April 2005- Volume 1, Issue 2
April 2005
In this Issue
Editor's Focus
Moving Targets
Moving Targets
Well, one issue down, a second one ready for prime time, and several more in various stages of preparation. And already we’re seeing changes. But then, whenever you try to accomplish any venture in the drug discovery arena—be it a new pill, instrument, or magazine—you have to be ready to move as the market moves.
Speed and time are of the essence
Speed and time are of the essence
Welcome to the first monthly issue of Drug Discovery News, a trade publication like no other in the drug discovery field. Over the past four months, it has been a pleasure immersing myself in the industry, all while attempting not to drown in the deluge of information. From the floors of Lab Automation 2005 in San Jose, to Pitttcon in Orlando and back to my office in Portland, Maine, my conversations with you have yielded a new vocabulary which only yield blank looks from my family at the end of the day when I start waxing poetic about RNAi, GPCRs, HPLC or MALDI MS.
Need business news? We’ll deliver it.
Need business news? We’ll deliver it.
Welcome to the April issue of Drug Discovery News. Just eight short months after the termination announcement of Modern Drug Discovery, former MDD executives and editors present you with a unique and exclusive format for industry news.
News moves the market
News moves the market
It’s a crowded market for trade publications covering drug discovery. We know that. We also know that in order to stand out in a crowd you need to be different. With that, we introduce you to Drug Discovery News a trade publication that’s more like the business section of your daily newspaper, than any other publication covering drug discovery. This is no “me too” publication that is feature rich, technology-focused and light on news.
Automation & Instrumentation
Q&A with Peer Schatz, CEO, Qiagen
Q&A with Peer Schatz, CEO, Qiagen
Since 1986, Qiagen has developed and marketed a range of products for academic and industrial markets, including life science research, genomics, gene-based drug discovery, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics, genetic vaccination, and gene therapy market.
Molecular Devices buys Transfluor: Acquisition from Xsira Pharmaceuticals strengthens MD’s GPCR tool line
Molecular Devices buys Transfluor: Acquisition from Xsira Pharmaceuticals strengthens MD’s GPCR tool line
With the $11-million purchase of Transfluor technology assets from Xsira Pharmaceuticals in early March, Molecular Devices Corp. officials say the company significantly strengthened its position as a provider of tools for imaging and G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) assays.
Major move in MALDI MS
Major move in MALDI MS
Nanotechnology and materials specialist NanoHorizons announced early in February that it had been issued a patent for its deposited thin-film system, QuickMass, for high-throughput small-molecule MS.
Thermo expands with Kendro
Thermo expands with Kendro
In late January, Thermo Electron announced that it would dramatically enhance its product portfolio by acquiring Kendro Laboratory Products, a division of SPX Corp.
Syrris sets up U.S. office
Syrris sets up U.S. office
In an effort to speed adoption of the company’s flagship product, the AFRICA flow microreactor, Syrris Inc. last month opened its first U.S. office in Ridgewood, N.J. smack in the heart of the East Coast pharmaceutical hotbed.
Research & Development
Upstate upsizes: New 14,000-square-foot facility strengthens company’s grip on contract kinase screening market
Upstate upsizes: New 14,000-square-foot facility strengthens company’s grip on contract kinase screening market
In early March, Upstate Group Inc. completed the expansion of its kinase screening and production facility here, more than doubling its previous size to meet demand for its services growing in a market where company officials say it captures more than 76 percent of the business.
Safer Stem Cells?
Safer Stem Cells?
Recent efforts by researchers at the WiCell Research Institute may just have put the lid back on the controversy over whether scientists should generate new human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines.
Next step for Ambit: Company names new VPs for drug discovery, development
Next step for Ambit: Company names new VPs for drug discovery, development
Ambit Biosciences recently announced the appointments of Dr. Robert deGroof and Dr. Shripad Bhagwat to the positions of senior vice president of development and senior vice president of drug discovery, respectively.
OpGen Series B raises $5 million
OpGen Series B raises $5 million
Optical genome mapping company OpGen concluded the Series B round of funding for the company, raising a total of $5 million.
Superbug Success? Affinium announces initial success of its Galapagos compound screening program
Superbug Success? Affinium announces initial success of its Galapagos compound screening program
In mid-February, Affinium Pharmaceuticals announced initial success of its Galapagos compound screening program in the identification of the first potential drug targeted against a novel bacterial pathway in almost 40 years.
Genomics & Proteomics
Illumina strengthens its bead-based assay and detection system line via merger with CyVera
Illumina strengthens its bead-based assay and detection system line via merger with CyVera
The biological assay market got a little smaller in February with the announcement by Illumina that it had signed a definitive agreement to merge with and eventually take over CyVera Corp.
CombiMatrix and Benitec enter broad cross-licensing and collaboration deal
CombiMatrix and Benitec enter broad cross-licensing and collaboration deal
Microarray company CombiMatrix and RNAi therapeutics firm Benitec entered into a broad cross-licensing and collaboration agreement in late February that makes virtually all of the two company’s patents and intellectual property available to each other for use in each firm’s research and development activities.
Alnylam nabs CF funding
Alnylam nabs CF funding
After a few years of funding academic research and observing advances in the burgeoning field of RNAi, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) Inc., recently announced its first funding of a commercial partner to initiate discovery research for a potential RNAi therapeutic for CF.
Genomics alliance: Agencourt, Amplicon to co-market BAC library services
Genomics alliance: Agencourt, Amplicon to co-market BAC library services
In an effort to become a one-stop-shop to clients, DNA sequencing specialist Agencourt Bioscience and genomic library producer Amplicon Express announced they formed a strategic marketing alliance.
Online Array: Agilent launches eArray, an online portal for custom designing microarrays
Online Array: Agilent launches eArray, an online portal for custom designing microarrays
Agilent Technologies Inc. in early March launched eArray 3.0, a secure Web portal that allows life sciences researchers to go online to design microarray customized to their specific research needs.
Global News
Takeda, Syrrx Merge
Takeda, Syrrx Merge
In February, X-ray crystallography specialist Syrrx announced that it had agreed to merge with Osaka-based Takeda Pharmaceutical to become a subsidiary of Takeda American Holding
Benitec Licenses “Hot Mouse”
Benitec Licenses “Hot Mouse”
To push the frontiers of diabetes and obesity treatments, the US-based headquarters of Australian RNAi specialist Benitec recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, based in Sydney, Australia.
Informatics
Symyx snags Synthematix: Acquisition of chemistry research software company complements 2004 IntelliChem purchase
Symyx snags Synthematix: Acquisition of chemistry research software company complements 2004 IntelliChem purchase
Instrumentation and discovery informatics provider Symyx Technologies Inc. announced in late February its intention to acquire Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Synthematix, a provider of organic synthesis reaction software systems.
One-stop genome shop: Joint Genome Institute launches microbial genome clearinghouse
One-stop genome shop: Joint Genome Institute launches microbial genome clearinghouse
Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in concert with other national labs across the country, recently launched an online microbial genome database that integrates for the first time all previously published sequence data from the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) and other public research arms.
Applied Bio, Deloitte Consulting announce alliance to provide comprehensive informatics solutions for life science cos.
Applied Bio, Deloitte Consulting announce alliance to provide comprehensive informatics solutions for life science cos.
Applied Biosystems and professional consulting services provider Deloitte Consulting LLP signed a strategic alliance agreement in late February that will allow the two companies to work in concert to provide comprehensive informatics solutions that reach from the bench to the boardroom.
GeneLogic Expands Services
GeneLogic Expands Services
Unwilling to simply sit on its laurels and coast along with what is reportedly the world’s largest commercial gene expression reference database, GeneLogic recently introduced its Microarray Data Generation and Analysis Services.
Strategic SciTegic: Launch of software vendor partnering program seeks to leverage position of company’s Pipeline Pilot
Strategic SciTegic: Launch of software vendor partnering program seeks to leverage position of company’s Pipeline Pilot
SciTegic Inc. announced in March an independent software vendor (ISV) partner program that is will allow the ISV’s tools and applications to run seamlessly on SciTegic’s flagship Pipeline Pilot informatics system.
