Onyx Pharmaceuticals

Onyx Pharmaceuticals is flying high after receiving positive results from a liver cancer trial for their drug Nexavar.

The Emeryville, Calif.-based company and partner Bayer AG announced an early end to a trial on its drug Nexavar in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on encouraging results. Having been granted priority review status by the Food and Drug Administration, the drug is on the fast track for regulatory clearance, with approval in the United States and European Union expected in the first half of 2008.

Emeryville is becoming quite a biotech force with Onyx and neighboring companies Amyris, NovaBay and Novartis.