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August 2006 Volume 2, Issue 8

Volume 2, Issue 8 | August 2006

August 2006

In this Issue

Global News

ImmunoGen grants TAP rights to Biotest AG

ImmunoGen Inc. announced it grants Biotest AG exclusive rights to use ImmunoGen’s Tumor-Activated Prodrug (TAP) technology with antibodies targeting an undisclosed target to develop novel anticancer therapeutics.

Commonwealth extends global reach with new deal

Commonwealth Biotechnologies Inc. has struck a deal with PharmAust Ltd. to form a strategic alliance and client referral agreement under which they will co-market their services to the life sciences industry.

Shanghai Genomics announces discovery collaboration

KineMed, Organon explore new apps for discontinued drugs

KineMed and Organon announced today that they have signed an agreement to discover new applications for multiple drug candidates.

Informatics

BioSeek characterizes GSK compounds

BioSeek announced a collaboration agreement with GSK under which BioSeek will apply its BioMAP systems for the characterization of compounds from GSK.

Networking for answers

Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIAR) recently announced the formation of new program that will analyze genetic networks as clues to human disease.

Unleashed seeking to harness new markets

Data management company Unleashed Informatics recently introduced its Unleashed Global Services arm to complement its bioinformatics software and hardware offerings.

Genedata signs on to systems biology work

Tackling type 1 diabetes in silico

Research & Development

Aptitude for Aptamers

Abbott, Dharmacon target needs unmet by traditional discovery efforts

Abbott and Dharmacon Inc. have entered into a collaboration to develop new therapeutic agents based on RNAi.

Dana Farber, 454 tackle tumor genetics

Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), 454 Life Sciences and other research centers performed detailed sequencing experiments to identify subtle but significant cancer-associated mutations.

Metabolex, Ortho to collaborate on metabolic disorders

Metabolex announced a strategic agreement with Ortho-McNeil to collaborate on the development and commercialization of compounds targeting metabolic disorders.

UCSD looks to ocean for new antibiotics

UCSD researchers announced a new program that will see them combine their expertise in pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry and oceanography to discover and develop new antimicrobials.

Automation & Instrumentation

Analytical X-ray companies introduce better micro-focus X-ray source

Rigaku teams with PANalytical to develop a new high-brilliance micro-focus X-ray source.

PharmEng acquires Rootlink

PharmEng Int'l announced it acquired Rootlink Technic to augment its contract manufacturing and consulting offerings.

Biomachines opens Applied Proteomics Services division

Biomachines announced the formation of a new division--Applied Proteomics Services--from a collaboration with UMass\'s Proteomic Fractionation Group.

3-Prime launched to focus on serving the R&D market

Prime Synthesis Inc. announced a new operating division, called 3-Prime LLC, intented to provide support to customers for oligonucleotide production in the research and development market.

Chaperone screens for DnaK inhibitors

Chaperone Technologies is screening potential drug candidates from the NIH’s library of compounds.

Genomics & Proteomics

HUPO taps Invitrogen in proteomic standard initiative

HUPO and Invitrogen collaborate to develop new proteomic standards, products and processes.

Hairpin turn: Sigma sues Open Biosystems

Benitec closes doors in U.S.

Merck updates collaborations with Alnylam

Gene Logic division takes revenue hit

Editor's Focus

AT A PRICING CROSSROADS

For good or for ill, the Canadian government (like many others) tightly regulates the prices that companies can charge for various drugs. And for the most part, companies have just had to take it—-putting it down to the cost of doing business in Canada. Until recently, that is. In June, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada announced it would not make its anti-cancer treatment Erbitux available to Canadians because it had been unable to agree on a suitable price for the drug with Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. At the time, public relations director for BMS Canada Marc Osborne said the government’s price was “not in line with the innovation it brings to patients.”