Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.

Debiopharm has entered into a basic research collaboration with the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), to develop oral small molecule modulators of epigenetic function.

Merck & Co's MK-8931 has successfully cleared an early hurdle in the race to find a product that might treat Alzheimer's disease through beta secretase enzyme (BACE) inhibition. The firm reported positive Phase Ib results showing a quick, dose-dependent reduction in amyloid.

Regional development agencies (RDAs) and other government organisations play a major role in driving commercial and scientific success.