What's Making News At CGEN, ISIS, SQNM, SGYP?

(RTTNews) - Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) has inked a collaboration and license agreement worth $540 million with global drug giant Bayer HealthCare for antibody-based cancer immunotherapies.

Under the terms of the deal, Compugen will receive an upfront payment of $10 million, up to $30 million associated with preclinical activities and $500 million in potential milestone payments.

Compugen's pipeline is focused on Fc-fusion proteins and monoclonal antibody therapeutics in immunology and oncology.

Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (ISIS) phase II study of ISIS-CRPRx in patients with rheumatoid arthritis did not achieve statistical significance in improving signs and symptoms of the disease. The company is pulling the plug on ISIS-CRPRx studies in rheumatoid arthritis.

A phase II study of ISIS-CRPRx in patients with atrial fibrillation is currently ongoing, and the company expects results to be reported in the first half of 2014.

Sequenom Inc. (SQNM) has received clinical laboratory permit to provide its noninvasive prenatal laboratory-developed test, the MaterniT21 PLUS test, to healthcare professionals in the state of New York, effective August 1, 2013.

Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SGYP) is all set to initiate a pivotal phase III study of Plecanatide in chronic idiopathic constipation patients in the fourth quarter of 2013. The company announced today that it has reached an agreement with the FDA on design, duration, size and primary and secondary efficacy endpoints for the pivotal phase III studies.