--(www.USEquityNews.com)-- 06/17/2008 - Healthcare industry alert provided by U.S. Equity News. Medicis (NYSE: MRX) and LipoSonix, Inc. recently jointly announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Medicis will acquire LipoSonix, an independent, privately-held company with a staff of approximately 40 scientists, engineers and clinicians located near Seattle, Washington. As a result of the acquisition, Medicis will broaden its aesthetics portfolio pipeline with LipoSonix's body contouring technology. This completely non-invasive, focused ultrasound technology is designed to treat troublesome areas of fat which may not respond well to diet or exercise. LipoSonix recently launched its first product in Europe, where it is being marketed and sold through distributors. Subject to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Medicis anticipates entering the potentially lucrative U.S. marketplace with the LipoSonix technology in the 2011 timeframe, if not sooner.
MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD), focused on discovering, developing and commercializing treatments for diabetes and cancer, announced recently that it will present at upcoming conferences. Interested parties can access a link to the live web cast of the presentations in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://www.mannkindcorp.com. A replay of each presentation will be available for 14 days.
NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NPSP) recently reported the receipt of Paragraph IV Certification Notice Letters related to certain drug manufacturers' Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting approval to market and sell generic versions of Sensipar(R) (cinacalcet HCl), a drug licensed to Amgen by NPS. Under NPS's licensing agreement with Amgen, Amgen is responsible for all development and commercial activities involving Sensipar(R), as well as enforcing applicable patent rights, in the licensed territories and NPS is entitled to receive from Amgen royalty payments on sales of Sensipar(R), as well as certain milestones payments. In 2004 and 2007, NPS partially monetized its rights to receive payments from Amgen through the issuance of Series A and Series B notes, which are non-recourse to NPS.
TapImmune Inc. (OTCBB: TPIM), a biotechnology company specializing in the development of immunotherapeutics for cancer and vaccines for infectious diseases, announced that an independent third party research article in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology has confirmed and corroborated that a TAP incorporated vaccine should be considered as a therapy for the treatment of cancer, in this case, Melanoma. The article, in advance online publication 3 April 2008, titled, "Restoration of the Expression of Transporters Associated with Antigen Processing in Human Malignant Melanoma Increases Tumor-Specific Immunity," is yet another promising research study that confirms and corroborates the TAP incorporated vaccine. There is now a vast amount of research data supporting and corroborating the initial description of the promising effect of TAP as a cancer therapy and their effect on tumor recognition. For more information, please visit www.stocksjournal.com.
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