Innovation, influence and business in America's medical cities.

Aastrom Biosciences Inc. has finished treating patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial of its cardiac-repair stem cells.The milestone clears the way for Aastrom to report six-month interim results of the trial later this year, according to a statement from the company.In the trial, Aastrom treated 40 patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, a severe form [...]

Aastrom Biosciences, once in danger of being deslisted from the Nasdaq, has regained compliance with the stock exchange’s $1 minimum share price requirement.In December, the stem cell company was granted an extension until March 31 from being delisted. The company said its stock would have to trade above $1 for 10 consecutive days [...]

The last couple years have been a bumpy ride for Adeona Pharmaceuticals. The company nearly collapsed in the wake of an FDA rejection of its top drug candidate, Coprexa, in January 2008, and Adeona has had four different chief executives in the last 12 months. Perhaps seeking a divorce from the bad memories, the company [...]

Perrigo Co. has reached a $48 million agreement to acquire an Australian over-the-counter, store-brand pharmaceuticals supplier.Perrigo, which bills itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of over-the-counter drugs for the store-brand market, says the purchase of Orion Laboratories Pty Ltd. will add about $30 million annually to its sales, according to a statement from [...]

Rockwell Medical Technologies Inc. saw its stock lose about a quarter of its value in early trading Friday, after the company announced its iron deficiency anemia drug failed to meet its efficacy goal in a clinical trial.A Phase 2b study of the drug, Soluble Ferric Pyrophosphate, showed that it didn’t meet its endpoint of adequately [...]

Stem cell company Aastrom Biosciences plans to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial of its treatment for critical limb ischemia.Critical limb ischemia results from a decreased blood supply, is often the endpoint of peripheral arterial disease and can lead to amputation.Aastrom said it will proceed with the Phase 3 trial of its vascular repair cells [...]

Adeona Pharmaceuticals has enrolled half of the patients it hopes to sign up for trials of its multiple sclerosis drug Trimesta. The company is in the midst of what it calls Phase “2/3″ trials of Trimesta and has enrolled 75 of a planned 150 patients.

Stryker unloads another 150,000 shares from her stake in Kalmazoo, Mich.-based device manufacturer, lifting gross proceeds during February to nearly $16 million

Aastrom Biosciences Inc. has completed a 1-for-8 reverse stock split that has so far achieved its desired effect–pushing the company’s share price above $1 so it can remain listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Esperion Therapeutics Inc., a spin-off from Pfizer Inc., has raised an additional $5 million to develop drugs that treat cardiovascular and metabolic disease, according to a SEC filing. The regulatory document states that Esperion has raised $27.75 million in equity and debt, but that dollar figure likely includes a $22.75 million Series A fundraise the company announced in 2008 after the spin-off.