August 2006- Volume 2, Issue 8

August 2006

In this Issue

Editor's Focus

AT A PRICING CROSSROADS

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.”

Emptying the flotsam of the editorial mind

Emptying the flotsam of the editorial mind

Every now and then it helps for me to simply off-load a few random thoughts that have occurred to me over the past few months. This is one of those times.

Research & Development

UCSD looks to ocean for new antibiotics

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.

Abbott, Dharmacon target needs unmet by traditional discovery efforts

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, 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, 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.

Informatics

BioSeek characterizes GSK compounds

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

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

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.

Automation & Instrumentation

Chaperone screens for DnaK inhibitors

Chaperone screens for DnaK inhibitors

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

PharmEng acquires Rootlink

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 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

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.

Global News

ImmunoGen grants TAP rights to Biotest AG

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 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.

KineMed, Organon explore new apps for discontinued drugs

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.
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