J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference: 10 Biotech Stories You Might've Missed

As expected, it was a busy week for biotechs during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Here's a recap of some of the news from the past week.

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NPSP announced it was being acquired by Shire PLC (ADR) SHPG for $5.2 billion.

Celgene Corporation CELG and Pharmacyclics, Inc. PCYC announced positive revenue guidance. Pharmacyclics released preliminary revenue results for 2014 of $492 million. $185 million came from the fourth quarter, which was a 31 percent increase from the previous quarter. These numbers beat investor expectations.

Sarepta Therapeutics Inc SRPT announced results of a Six Minute Walk Test from a Phase 2b trial that disappointed investors.

Roche Holding Ltd. (ADR) RHHBY announced it is acquiring a majority stake in genomics company Foundation Medicine Inc FMI at $50 per share.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co BMY announced it was stopping its Phase 3 study of Opdivo early for efficacy. The drug worked so well that the trial hit primary endpoints before expected. The company also announced collaborations with Seattle Genetics, Inc. SGEN and Eli Lilly and Co LLY to evaluate Opdivo in combination with other drugs.

In CAR-T news, Intrexon Corp XON and ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc ZIOP announced a joint licensing agreement with MD Anderson to develop chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies. The two companies are paying MD Anderson $50 million each, payable in shares of their stock.

Juno Therapeutics Inc JUNO, bluebird bio Inc BLUE, and Kite Pharma Inc KITE all made presentations this week, but there was no new clinical data released.

Agenus Inc AGEN reached a partnership agreement with Incyte Corporation INCY to develop immuno-therapies. Agenus received $25 million upfront, a $35 million investment at $4.51 per share, and $350 million in milestone payments.

Related Link: What Investors Are Watching In The Stem Cell Space

On January 13, investors discovered that the SEC is investigating Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc AEGR for Juxtapid sale activities. The next day, an activist investor announced he is pushing to oust the Aegerion CEO and put the company up for sale.

<p.MannKind Corporation MNKD CEO Alfred Mann, lastly, announced he was retiring. The company appointed Hakan Edstrom as the new CEO. This comes right as Mannkind and Sanofi SA SNY are planning to launch Afrezza.</p.

Image credit: Sergei Goryev, Flickr