August 2009- Volume 5, Issue 8
August 2009
In this Issue
News Briefs
House vote a victory for biotechs in biosimilars battle
House vote a victory for biotechs in biosimilars battle
A House panel has approved a provision in legislation that would give biosimilar drugs 12 years of protection from competing medicines.
Genomics & Proteomics
Sticking its feet into the pool
Sticking its feet into the pool
Alnylam joins GSK in donating intellectual property to patent pool for neglected tropical diseases
Protein power
Protein power
Celera issues licenses for five oncology targets to Bayer Schering Pharma
Two Xs mark diagnostic spot
Two Xs mark diagnostic spot
Exosome Diagnostics and DxS collaborate to develop blood-based tests for key cancer mutations
High-value vaccine investment
High-value vaccine investment
Juvaris to use Antigen Discovery’s protein microarray screening system to discover disease-specific antigens and fuel its vaccine pipeline
De novo gene genesis
De novo gene genesis
Researchers identify primate-specific sequences in the human genome in comparative genomics study
Commentary
Guest commentary: American pathway to generic biologics approval remains undefined
Guest commentary: American pathway to generic biologics approval remains undefined
As we stand at the forefront of major changes across the healthcare industry, a pathway for the approval of generic biologics will be one of the major initiatives in the government’s efforts to achieve reduced costs.
Research & Development
They’re bonded by blood
They’re bonded by blood
Catalyst Biosciences, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals team up to treat hemophilia in collaboration worth up to $500 million
Antibody partnership has eggs-cellent potential
Antibody partnership has eggs-cellent potential
Morphotek partners with Synageva BioPharma to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
Protein partners from opposite sides of the Pacific
Protein partners from opposite sides of the Pacific
California-based Maxygen and Japan-based Astellas form joint venture around protein therapies
A merger of equals in specialty diagnostics
A merger of equals in specialty diagnostics
Viracor merges molecular diagnostic testing services with IBT Laboratories’ focus on immunology testing to create specialty diagnostics company
J&J's spending spree continues
J&J's spending spree continues
Johnson & Johnson buys $1 billion stake in Elan to acquire Alzheimer's program
Global News
Geron to provide stem cells to GE Healthcare
Geron to provide stem cells to GE Healthcare
Companies to develop and commercialize cellular assay products derived from human embryonic stem cells
Survive to thrive
Survive to thrive
CombinatoRx, Neuromed to merge in all-stock transaction
Let it bleed
Let it bleed
CDI reprograms blood cells into stem cells using a small volume of human blood; expands drug testing agreement with Roche
Failed drugs reincarnated
Failed drugs reincarnated
Israel’s Optimata, Teva join forces to develop salvaged cancer drugs
Bolus of growth
Bolus of growth
Mylan chooses Bangalore’s Biocon as global generic biologics partner
A flurry of activity
A flurry of activity
Shifting its focus to neurological conditions, Lundbeck acquires Danish biotech NeuronIcon and U.K.-based drugmaker LifeHealth
Automation & Instrumentation
Blood test for Alzheimer's disease likely within 12 to 18 months
Blood test for Alzheimer's disease likely within 12 to 18 months
Millipore and Proteome Sciences sign licensing agreement to detect the disease in pre-symptomatic stage
An array of advantages
An array of advantages
Aushon’s 2470 microarray printer to provide customized solution for small-molecule screening at the Broad Institute.
Nanos from the bottom up
Nanos from the bottom up
Particle Sciences and Microfluidics combine to advance pharmaceutical nanotechnology
Analytical team-up
Analytical team-up
RTS Life Science is partnering with Hall Analytical Laboratories to provide analytical services and consultancy in automation, inhaler testing
Aiming to create the ‘disposable factory’
Aiming to create the ‘disposable factory’
Sartorius Stedim Biotech partners with SAFC Biosciences to integrate filtration and liquid handling systems with cell culture media manufacturing services.
Informatics
Swiss success
Swiss success
Medidata makes important deals with two different Swiss pharma companies in a two-week period
Search for pathway-level biomarkers
Search for pathway-level biomarkers
Agilent Foundation awards grant to UCSD to develop system for analyzing proteomics data and identifying protein-network cancer biomarkers
A new home for SQL*LIMS
A new home for SQL*LIMS
Seeking new strategic direction, Life Technologies sells laboratory information management software business to LabVantage
TGen tapped for ‘biobank’
TGen tapped for ‘biobank’
Luxembourg selects TGen to create biobank for storage of blood and tissue samples for scientists
A ‘crossomics’ collaboration
A ‘crossomics’ collaboration
Genedata AG signs multi-year bioinformatics deal with Roche subsidiary Chugai Pharmaceuticals
Editor's Focus
Foreign governments feed biotechnology venture capital firms as U.S. appetite for bailouts wanes
Foreign governments feed biotechnology venture capital firms as U.S. appetite for bailouts wanes
While the suggestion that the United States government bail out venture capital firms has failed to attract support from government leaders—and would surely raise taxpayer ire—the mood is quite different overseas, according to recent media reports.
Patent News
Senate Committee: 12 years of data exclusivity is cool
Senate Committee: 12 years of data exclusivity is cool
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted last month in favor of a proposal by Sens. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to create a follow-on biologics (FOB) pathway that provides 12 years of data exclusivity for brand-name biologic drugs.
