December 2011- Volume 7, Issue 12
December 2011
In this Issue
Special Reports
The personal side of cell biology
The personal side of cell biology
For personalized medicine to truly arrive, cell biology may be more important in the end than genomics
Research & Development
Done deal times two
Done deal times two
ViroPharma agrees to buy DuoCort Pharma weeks before its orphan drug Plenadren is granted European Marketing Authorization for adrenal insufficiency
Another brick in the wall
Another brick in the wall
NeoStem closes acquisition of Amorcyte, another step in its drive toward cell therapy focus
Two heads are better than one
Two heads are better than one
California’s stem cell agency joins forces with NIH to advance stem cell research
Making a spark, igniting a fire
Making a spark, igniting a fire
Michael J. Fox Foundation partners with Kinetics Foundation in search of biomarker in Parkinson’s disease
Plug-and-play deal
Plug-and-play deal
Acute-care therapy developer Cubist Pharmaceuticals to acquire pain management specialist Adolor in deal valued at up to $415 million
Omics & Systems Biology
Adding tools to the toolbox
Adding tools to the toolbox
Horizon, Promega forge predictive disease model pact
Start spreading the news
Start spreading the news
New York Genome Center launches collaboration of 11 leading medical/research institutions
A gram better way to do things
A gram better way to do things
Powerful SomaLogic proteomic technology to be applied to biomarker discovery, target discovery and validation and lead to ‘wellness’ chip
A high-'Profile' partnership
A high-'Profile' partnership
Dana-Farber, Brigham and Women's undertake genomics research project
Getting to the heart of the matter
Getting to the heart of the matter
Servier, miRagen team up on cardiovascular disease therapeutics
Instruments & Informatics
Finding satisfaction in stratification
Finding satisfaction in stratification
Selventa and Linguamatics announce strategic partnership to provide a ‘complete pipeline’ of scientific knowledge extraction to their life science partners
One assay, 242 genes
One assay, 242 genes
RainDance Technologies and Ambry Genetics launch new DNA sequencing panel for ADME research
Going 'Broad' to get specific about cancer
Going 'Broad' to get specific about cancer
Affymetrix announces cancer-profiling collaboration with the Broad Institute to advance The Cancer Genome Atlas
Taking a new pathway
Taking a new pathway
Caliper, Pfizer launch platform for drug safety
Contract Services
Injecting strength into the business
Injecting strength into the business
Germany’s Evonik buys SurModics Pharmaceuticals to bolster North America presence
Design, make, test
Design, make, test
U.K.’s Sygnature Discovery, Saretius launch strategic alliance aimed at treating CNS disorders, inflammatory diseases
Repligen acquires Novozymes Biopharma
Repligen acquires Novozymes Biopharma
Company strengthens position as supplier of products for manufacturing biologic drugs; expects near-term, sustainable profitability
WuXi buys in its backyard
WuXi buys in its backyard
CRO purchases two China-based clinical research services companies
Doing some corporate stock-up shopping
Doing some corporate stock-up shopping
Seeking to fill gaps and extend reach, Quintiles acquires three companies in October and November
Global News
Two against the flu
Two against the flu
Alios BioPharma and Versitech Ltd. announce exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for influenza technology
Not ‘immune’ to each other’s charm
Not ‘immune’ to each other’s charm
Biogen, Portola ink agreement for autoimmune therapeutics
Cancer deaths in Korea
Cancer deaths in Korea
Institut Pasteur Korea and Sanofi look for small-molecule antiviral to combat HBV
Bomb meets bomber in new deal
Bomb meets bomber in new deal
Oxford BioMedica takes glaucoma research from Mayo Clinic to explosive new level with agreement to develop gene therapy
Taking direct action
Taking direct action
Roche makes $230 million offer for antiviral developer Anadys; shareholders challenge the offer in court
Editor's Focus
Out with the old, in with many new features to ddn
Out with the old, in with many new features to ddn
It’s difficult to believe we’re about to put our final issue of 2011 to press, but as we don our gay apparel, pour some celebratory eggnog and give this edition a final polish, we have a rare few moments to pause and reflect on another editorial year gone by.
Commentary
On biobanking: Deposits and withdrawals
On biobanking: Deposits and withdrawals
It is encouraging to see the challenge of well-documented samples being met using electronic medical records to make queries more feasible and less costly.
Data management that speeds—rather than impedes—advanced DNA sequencing applications
Data management that speeds—rather than impedes—advanced DNA sequencing applications
How labs choose to manage their data may very well determine which have the most success in applying DNA sequencing to the development of advanced molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.
Diagnostics
Your halo is showing
Your halo is showing
Sweden's Halo Genomics and Uppsala University collaborate on study to identify mutations that cause colon cancer
Pancreatic cancer biomarkers sought
Pancreatic cancer biomarkers sought
Oxford Gene Technology and Abcodia combine expertise to search for better biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
A full work-up for Alzheimer’s disease
A full work-up for Alzheimer’s disease
Exonhit taps Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center to conduct AclarusDx test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
Being 'companionable' with new immunotherapy
Being 'companionable' with new immunotherapy
Life Technologies signs agreement with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, seeking expanded use of platform technologies into companion diagnostics
