February 2018- Volume 14, Issue 2
In this Issue
Commentary
Catching the wave in 2018
Catching the wave in 2018
Peter Kissinger takes some time to answer a few questions from readers of his column
Guest Commentary: Turning text into insights
Guest Commentary: Turning text into insights
There is too much published research for a person to keep up with; fortunately, with the right technology, such as text mining tools, researchers can overcome this challenge
Research & Development
Potentially powerful cancer biomarker identified
Potentially powerful cancer biomarker identified
Protein expression may predict risk of colorectal cancer recurrence
Making the ‘best’ better
Making the ‘best’ better
Media system extends lifespan of functional neurons to advance neurodegenerative research
MVA-VLP platform is ‘MVP’ in new collaboration
MVA-VLP platform is ‘MVP’ in new collaboration
GeoVax, Vaxeal will apply GeoVax’s MVA-VLP platform to generate cancer vaccines
Agilent collaborates with USC
Agilent collaborates with USC
Team-up aims to facilitate transformational biomedical science and engineering research
A meeting of metabolomics
A meeting of metabolomics
Biocrates Life Sciences acquires Metanomics Health
Preclinical
Saniona selects preclinical candidate
Saniona selects preclinical candidate
New potential therapy resides in GABAA α2/α3 program for neuropathic pain and chronic itching
Test-driving a potential autism drug
Test-driving a potential autism drug
Research shows drug candidate NitroSynapsin helps correct signaling imbalances in animal models
Pioneering solid-tumor cancer program
Pioneering solid-tumor cancer program
NANOBIOTIX partners with Providence Cancer Institute for immunotherapeutic preclinical research
New subsidiary, new AAV gene therapies
New subsidiary, new AAV gene therapies
The most promising novel treatment, Tamid-001, may stop hereditary ocular disease
Clinical Trials
A second candidate against MDR infections
A second candidate against MDR infections
Achaogen boasts positive top-line results from first clinical trial of oral antibacterial C-Scape
Two big hits for Agios
Two big hits for Agios
Presentations showcase company’s development in cancer treatment
Beating back the bipolar blues
Beating back the bipolar blues
Primary endpoint met in study of patients treated with cariprazine for acute bipolar I depression
Hunter syndrome slips Shire’s net
Hunter syndrome slips Shire’s net
Shire announces disappointing top-line results for SHP609 trial in children with Hunter syndrome and cognitive impairment
Diagnostics
Breast cancer biomarkers
Breast cancer biomarkers
Immune checkpoint blockade therapy could be promising
East meets West for MoU
East meets West for MoU
BGI, Hummingbird Diagnostics join hands for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's diseases
Illumina partners with KingMed
Illumina partners with KingMed
Companies aim to develop NGS technology for Chinese FDA approval
Diagnostic technology goes 3D
Diagnostic technology goes 3D
New research study demonstrates applicability of VisionGate’s Cell-CT platform
Agendia’s MammaPrint prepares for Europe
Agendia’s MammaPrint prepares for Europe
Company teams up with Institut Curie for kit validation
Business & Government Policy
Celgene to acquire Juno for $9 billion
Celgene to acquire Juno for $9 billion
Acquisition will add novel scientific platform and manufacturing expertise to Celgene’s research and operational capabilities
Generation Bio launches into genetic medicine
Generation Bio launches into genetic medicine
Startup aims to develop truly drug-like genetic medicines based on its GeneWave technology
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Vical restructures to focus on HSV-2 and antifungal programs
Vical restructures to focus on HSV-2 and antifungal programs
Company expects to report that it ended 2017 with cash and investments of approximately $60M to $65M
Patent Docs: Supreme Court expansion of patent-limiting doctrine puts branded drugs at risk
Patent Docs: Supreme Court expansion of patent-limiting doctrine puts branded drugs at risk
The significance of the legal decision to pharmaceutical products and the patents that protect their exclusivity arises from the aspect of the decision relating to exhaustion cause by foreign sales
Contract Services
What’s in a name?
What’s in a name?
Two contract services providers change their monikers as part of strategic shifts
Room to grow
Room to grow
Rho builds new headquarters to meet needs of growing contract research operations
A new COO and a bigger footprint
A new COO and a bigger footprint
Cromos looks to establish a more global presence
Discovery
Crohn’s and Parkinson’s in cahoots?
Crohn’s and Parkinson’s in cahoots?
Gene mutations found in Crohn’s patients suggest possible link with Parkinson’s disease
The new ‘IT’ thing in drug discovery
The new ‘IT’ thing in drug discovery
Global pharma drug discovery IT solutions to reach $5.3B by 2020, says Frost & Sullivan
Muscling up on stem cells
Muscling up on stem cells
Researchers track muscle stem cell dynamics in response to injury and aging
A new way to treat diabetes
A new way to treat diabetes
Follicum identifies receptors in insulin-producing cells for potential new class of diabetes drugs
Microbial mysteries
Microbial mysteries
TSRI unlocks secrets of deadly virus and finds clues to cancer treatment in bacteria
Editor's Focus
Editor’s focus: Whose business is it, anyway?
Editor’s focus: Whose business is it, anyway?
In the healthcare realm, outside forces with money, resources and will are moving in to take charge of costs and efficiencies. The question is, will they really be able to make a difference, and how long before we see similar activity in pharma and biotech?
Feature
Special Focus on Cancer Research News: An eye on immunotherapeutics
Special Focus on Cancer Research News: An eye on immunotherapeutics
A roundup of recent research efforts to advance immuno-oncology efforts
SOT/ToxExpo Show Preview: Texas welcomes back SOT
SOT/ToxExpo Show Preview: Texas welcomes back SOT
The Society of Toxicology revisits sunny San Antonio five years later
Special Reports
Special Report on Cardiovascular Disease: Breaking the non-code
Special Report on Cardiovascular Disease: Breaking the non-code
Heart scientists look to small RNAs for clues to pathology and treatment
