The aptamer world in March received two contradictory signals. On the down side, Corgentech Inc. 's edifoligide aptamer failed its Phase III vein-graft prevention trial to prevent vein graft failure—and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. understandably backed out of the two companies' commercial collaboration [See Deal], a $250 million co-promotion which had enabled Corgentech's highly successful IPO [See Deal]. The news wasn't entirely unexpected: in December, Corgentech had announced equally unappealing results from another Phase III trial [See Deal].
Meanwhile, UCB Group backed out of its allergy deal with Dynavax Technologies Corp. over the biotech's allergy project...