April 2010 Volume 6, Issue 4
Volume 6, Issue 4 | April 2010
April 2010
In this Issue
Commentary
Minimizing the cost effects of false positives in cancer testing
In recent months, controversy has swirled around the proper age at which women should have their first mammograms and Pap smears. Yet even as these questions dominate the headlines, we ought not lose sight of a larger issue that affects the lives of every potential cancer patient, male and female: the emotional and economical costs associated with false positives in cancer testing.Primer on boards of directors
Do you know what the board is doing? Does the board know what you are doing?Editor's Focus
March marked by many mergers and acquisitions
Our special “March M&A Madness!” cover highlights a busy month of mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.Global News
From North Carolina to Norway
The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences and Oslo Cancer Cluster announce oncology-based partnershipThe art of collaboration
WuXi reaches agreement with J&J Pharmaceutical Research & DevelopmentEpigenetics evolves in international partnership
CellCentric licenses novel epigenetic discovery program to TakedaEnough with the labels
Tecan and ForteBio automate label-free assays for bioprocess and drug discovery applicationsAwkward courtship
After more than a year of wooing OSI unsuccessfully, Astellas goes for hostile bidDiagnostics
Seeing green with a hybrid
Quidel Corp. completes $130 million acquisition of Diagnostic HybridsMining for melanoma
GSK, Abbott partner on molecular diagnostic test to select candidates for skin cancer immunotherapyStanford health experts help develop North Korea’s first drug-resistant tuberculosis diagnostic lab
Stanford University professors have broken new ground by trekking through North Korea to initiate the installation of a diagnostic lab to test drug-resistant tuberculosisSeeking immunosimplicity
Diamedix inks distribution pact with Fumouze DiagnosticsInstruments & Informatics
Supercomputing, one PC at a time
Scripps uses IBM World Community Grid to achieve some breakthrough work on HIV/AIDSComputype & Agilent: Linked by labels
Computype partners with Agilent Technologies on launch of new microplate labeler, and with Biosero on storage tube label applicatorsCreating new workflows to improve discovery and development
Efforts focus on creation of new applications for high-resolution platformALA and SBS propose to merge as SLAS
Two top associations seek enhanced opportunities for members, greater global reach and financial and operational efficienciesOmics & Systems Biology
Done deal for drug discovery
Asterand completes acquisition of BioSeek, a developer of cell-based disease modelsCompanions in companion diagnostics
Roche Molecular Systems collaborates with Merck Sharp & Dohme on developmental test for cancer-related gene mutationLiver on their plates
Regulus, GSK to develop HCV therapiesPrime-and-boost via electroporation yields potential HIV vaccine
First candidate from Profectus-Ichor collaboration set to enter clinic in Q2 2010Research & Development
Pain- busting partnership
BMS and Allergan in $413 million deal to develop drug for neuropathic painSmall molecules lead to big partnership
UCSF enters into drug discovery agreement with Roche’s GenentechOne door closes, and another opens
MDS divests Pharma Services business to Ricerca BiosciencesBreathing easier
Cephalon’s purchase of Ception to further asthma control researchOut of left field
Merck KGaA to acquire Millipore for $7.2 billionMulti-faceted deal
Abbott expands pipeline with $450 million Facet Biotech acquisitionFeature
AACR’s Capitol idea
American Association for Cancer Research’s annual conference for 2010 heads to the nation’s capital and offers some new featuresContract Services
Eyes on Europe
AMRI expands geographic footprint and market share across the pond with Excelsyn acquisitionThey’re certifiable … in a good way
BioClinica teams with two additional CROs to strengthen its Certified Partner ProgramClinical research gets a boost
invivodata’s regulatory expertise enhances INC Research’s global service offering
