Content about CAMBRIDGE

March 22, 2013

Disease relapse rates and worsening of disability were low among patients taking a drug made by Genzyme for multiple sclerosis, the company said.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Disease relapse rates and worsening of disability were low among patients taking a drug made by Genzyme for multiple sclerosis, the company said.

Genzyme, a division of French drug maker Sanofi, announced results of an extension study of the drug Lemtrada (alemtuzumab). The study was a follow-up to two other late-stage clinical studies of the drug, finding that relapse rates and sustained accumulation of disability remained low among patients who had previously received the drug.

January 28, 2013

The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application from Genzyme for an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis, the company said Monday.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application from Genzyme for an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis, the company said Monday.

Genzyme, a division of French drug maker Sanofi, said the FDA accepted its application seeking approval for Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for relapsing MS. The company expects the agency to decide whether to approve the drug in the second half of this year.

October 19, 2012

Improving medication adherence may be the key to reducing hospital re-admission rates, according to a new issue brief by a health policy research organization.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Improving medication adherence may be the key to reducing hospital re-admission rates, according to a new issue brief by a health policy research organization.

October 16, 2012

Target should be feeling confident about its upcoming entry into Canada, as a recent survey from Kantar Retail and TNS Canada revealed that 75% of Canadians are aware of the retailer.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Target should be feeling confident about its upcoming entry into Canada, as a recent survey from Kantar Retail and TNS Canada revealed that 75% of Canadians are aware of the retailer.

Furthermore, 43% of Canadian consumers said that they were likely to shop at Target Canada for grocery or health and beauty aids and 50% were likely to shop at Target Canada for general merchandise or apparel.

October 9, 2012

A drug maker and a hospital have entered an agreement aimed at developing new treatments for various types of hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A drug maker and a hospital have entered an agreement aimed at developing new treatments for various types of hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

Sanofi and Massachusetts General Hospital said their project-based collaboration unites scientists from the respective parties, with the goal of "maximizing the strengths of both academic and industry cross-organizational expertise, and will include both preclinical and clinical translational research to elucidate questions from proof-of-concept to tolerability, efficacy and effectiveness."

October 8, 2012

Dollar General is the overall basket price leader, delivering a substantial savings to value shoppers, according to Kantar Retail's second annual opening price point survey.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Dollar General is the overall basket price leader, delivering a substantial savings to value shoppers, according to Kantar Retail's second annual opening price point survey. Walgreens, for the second year, had the most expensive total basket, driven by sharply higher edible and nonedible grocery baskets.

October 2, 2012

An experimental drug for treating a rare genetic disease appears effective, according to a late-stage clinical trial.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An experimental drug for treating a rare genetic disease appears effective, according to a late-stage clinical trial.

September 13, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for multiple sclerosis.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for multiple sclerosis.

Sanofi subsidiary Genzyme announced that the FDA had approved Aubagio (teriflunomide) as a once-daily, oral treatment for patients with relapsing MS.

September 10, 2012

A drug maker and medical research institute will work together to identify new treatments for bacterial and viral infections.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A drug maker and medical research institute will work together to identify new treatments for bacterial and viral infections.

AstraZeneca and the Broad Institute, owned jointly by Harvard University and MIT, announced Monday that they would collaborate for two years to develop medicines to treat severe infections, saying the identification of high-quality chemicals for the development of new drugs was a significant challenge. The two will use the Broad Institute's collection of 100,000 chemicals known as diversity-oriented synthesis, or DOS compounds.

September 6, 2012

While regulations meant to control the prices of drugs dispensed through physician offices for injured workers can keep costs down without limiting access, employers in many states may end up paying more than twice what they would have if the workers had gone to a pharmacy instead, according to a new study.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — While regulations meant to control the prices of drugs dispensed through physician offices for injured workers can keep costs down without limiting access, employers in many states may end up paying more than twice what they would have if the workers had gone to a pharmacy instead, according to a new study.

June 13, 2012

Upsher-Smith Labs on Wednesday announced that it has agreed to acquire Proximagen Group, a European biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for diseases of the central nervous system and inflammation.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Upsher-Smith Labs on Wednesday announced that it has agreed to acquire Proximagen Group, a European biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for diseases of the central nervous system and inflammation.

Upsher-Smith intends to retain operations in Cambridge and London, England, the company reported.

June 1, 2012

An experimental drug for multiple sclerosis produced a noticeable reduction in symptoms of the disease in a late-stage clinical trial, the drug's developer said Friday.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An experimental drug for multiple sclerosis produced a noticeable reduction in symptoms of the disease in a late-stage clinical trial, the drug's developer said Friday.

Genzyme, a unit of French drug maker Sanofi, announced results from a phase-3 study of Aubagio (teriflunomide) in patients with relapsing forms of MS. According to the study, patients taking the drug in the 14-mg strength experienced a 36.3% reduction in annualized relapse rates and 31.5% reduction in the risk of sustained accumulation of disability over a 12-week period.

May 9, 2012

An aerodynamic chocolate product, invented by Harvard professor David Edwards, has made its U.S. debut.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An aerodynamic chocolate product, invented by Harvard professor David Edwards, has made its U.S. debut.

Showcased at the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago this week, AeroShot Chocolate, a reformulation of the original Le Whif Chocolate, delivers the taste of chocolate without the calories. Using a small lipstick-sized tube, consumers draw fine particles of chocolate into their mouth for a unique chocolate experience, according to AeroDesigns.

April 20, 2012

Drug maker Genzyme plans to present data from trial programs of two multiple sclerosis drugs at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in New Orleans, which starts this Saturday and lasts until next Saturday.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Drug maker Genzyme plans to present data from trial programs of two multiple sclerosis drugs at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in New Orleans, which starts this Saturday and lasts until next Saturday.

Genzyme, owned by French drug maker Sanofi, will present results of 12 trials of the experimental drugs alemtuzumab and teriflunomide, including the phase-3 "CARE-MS II" trial, which compares alemtuzumab with Rebif (interferon beta-1a), made by Pfizer and Merck KGaA.

March 6, 2012

Takeda Pharmaceutical's cancer drug unit has started a late-stage clinical trial of a drug for treating a rare form of lymphoma, the company said.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Takeda Pharmaceutical's cancer drug unit has started a late-stage clinical trial of a drug for treating a rare form of lymphoma, the company said.

The unit, Millennium, announced the start of a phase-3 trial to evaluate MLN8237 in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma, an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

January 24, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new means of administering a cancer drug made by Takeda, the drug maker said.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new means of administering a cancer drug made by Takeda, the drug maker said.

The FDA approved injection under the skin of Velcade (bortezomib) for multiple myeloma and mantle-cell lymphoma, also known as subcutaneous injection.

Takeda said the approval was based on results of a phase-3 trial conducted on 222 patients who had not received the drug before that showed subcutaneous injection worked as well as intravenous injection.

December 21, 2011

An orally administered drug made by Genzyme for treating multiple sclerosis did not appear superior to a biotech drug already on the market, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An orally administered drug made by Genzyme for treating multiple sclerosis did not appear superior to a biotech drug already on the market, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

Genzyme, owned by French drug maker Sanofi, compared the once-daily drug teriflunomide with Rebif (interferon beta-1a), made by Pfizer and Merck KGaA, in patients with relapsing MS in the 324-patient "TENERE" trial. Merck KGaA, based in Germany, operates under the name EMD Serono in the United States to avoid confusion with U.S.-based Merck & Co.

December 19, 2011

Nielsen Holdings on Monday announced that Rick Kash has been appointed vice chair and will join CEO David Calhoun and vice chair Susan Whiting in the office of the CEO. Nielsen also named Mitchell Habib COO.

NEW YORK — Nielsen Holdings on Monday announced that Rick Kash has been appointed vice chair and will join CEO David Calhoun and vice chair Susan Whiting in the office of the CEO. Nielsen also named Mitchell Habib COO.

December 16, 2011

Beauty company Living Proof has announced the appointment of Jill Beraud as CEO, effective Jan. 9.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Beauty company Living Proof has announced the appointment of Jill Beraud as CEO, effective Jan. 9.

December 15, 2011

Cambridge Consultants on Thursday released a report outlining how the health-and-wellness market may take shape as more consumer-friendly medical devices featuring the latest in technology reach the market.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Consultants on Thursday released a report outlining how the health-and-wellness market may take shape as more consumer-friendly medical devices featuring the latest in technology reach the market.

“Disruption in this market will come from medical firms moving from 10-year product lifecycles and confronting the 18-month lifecycles of the consumer world, and from consumer companies adapting to the rigorous processes demanded by medical regulations,” stated Duncan Smith, head of product development at Cambridge Consultants.

November 23, 2011

An online data sharing platform announced it will debut a daily blood-glucose monitoring feature for its more than 2,000 diabetes patients.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An online data sharing platform announced it will debut a daily blood-glucose monitoring feature for its more than 2,000 diabetes patients.

PatientsLikeMe said patients will be able to report daily glucose levels, as well as continue sharing and learning from HbA1C scores, treatments and dosages, in addition to symptoms and severity.

The feature will be launched in early December, PatientsLikeMe said.

November 14, 2011

A late-stage clinical trial of a drug under development as a treatment for multiple sclerosis has shown "successful" results.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A late-stage clinical trial of a drug under development as a treatment for multiple sclerosis has shown "successful" results.

Genzyme, acquired earlier this year by French drug maker Sanofi, announced results of the phase-3 "CARE-MS II" trial of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), saying the drug "significantly reduced" worsening of disability and relapse in patients with MS, compared with Rebif (interferon beta-1a), made by Pfizer and German drug maker Merck KGaA, a separate company from U.S.-based Merck.

November 10, 2011

Genzyme has named leaders of two units that are part of the core focus of the drug maker's business.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Genzyme has named leaders of two units that are part of the core focus of the drug maker's business.

Bill Sibold, former chief commercial officer at Avanir Pharmaceuticals, was appointed to serve as head of the multiple sclerosis business, while Rogério Vivaldi, who most recently served as president of Genzyme’s renal and endocrinology business, now is the head of the rare diseases business.

Both Sibold and Vivaldi will report to Genzyme president and CEO David Meeker, who recently became part of the company's executive team.

November 2, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved changes to the labeling of a cancer drug made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved changes to the labeling of a cancer drug made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said.

Takeda and Millennium, the Japanese drug maker's cancer-drug subsidiary, announced Tuesday that the FDA approved a supplemental new drug application for the injectable multiple myeloma drug Velcade (bortezomib) that updates its label to include additional data from a clinical study showing that the drug extended patients' survival time.

October 25, 2011

Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme, the French drug maker said.

PARIS — Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme, the French drug maker said.

Sanofi bought the Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech manufacturer for $20.1 billion earlier this year.

"After working closely with David over the past six months, I am confident that he is the best person to lead Genzyme," Sanofi CEO Christopher Viehbacher said. "David's commitment to employees, physicians and patients has been a key success factor in the successful integration of Genzyme as part of the Sanofi Group."