July 2011- Volume 7, Issue 7
July 2011
In this Issue
Government Watch
Congress has questions for J&J, FDA
Congress has questions for J&J, FDA
Lawmaker says FDA lacks sufficient oversight of the pharma’s Puerto Rican plants
Congress proposes big cuts to FDA budget
Congress proposes big cuts to FDA budget
In an attempt to address what they call America’s “destructive spending pattern,” members of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee have proposed a $285 million cut to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2012 spending bill.
Biotech industry waits for shot in the arm
Biotech industry waits for shot in the arm
California, Pennsylvania reps co- sponsor renewal bill for Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project
When it pays to tattle
When it pays to tattle
SEC clarifies rules, compensates whistleblowers
Pay-for-delay in play
Pay-for-delay in play
FTC files brief in Third Circuit urging reversal of pay-for-delay ruling in lower court
Omics & Systems Biology
Where no pharma has gone before
Where no pharma has gone before
AstraZeneca, Heptares hone in on high-value GPCR targets
Changing the game
Changing the game
SAIC-Frederick, Biomatrica launch partnership focused on improving molecular analysis in cancer research
Quintiles redux
Quintiles redux
Quintiles and Population Genetics Technologies join forces as part of the CRO’s new strategy to help biopharma navigate ‘new health’ landscape
Sequence of events
Sequence of events
Complete Genomics to sequence 250 samples for Erasmus University Medical Center for study of cancer and congenital malformations
Proteomics leaders join forces
Proteomics leaders join forces
Proteomics Innovation Network seeks collaborative solutions to unmet needs in drug discovery, personalized medicine
Instruments & Informatics
Showtime at the APOLLO
Showtime at the APOLLO
LabCorp agrees to acquire Clearstone Central Laboratories
Knowledge is power
Knowledge is power
With acquisition of Labtronics, PerkinElmer fortifies knowledge-based, enterprise level solutions in core markets
From enterprise ELN to ‘paper on glass’
From enterprise ELN to ‘paper on glass’
Acquisition of Contur Software expands Accelrys’ portfolio with cost-effective, rapid-deployment electronic lab notebook
Under great strain
Under great strain
OpGen partners with U of Maryland to develop a microbial sequence database
Research & Development
Merck, Roche tackle the A’s and B’s of hepatitis C
Merck, Roche tackle the A’s and B’s of hepatitis C
Strategic agreement to focus on improving awareness, treatments of disease
Filling the gap
Filling the gap
Evotec partners with PsychoGenics Inc. to provide integrated CNS drug discovery solutions
Au naturel
Au naturel
Mississippi researchers form partnership to find natural cancer-fighting drugs
Specifar a special catch for Watson
Specifar a special catch for Watson
Acquisition brings significant European commercial presence
Special Reports
The promise, the pitfalls and a paradigm shift, PART 2
The promise, the pitfalls and a paradigm shift, PART 2
The complex history of stem cell research yields hope for improved human health, unresolved concerns
Parts of the whole
Parts of the whole
Just like stem cells, global research efforts with them are many and varied
The promise, the pitfalls and a paradigm shift, PART 1
The promise, the pitfalls and a paradigm shift, PART 1
The complex history of stem cell research yields hope for improved human health, unresolved concerns
Commentary
Guest Commentary: Developing new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Guest Commentary: Developing new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria
There is strong demand for new anti-infectives, but major factors are slowing down their commercialization. There are, however, a variety of promising initiatives, including advances involving non-antibiotic anti-infectives and host defense proteins.
Global News
A Valeant recovery
A Valeant recovery
Valeant Pharmaceuticals signs $446 million deal to acquire Lithuanian company Sanitas shortly after failed bid to take over Cephalon
Takeda takes on transformation
Takeda takes on transformation
Japanese pharma acquires European footprint with $13.7 billion purchase of Switzerland-based Nycomed
Teva spins the globe again
Teva spins the globe again
In effort to reduce reliance on U.S. markets, Teva cuts another global deal
BioCis Pharma and Lx Therapies merge
BioCis Pharma and Lx Therapies merge
New specialty pharmaceutical company will target inflammatory diseases and cancers
Shire PLC acquires Advanced BioHealing for $750M
Shire PLC acquires Advanced BioHealing for $750M
Creation of new strategic platform based on tissue regeneration using cell-based therapies complements Shire\'s existing specialist physician focus and biologics manufacturing capability
Diagnostics
Going for growth
Going for growth
Thermo Fisher's $3.5 billion acquisition of Phadia should position it well in high-growth, high-margin specialty diagnostics market
When chocolate’s not enough
When chocolate’s not enough
Nestlé’s new Health Sciences arm ventures into specialty pharma with purchase of Prometheus
Lab21 targets fungal infections
Lab21 targets fungal infections
Personalized medicine company acquires molecular diagnostics firm Myconostica
The power of three
The power of three
Agendia announces colorectal cancer collaboration with AstraZeneca and the Netherlands Cancer Institute
Proteostasis, Elan in neurodegenerative disease deal
Proteostasis, Elan in neurodegenerative disease deal
Partnership combines Proteostasis Network platform with Elan\'s biology, genetics and neurology disease expertise
IVAX’s first quarter one of mixed results
IVAX’s first quarter one of mixed results
IVAX Diagnostics Inc. reported net revenues of $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2011, down from $4.65 million last year.
Congress has questions for J&J, FDA
Congress has questions for J&J, FDA
Lawmaker says FDA lacks sufficient oversight of the pharma’s Puerto Rican plants
Editor's Focus
Stem cell research: Sorting fact from fiction
Stem cell research: Sorting fact from fiction
For the stem cell research arena, the main source of public confusion and debate centers on the use of cell lines derived from human embryos. While society has yet to reach consensus on the ethical and moral dilemmas presented by hESC research, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only form of stem cell research.
