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February 2006 Volume 2, Issue 2

Volume 2, Issue 2 | February 2006

February 2006

In this Issue

Genomics & Proteomics

Innovation via acquisition: Amgen acquires Abgenix and secures preclinical, clinical assets

Johnny on the spot: 10,000-spot protein array biochips might soon be a reality

MAPPING CANCER: NIH launches large-scale genomic analysis project

With an eye toward creating the first comprehensive genetic map of cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) have launched a pilot effort to study the feasibility of a large-scale sequencing project. If successful, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will serve as a basis for a better understanding of the genomic changes and molecular mechanisms of cancer.

Genomics and the single molecule

Genzyme acquires Avigen gene therapy assets

Genzyme Corp. made an up-front cash payment of $12 million to acquire an extensive array of gene therapy assets from Avigen Inc., including rights to a broad patent estate focused on adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology. In addition to the cash payment, Genzyme will make potential milestone and royalty payments based on the development, approval and sale of products developed under the intellectual property portfolio.

Research & Development

Found in translation: BI collaboration may net TransTech $54 million

TransTech Pharma Inc. now has a worldwide research and license collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH using TransTech’s proprietary TTP Translational Technology. Under the terms of the agreement, which was finalized the end of last year, Boehringer Ingelheim has the exclusive right to develop and commercialize all compounds directed at the target covered by the collaboration.

NO MORE WAITING FOR TRIALS: M.D. Anderson, AstraZeneca forge master contracts to speed preclinical, clinical research

Seeking new ways to improve both information sharing and hasten preclinical and clinical research of promising new cancer drugs, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and AstraZeneca in early January announced the creation of master agreements governing the terms of research that should help shave months off the time between when a promising drug is identified and when it is brought to clinical trials.

Microdevice medicine: Johns Hopkins researchers create 3-D microcontainers that could be used for therapeutic delivery

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University may have discovered the next generation of drug and cell therapy delivery devices—dust-sized, porous, metallic 3-D microcontainers that have the potential to carry everything from pain medication to cell therapy. The findings of the team were published in the December issue of the journal Biomedical Microdevices.

Blood brothers

Although it’s no mystery to cancer drug discovery researchers that coagulation and coagulation proteins impact on angiogenesis, trying to make a therapy based on that knowledge has been the tricky part. But EntreMed Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, and Affymax Inc., which works in the area of discovery and development of novel peptide drugs, think they may be on the road to circumventing that problem, based on preclinical data regarding novel peptides they co-developed.

Perlegen, Pfizer collaboration to analyze patient DNA samples

Perlegen Sciences Inc. announced a new four-year research pact with Pfizer whereby researchers from both companies will conduct whole-genome studies involving DNA samples from clinical trials.

Automation & Instrumentation

Applied Bio buys Ambion’s research products business for $273 million, portion of proceeds to fund new company

Q&A: Dr. Karl Hecker, director, PerkinElmer Center of Excellence

In January, PerkinElmer Inc. (PKI) announced the appointment of Dr. Karl Hecker as director of R&D for its Boston-based Center of Excellence. Hecker comes to PKI from Invitrogen and brings over 20 years of scientific experience in chemistry and biochemistry applications. Executive Editor Randall C Willis recently spoke with Hecker about his new role at PKI and the industry in general.

PerkinElmer gets xMap license: Luminex multiplex technology gains heavyweight partner

In early January PerkinElmer announced it signed a long-term licensing agreement with Austin, Texas-based Luminex Corp. for its multiplex bioassay technology called xMAP. PerkinElmer intends to use xMAP for products ranging from biomarker panels for pharmaceutical development and ADME/Tox to in vitro diagnostics in maternal, neonatal and prenatal health. PerkinElmer also plans to standardize its multiplex assay development on the Luminex xMAP platform.

QIAGEN-Eppendorf alliance links strong product lines

QIAGEN N.V. and Eppendorf AG recently formed a strategic alliance that includes co-development and co-marketing of complementary and optimized products. In general, the alliance is intended to link what the companies call “two of the strongest brands and product lines in the industry” to ensure the highest compatibility of their products in research, applied testing and molecular diagnostics applications.

PLASMA YIELDS STERILE PIPETTES

In a team-up that could vastly improve lab automation efficiency, Cerionx Inc. and BioProcessors Corp. have combined the TipCharger System of Cerionx with the SimCell high-throughput cell culture automation platform from BioProcessors. The end result is that inoculation needles used in the SimCell platform can now be sterilized using low temperatures and reportedly using about the same amount of power as a light bulb.

Informatics

Tripos’ transition: Informatics company lays off 76, eyes business options

Big changes are in the air at Tripos Inc., from streamlining of operations to potential major restructuring down the road—it’s just that no one, not even the leaders of the company, have any firm idea where that change may ultimately lead.

Employing a “suite” solution: Eidogen-Sertanty brings technology arsenal to bear in Kalypsys collaboration

Eidogen-Sertanty Inc., a computational drug discovery solutions provider, in mid-December announced a collaboration with fellow San Diego-based company, Kalypsys Inc., that is focused on the discovery of novel small molecules for anti-inflammatory indications.

Sage-N eastward bound with R&D

Sage-N Research Inc., the maker of the Sorcerer analysis appliance and the SEQUEST Sorcerer system marketed by Thermo Electron Corp., plans to establish a research and development center in the New Science Park in Shanghai, China. “The field has been prolific in developing new proteomics data analysis algorithms, but the challenge is to deliver them promptly to the researchers who need them, in a form that is easy to use, even for large data sets,” says David Chiang, CEO and chairman of Sage-N. “The new Sage-N Shanghai Center will extend the company’s previous successes in doing this.”

Tale of two Cambridges: Genzyme, De Novo to apply computational discovery system in collaboration deal

Adding another U.S. feather to its cap, De Novo Pharmaceuticals announced a collaborative agreement with Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech Genzyme that will see the U.K. company apply its proprietary molecular modeling system, SkelGen, to identify potential lead compounds against a Genzyme target. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Virtual Realities: Entelos secures patent for in silico patient application

The patients may not be real, but the results are—and so is the U.S. patent No. 6,983,237 recently issued to Entelos Inc. and titled “Method and Apparatus for Conducting Linked Simulation Operations Utilizing a Computer-Based System Model.” Making that mouthful a bit simpler, Entelos has successfully patented its invention of a key technology to effectively develop and use virtual patients—in silico representations of actual patient subpopulations—to rapidly assess the safety and efficacy of drugs in humans.

Global News

Xcyte, Cyclacel to become one global public entity: New company aims to leverage U.K. research in U.S. market

Cyclacel Group and Seattle-based Xcyte Therapies announced recently the signing of a definitive agreement to merge the two companies into a publicly-traded international biopharmaceutical company called Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals. The deal largely revolves around the acquisition by Xcyte of all capital stock of Cyclacel Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cyclacel Group.