Anacor Pharmaceuticals Announces Positive Results From Phase 2 Dose-Ranging Study of AN2728 in Adolescents With Atopic Dermatitis

Anacor Pharmaceuticals (ANAC) today announced positive results from a Phase 2 dose-ranging trial (AN2728-AD-204) of its topical boron-based phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor, AN2728. The study included 86 adolescents (ages 12 – 17) with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis, a chronic rash which predominantly affects children and is characterized by inflammation and itching. In this study, lesions treated with AN2728 ointment, 2.0% twice daily for 28 days achieved a 71% improvement from baseline in their Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index (ADSI) score, with 66% of lesions in this treatment group achieving total or partial clearance. AN2728 was generally safe and well-tolerated. Most adverse events were mild and largely unrelated to study drug.

ACADIA Announces Presentation of Data from Its Pivotal Phase III Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis Study with Pimavanserin at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatments that address unmet medical needs in neurological and related central nervous system disorders, announced that Jeffrey Cummings, M.D., Sc.D., Director of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, presented detailed results today from ACADIA’s pivotal Phase III -020 Study with pimavanserin in patients with Parkinson’s disease psychosis at the Emerging Science session of the 65^th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting. The analysis of the full data set from the Phase III -020 Study showed robust and consistent efficacy of pimavanserin across a wide array of study measures and confirmed the positive top-line results previously reported.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Agrees to Acquire Obagi Medical Products, Inc. for $19.75 Per Share in Cash

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX and TSX: VRX) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Valeant will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMPI - News) for $19.75 per share in cash, which represents a 28% premium to Obagi's closing share price on March 19, 2013, the last trading day prior to announcement. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2013 and Valeant expects the transaction, once completed, to be immediately accretive to Valeant's cash earnings per share. The combination is expected to yield cost synergies at an annual run rate of at least $40 million within six months of closing.

NPS Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Revise Agreements and NPS Re-Gains Full Worldwide Rights to Teduglutide and Recombinant Human Parathyroid Hormone 1-84

Takeda to receive NPS common stock of $50 million and a potential future sales-based milestone payment

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NPSP) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502, “Takeda”) announced today that NPS has re-gained the full worldwide rights to teduglutide (trade name in Europe: Revestive^®) and recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-84 (PTH 1-84) (trade name in Europe: Preotact^®). NPS licensed the commercial rights to Preotact and Revestive in 2004 and 2007, respectively, for territories outside of North America to Nycomed, which was acquired by Takeda in 2011.