January 2017- Volume 13, Issue 1
In this Issue
Business & Government Policy
Patent Docs: Solicitor General recommends that the Supreme Court review Federal Circuit decision in Sandoz v. Amgen
Patent Docs: Solicitor General recommends that the Supreme Court review Federal Circuit decision in Sandoz v. Amgen
These recommendations are significant, because the Supreme Court asks the government for its views under those circumstances inter alia where there are important policy considerations at stake
Spin out and launch
Spin out and launch
Celgene acquires Acetylon, which spins out Regenacy
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Tenaya Therapeutics launches to go after heart disease
Tenaya Therapeutics launches to go after heart disease
With $50M investment, Gladstone Institutes look to push basic science discoveries toward cures for heart disease
Follow-up data on Imbruvica at ASH 2016
Follow-up data on Imbruvica at ASH 2016
Findings show strong, lasting efficacy of Imbruvica through five years of treatment for CLL/SLL
Clinical Trials
Getting control of bleeding
Getting control of bleeding
Spark and Pfizer announce updated data for ongoing hemophilia B study
Making a dent in advanced refractory cancer
Making a dent in advanced refractory cancer
Corvus’ CPI-444 shows promise for disabling a tumor’s ability to subvert attack by the immune system
Alopexx presents encouraging lymphoma results
Alopexx presents encouraging lymphoma results
Data for Phase 1 study of DI-Leu16-IL2 in relapsed/refractory NHL presented at ASH 2016
Orchard’s efforts bear fruit
Orchard’s efforts bear fruit
U.K.-based company receives $20 million for clinical trial of ADA-SCID
MPC-HSC synergy vs. cancer
MPC-HSC synergy vs. cancer
MD Anderson and NIH fund trial combining Mesoblast technologies for rapid engraftment of stem cell transplants
Preclinical
Hope for hemophiliacs
Hope for hemophiliacs
New research into subcutaneous factor replacement therapy could offer IV alternative
A new treatment combo for RCC
A new treatment combo for RCC
Preclinical data demonstrate functional activity of AGS-003-like therapy in kidney cancer murine model
No lack of potential for NK cells
No lack of potential for NK cells
Affimed shares preclinical data on AFM13, AFM11, trispecific antibodies
Kura presents data on KO-947 and menin-MLL in Munich
Kura presents data on KO-947 and menin-MLL in Munich
Company targets first half of 2017 for a trial of KO-947, describes as a ‘potent inhibitor’ of ERK
Diagnostics
Twice the power for two-gene test
Twice the power for two-gene test
Clinical Genomics’ ctDNA blood test outperforms CEA in detecting colorectal cancer recurrence
‘Knowing is key’
‘Knowing is key’
New saliva test aims to predict future onset of Alzheimer’s disease
Sequencing of events
Sequencing of events
A quick roundup of some late-2016 genomics-based diagnostics news
Resisting antibiotic resistance
Resisting antibiotic resistance
OpGen, Merck to develop rapid-fire diagnostics and informatics to combat antibiotic resistance
Research & Development
A circadian component to cancer?
A circadian component to cancer?
Disruption in circadian rhythms might be implicated in other unexpected disease areas, too, like diabetes and sepsis
Deciphering immune response
Deciphering immune response
French researchers offer new global approach for predicting individual immune responses
Molecular motor has a ‘gear’ for directional switching
Molecular motor has a ‘gear’ for directional switching
Research aids understanding of complex cellular machinery used to ensure normal cell division
AbbVie partners with Johns Hopkins and Northwestern on cancer research
AbbVie partners with Johns Hopkins and Northwestern on cancer research
Pair of five-year collaboration deals announced on the same day look to be headed in similar directions
Building better models of organs
Building better models of organs
QGel’s designer matrices promising for organoid culture and cancer therapy development
Contract Services
Meaningful marriage
Meaningful marriage
Bionical acquires Emas to deliver improved health outcomes
A multitude of models
A multitude of models
CrownBio introduces new in-vivo platforms for renal research
Improving clinical trial efficiency
Improving clinical trial efficiency
Medpace selects Montrium Connect EDMS to make clinical trials more efficient and support continued global business growth
Envigo invests in STAG
Envigo invests in STAG
Envigo announced in fall 2016 the launch of a dedicated Science and Technology Advisory Group
Discovery
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Enterome join forces
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Enterome join forces
Companies announce oncology deal around discovery of immunotherapy agents and biomarkers
‘Modulating’ tumor treatment
‘Modulating’ tumor treatment
Albumedix and NYU School of Medicine team up to target novel cellular pathways in oncology
Targeting genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases
Targeting genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases
Sharp Edge Labs enters into drug discovery collaboration with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma
Heptares gains G7 Therapeutics
Heptares gains G7 Therapeutics
Acquisition is aimed at extending leadership in GPCR- focused drug discovery and development
Hope for rare diseases
Hope for rare diseases
Illumina kicks off iHope initiative for undiagnosed children
Feature
SLAS2017 Show Preview: Putting together a ‘Capitol’ event
SLAS2017 Show Preview: Putting together a ‘Capitol’ event
SLAS2017 will bring a wealth of scientific and other programming to Washington, D.C., in February
Special Reports
Special Report on Microbiomics: The aliens within us
Special Report on Microbiomics: The aliens within us
As if human diversity wasn’t tricky enough
Commentary
Publishers’ commentary: From an amazing 2016 to a promising 2017
Publishers’ commentary: From an amazing 2016 to a promising 2017
Reviewing the past year and highlighting what's to come in DDNews
Out of Order: Undaunted
Out of Order: Undaunted
Life sciences in general, and pharma/biotech along with it, moves fast, and our hats are off to the researchers who are trying to keep pace
Guest Commentary: Sample-handling automation
Guest Commentary: Sample-handling automation
The big changes still coming, and how to adapt to a changing world
