December 2015- Volume 11, Issue 12
December 2015
In this Issue
Contract Services
Leaving the nest
Leaving the nest
Metrion completes management buyout from Xention
BioClinica launches eClinical CRO alliance program
BioClinica launches eClinical CRO alliance program
Access to eClinical knowledge, best practices and financial benefits aims to maximize CROs’ business and scientific success
Charles River announces new and continued drug discovery collaborations
Charles River announces new and continued drug discovery collaborations
Wellcome Trust-Funded projects expand partnerships with Charles River’s Global Discovery Services Business
Piramal sees global sterile sales growing 10 percent annually
Piramal sees global sterile sales growing 10 percent annually
Rapid growth in injectables driven by pharm de-risking and biological pipeline
Preclinical
IMO-2125 targets tumor microenvironment
IMO-2125 targets tumor microenvironment
Idera presents data demonstrating potent antitumor response from combo treatment with intratumoral IMO-2125
From candy to cancer
From candy to cancer
Calithera presents findings on potential cancer-inhibiting agent licensed from Mars Corp.
Model behavior
Model behavior
Crown announces alliance focused on translational models and hosts symposia to boost discussion
Discovery
New therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
New therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
Results of Compugen collaboration with Iain B. McInnes of Glasgow University presented at rheumatology meeting
Triggering stroke recovery
Triggering stroke recovery
UCLA researchers show role of GDF10 molecule in brain repair
Shedding some light on the ‘dark proteome’
Shedding some light on the ‘dark proteome’
St. Jude’s and TSRI join with others to explore proteins in the human proteome that don’t take standard 3D structures
Flying high with Kite and Alpine?
Flying high with Kite and Alpine?
Kite Pharma and Alpine Immune Sciences announce research collaboration and license agreement
Diagnostics
Pushing the personalized healthcare envelope
Pushing the personalized healthcare envelope
Human Longevity launches Health Nucleus to provide most complete picture ever of human health with genomics and more
One method to rule them all
One method to rule them all
XRGenomics and Affymetrix collaboration aims at better testing for age-related diseases
Rheonix rising
Rheonix rising
Ithaca, N.Y.-based Rheonix raises $28.6 million to expand commercialization efforts for its molecular diagnostic technology
Research & Development
FPA008 fires things up for Five Prime
FPA008 fires things up for Five Prime
A recent deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb has a potential $1.74B price tag for Five Prime
All about the data
All about the data
Parkinson’s Institute and IO Informatics collaborate on integrated data environment
Ultrasound delivery
Ultrasound delivery
Researchers at MIT and MGH enable ultra-rapid delivery of drugs to the GI tract using ultrasound waves
Building the next generation
Building the next generation
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and American Parkinson Disease Association collaborate to cultivate future scientists
Putting two spins on oncology
Putting two spins on oncology
Two University of Maryland spin-offs pursue anticancer therapies
Business & Government Policy
AstraZeneca to acquire ZS Pharma for $2.7B
AstraZeneca to acquire ZS Pharma for $2.7B
Deal brings to AstraZeneca ZS-9, which could be a best-in-class treatment for hyperkalemia
Annexing AxioMx
Annexing AxioMx
Abcam acquires AxioMx, boosts antibody development capabilities
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Two bigs make a giant
Two bigs make a giant
The $160-billion deal to combine Pfizer and Allergan would create largest pharma in the world
Clinical Trials
Battling brachyury
Battling brachyury
Phase 1 study indicates safety and efficacy of Bavarian Nordic vaccine in advanced cancer patients
WCG Foundation launches to spur global clinical research
WCG Foundation launches to spur global clinical research
Nonprofit has been established in large part to strengthen protections for research participants
Matters of the heart
Matters of the heart
ICON partners with iCardiac on Early Precision QT program for safer drugs
NEJM reports on Phase 3 ANNEXA studies of andexanet alfa
NEJM reports on Phase 3 ANNEXA studies of andexanet alfa
Full data set from ANNEXA-R also presented in late-breaking clinical trial session at AHA Scientific Sessions 2015
Q&A
Q&A: GenVec and gene-based medicine
Q&A: GenVec and gene-based medicine
The challenge of delivering on the promise of delivering genes as therapeutics
Feature
SLAS2016 Show Preview: A focus on the cell
SLAS2016 Show Preview: A focus on the cell
5th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) to meet in San Diego and has added a new track focused on cellular technologies
Editor's Focus
Looking back at 2015; walking boldly into 2016
Looking back at 2015; walking boldly into 2016
DDNews' chief editor and publishers assess the year gone by and give a preview of what's to come in the coming year
Commentary
Disruption interruption
Disruption interruption
Sometimes, big promises are made in pharma, biotech and the life sciences by corporations that want to succeed, but what if they aren't backed up?
Guest Commentary: An ethical imperative to use biosimulation in drug development
Guest Commentary: An ethical imperative to use biosimulation in drug development
By using biosimulation, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies expedite bringing new, safer therapies to patients
