April 2009- Volume 5, Issue 4
In this Issue
Informatics
Cystic fibrosis research goes electronic
Cystic fibrosis research goes electronic
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation deploys Medidata Solutions’ Rave platform to manage clinical data, increase efficiency
The dawn of collaborative research
The dawn of collaborative research
Arizona Biomedical Research Commission strikes deal with 5AM Solutions to develop virtual tissue bank serving bioresearchers
‘Parallelized’ next-gen sequencing database
‘Parallelized’ next-gen sequencing database
National Center for Genome Resources chooses Kognitio WX2 database to peer more deeply into the genome for next-gen sequencing data.
Deliver the liver
Deliver the liver
Entelos, the Hamner Institutes and FDA team up to create in silico platform for liver toxicity.
Breaking down silos
Breaking down silos
Waters and LabVantage integrate laboratory informatics to advance data management across global organizations.
Research & Development
U.S. lawmakers revisit plans to approve biosimilars
U.S. lawmakers revisit plans to approve biosimilars
Congressional lawmakers recently introduced two competing bills that would create an approval process for generic biopharmaceuticals.
Researchers close in on possible flu foe
Researchers close in on possible flu foe
Scientists identify human monoclonal antibodies to fight bird and seasonal flu viruses.
Putting liver on a chip
Putting liver on a chip
Battelle Ventures spins out Hepregen, commits $5 million to develop microliver platform.
Genentech, Salk find new mechanism that may lead to Alzheimer's disease
Genentech, Salk find new mechanism that may lead to Alzheimer's disease
The mechanism of action of a heretofore puzzling protein thought to play a key role in Alzheimer's disease has been unraveled by scientists at Genentech and the Salk Institute.
Merck, Schering merge in $41.1B deal
Merck, Schering merge in $41.1B deal
Increasing generic competition and pricing pressures unite two more of the world's largest pharmas
Gilead’s $1.4B bid wins nod from CVT’s board
Gilead’s $1.4B bid wins nod from CVT’s board
Astellas' three offers fail to entice CV Therapeutics
Obama brings change to stem cell arena
Obama brings change to stem cell arena
Industry reacts to executive order lifting federal funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research
Genomics & Proteomics
Clearing the air(way) in fight against CF
Clearing the air(way) in fight against CF
Researchers find that IFRD1 gene might be a key to treating cystic fibrosis lung disease.
Mighty ‘mito’
Mighty ‘mito’
University of Virginia researchers may have identified a key to reversing neurodegenerative disease in investigational protein.
HIV primate progress
HIV primate progress
Researchers at Rockefeller University have successfully altered one gene in HIV-1 to infect monkeys with a human version of virus.
Genome sequencing for $5,000?
Genome sequencing for $5,000?
Complete Genomics is partnering with Broad Institute to conduct human sequencing studies of cancer.
Getting the signals crossed
Getting the signals crossed
A collaboration between Imperial College and GSK focused on mRNA suggests signaling problems in the brain may lead to schizophrenia.
Automation & Instrumentation
DDN Editorial Roundtable: Current and Emerging Trends in Automation and Detection
DDN Editorial Roundtable: Current and Emerging Trends in Automation and Detection
At ALA's LabAutomation2009, Drug Discovery News assembled an expert panel to discuss assay automation--about how their operations run, as well as some of the hurdles they face in automating assays.
Bedside to bench
Bedside to bench
Gentel and Eprogen commercialize whole-proteome array technology
Time-to-clinic tools
Time-to-clinic tools
GE Healthcare and Tecan will team up to streamline process development.
Millipore acquires Epitome’s EpiTag assets
Millipore acquires Epitome’s EpiTag assets
Acquisition will accelerate the development of multiplex immunoassays for cell signaling.
Closing the gaps
Closing the gaps
Beckman Coulter acquires Olympus' Life Science business and gains comprehensive range of diagnostic capabilities.
Global News
Buy and build
Buy and build
Lab21 eyes international growth with Biotec Laboratories acquisition.
Lean on me
Lean on me
Pharmexa and Affitech are looking to reverse merger deal to get them back on track in the antibody field.
Cancer’s silver bullet
Cancer’s silver bullet
UK’s Argenta Discovery and PRECOS have launched a cancer drug discovery alliance.
Talkin' 'bout regeneration
Talkin' 'bout regeneration
Novartis and Epistem have inked a regenerative medicine R&D deal worth up to $50 million.
All pharma friends again
All pharma friends again
After an initial tender offer, two refusals and a hostile takeover threat, Roche finds a price that Genentech likes
Commentary
Stem cell controversy continues
Stem cell controversy continues
Despite lifted federal funding ban, new research methods and FDA approvals, social and ethical questions remain
Patent Office budget shortfall will have long-term effects
Patent Office budget shortfall will have long-term effects
You’re not alone in your financial suffering. The recession has even hit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is funded by fees paid by applicants for patent applications and other services.
Editor's Focus
Stop the presses: DDN expands online product
Stop the presses: DDN expands online product
As other publishers are finding ways to cut their services, DDN is growing and becoming more innovative in the way we reach our readers, while still maintaining our dedication to excellent news reporting. Effective this month, you will notice that we have made many changes to DDN Online and drugdiscoverynews.com to respond to our readers’ changing needs and habits.
