Billionaire Soon-Shiong accused of "catching and killing" cancer drugApril 4, 2019 - 10:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire biotech investor, has been accused of “catching and killing” a generic version of a cancer drug that would have competed with one from Celgene, where he was the largest shareholder, Financial Times reports. Sorrento Therapeutics, a San Diego-based biotech company, is seeking more than $1bn in damages from the investor and owner of the LA Times, claiming he acquired the drug Cynviloq to stop its progression to market — and ensure the blockbuster chemotherapy drug Abraxane continued to sell without competition. Cynviloq, bioequivalent to Abraxane, is a generic version. In an SEC filing, Sorrento said it had filed two legal actions against Soon-Shiong and entities controlled by him. It accuses Soon-Shiong of taking $90m from the joint venture’s account and swapping it for the Cynviloq asset, now owned by another company of his, which Sorrento alleges has been “neglected” and “devalued”. In the filing, Sorrento accuses Soon-Shiong of “the catching and killing of a cancer drug that — had it been brought to market as planned — would have saved patients, hospitals, and the United States government in excess of $1bn”. Soon-Shiong sold chemotherapy drug Abraxane to Celgene for $2.9bn in 2010, which at the time made him the largest shareholder in the company. Bristol-Myers Squibb is in the process of buying Celgene in a $90bn deal. Despite acquiring a series of trophy assets over the past year including a stake in US soccer club DC United, Soon-Shiong’s hospital business has been facing problems. Verity Health System, a hospital chain in California that he backed, filed for bankruptcy last year after failing to turn round the ailing operation. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |