January 2012 Volume 8, Issue 1
Volume 8, Issue 1 | January 2012
January 2012
In this Issue
Research & Development

Curing from hand to mouth
Gilead Sciences acquires Pharmasset for $11 billion in hopes of more quickly advancing oral, non-interferon treatments for HCV
A positive outcome for breast cancer patients
Galena Biopharma collaborates with Genentech/Roche, HJF in clinical trials of NeuVax for prevention of breast cancer recurrences
Hands across Kendall Square
MIT and Pfizer begin work on new partnership space
The power of three
Roche, PTC Therapeutics and the SMA Foundation go after potential treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Waste not, want not
New UCSF, GE Healthcare to collaborate on umbilical cord blood projectDiagnostics

Growing steadily downstream
Affymetrix to acquire eBioscience for $330 million in plan to expand beyond discovery-based efforts
Roadmap to theranostics
Researchers awarded $3.2 million from NIH Roadmap to pioneer advanced biomolecule discovery technology
Deal aggressively targets oncology Dx
GSK and Abbott expand collaboration to develop additional companion diagnostic test for several types of cancer
MDxHealth, Celldex ink deal for brain cancer test
Companies begin Phase III study for glioblastoma multiforme test
Trauma on their minds, treatment in their thoughts
Amarantus Biosciences and Banyan Biomarkers announce traumatic brain injury research collaborationGlobal News

‘The next big thing is already here’
Samsung furthers entrée into growing biosimilars market in $300 million joint venture with Biogen Idec
Good cop, bad cop, market share
Valeant shows both its amiable and hostile sides with an agreement to acquire Australia’s iNova and a hostile bid to take over U.S. company ISTA Pharmaceuticals
A ‘win, win, win’ for public-private partners
AstraZeneca launches innovative partnership with U.K.’s Medical Research Council for discontinued drug compounds
The appeal of zeal
Elan to join Cambridge in new research center aimed at neurodegenerative diseases
The eyes have it
Proximagen, Altacor to collaborate on glaucoma treatmentOmics & Systems Biology

Genes that fit everyone
NIH division paves path toward genomic medicine
Changing the channel
UCB acquires ion channel-targeting programs from Lectus Therapeutics
An alternative to whole-genome sequencing
Roche NimbleGen, BGI unveil MHC region capture technology for human disease and biomedical research
Going commercial
Compugen, DiscoveRx form collaboration to commercialize novel peptide ligands for GPCR drug targets
Bruker goes to Korea
Company will collaborate with Chungnam National University in Korea to develop reference site on glycomics methods for biopharmaceuticals and biosimilarsCommentary

Examining recent approaches to treating solid tumors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top 10 cancer types are in the solid tumor category; today, the priority is likely even higher. Thus, there are clear unmet medical needs, and the development of new, cost-efficient and patient-friendly treatments remain a high priority for both the healthcare community and patients.
Out of Order: Gift horses
A quick Google search for the phrase “outcomes-based medicine” yields results in the tens of thousands. When you look at a lot of these results, however, the focus is on scientific method and not, ironically, on outcomes—which is the point of medicine, isn’t it?Editor's Focus

Keeping our resolution to report the news
From publishing our single newspaper in January 2005 to celebrating our eighth year in 2012, ddn continues to produce many vehicles that disseminate the news.Government Watch

Meeting the need for speed
Draft federal legislation addresses FDA issues, including faster drug approvals
A high-stakes dispute
U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments from Prometheus and Mayo over validity of challenged patent
Genetic testing garners lawmaker’s attention
Texas Congressman hopes to block FDA from increased regulation of laboratory-developed genetic testsFeature

Rebooted and upgraded - SLAS2012 Show Preview
The merged ALA and SBS groups, now known as SLAS, launch first-ever joint annual meeting
The social side of SLAS2012
Events at the show and attractions in San DiegoTools & Technology

Growth in India
AB SCIEX acquires Labindia’s mass spectrometry division to broaden presence in India
Corning Life Sciences acquires Mediatech
Corning to offer customers a more complete solution to their cell culture and bioprocess needs
Shopping for companies during the holidays
Agilent Technologies grows life- science business with strategic acquisitions in next-generation sequencing and automated analytical solutions for pharma
An unfolding development
Expedeon and Protein Discovery join forces to provide advanced products for protein research

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