hepatitis C virus is believed to have links to the growth of liver cancer, but those connections have been hard to study. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill research aimed at learning more about those connections has secured a $2.35 million federal grant.The five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute will enable two [...]

Unless GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) sweetens its offer to buy Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ:HGSI), a hostile takeover will come with a bitter taste.In rejecting GSK’s nearly $2.6 billion offer today, HGS’ board of directors also adopted a “poison pill.”If the British pharma giant gets a 15 percent or greater stake in HGS without board approval, the shareholder [...]

When regenerative medicine firm Cytomedix (OTC:CMXI) acquired biotechnology company Aldagen, the stem cell-based stroke treatment in clinical trials was the centerpiece of the all stock deal.Cytomedix is now making moves to develop other stem cell treatments from its Aldagen acquisition. Two more clinical trials will start later this year, CEO Martin Rosendale told analysts on [...]

Dry eye treatment company TearScience, which is considering plans for an initial public stock offering, now has a new chief financial officer.The medical device company has promoted Nicole Wicker from vice president of finance to CFO. Wicker joined TearScience in 2008 and guided the Morrisville, North Carolina company through its $44.5 million series C round [...]

Wound and surgical sealant developer HyperBranch Medical Technology has received the CE Mark for an applicator that delivers its sealant used in cranial and spinal surgeries.The Adherus AutoSpray Dural Sealant delivers HyperBranch’s dural sealant to prevent leaks of cerebrospinal fluid after the surgical repair. The company’s spinal sealant had previously secured a CE Mark. With [...]