Ebb & Flow

Cerimon's $70 million series A round probably turned some heads last week, as the company's lone products are topical formulations of diclofenac, an NSAID that's rather long of tooth. However, the company's directors and investors maintain there's plenty more to come, and that Cerimon should be able to bring in a suite of pain and inflammation products with the series A proceeds.

U.S. rights to the diclofenac products were in-licensed last week from an undisclosed party. Cerimon plans to begin Phase I trials to treat mild to moderate arthritis pain. The compounds are marketed in Japan, and Denise Pollard-Knight, head of Nomura Phase4 Ventures, told Ebb & Flow that the drugs are doing "over $70 million in combined annual sales in Japan - and one of the products has only just been launched." ...