May 2006- Volume 2, Issue 5
May 2006
In this Issue
News Briefs
Editor's Focus
Delayed Action
Delayed Action
This month, Jeffrey Bouley takes a look at some of the potential issues that could provide complications for the disbursement of funds by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the body created with the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004 which provided $3 billion in state funds for embryonic stem cell research (see editconnect E050605). Apparently some folks have been stirring the pot of foment by questioning both the potential royalties schedule faced by researchers
Pharma family trouble?
Pharma family trouble?
Are changing social, regulatory and industrial environments causing some companies to consider shifting their focus outside drug discovery?
An "Absolute" Gamble
An "Absolute" Gamble
With hormone therapy, is the risk relative?
Genomics & Proteomics
Illumina signs second agreement with U.K. cancer group
Illumina signs second agreement with U.K. cancer group
Illumina inks a nearly $7 million contract to conduct large-scale genotyping for United Kingdom-based research groups that are studying the molecular basis of prostate cancer.
GE creates new Life Sciences business
GE creates new Life Sciences business
In a plan first formulated when the two business units were split apart nearly four years ago, GE Healthcare recently announced that it was combining its Protein Separations and Discovery Systems business unit to create GE Healthcare Life Sciences.
Alnylam signs second research agreement
Alnylam signs second research agreement
At the same time it announced the signing of a research collaboration with Vancouver-based Inex Pharmaceuticals, RNAi specialist Alnylam announced a similar liposome research agreement with Dr. Robert Langer and colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Super Sirna: GSK taps RNAi specialist for respiratory collaboration
Super Sirna: GSK taps RNAi specialist for respiratory collaboration
The cash keeps flowing for the dominant players in developing RNAi therapies, as evidenced recently by a multi-year strategic alliance between pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline and siRNA specialist Sirna Therapeutics Inc. that has the potential to pump more than $700 million into Sirna coffers.
Informatics
UMd researchers create drug target archive
UMd researchers create drug target archive
Dr. Mike Gilson and colleagues at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) developed the Binding Database (BindingDB), a public, web-accessible repository of binding affinities between small molecules and protein drug targets. At present, the repository is home to approximately 14,000 measurements of about 8,000 compounds and 60 targets.
Winning Pair: Ingenuity Systems and Inpharmatica collaborate
Winning Pair: Ingenuity Systems and Inpharmatica collaborate
Ingenuity Systems and Inpharmatica Ltd. bring the benefit of two distinctly different products by offering the ability to use in tandem their Blu-Chip and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) offerings.
The virtual clinc: Optimata in pilot study with Eli Lilly
The virtual clinc: Optimata in pilot study with Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly & Co. pilot study utilizes Optimata’s “virtual patient” technology to assist in the development of clinical trials for a novel anti-cancer cytotoxic compound.
Tech template: DMetrix, BioImagene team with IBM
Tech template: DMetrix, BioImagene team with IBM
IBM, array-microscope technology developer DMetrix and BioImagene, recently announced that ultra-rapid whole-slide imaging and large-scale scientific image management have been integrated for first time.
Research & Development
Codexis breeds biocatalysts
Codexis breeds biocatalysts
Codexis Inc. announced the signing of a research agreement with Schering-Plough that will see the privately-held company develop novel synthetic processes for the pharma giant.
Novartis, SGX Pharmaceuticals enter leukemia collaboration
Novartis, SGX Pharmaceuticals enter leukemia collaboration
In a deal worth potentially just over a half billion dollars, SGX Pharmaceuticals is embarking on a license and collaboration agreement with Novartis that focuses on the development and commercialization of BCR-ABL inhibitors for the treatment of drug resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
Wyeth and Scots form translational medicine collaborative
Wyeth and Scots form translational medicine collaborative
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and the Health Ministry of Scotland announced recently the creation of the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC), an effort into which Wyeth is investing nearly $58.5 million.
Q&A: Tom Little, president and CEO, VisualSonics
Q&A: Tom Little, president and CEO, VisualSonics
Biomedical imaging in playing an increasingly larger role in drug discovery. Ultrasonics, however, still brings to mind images of pregnant mothers and unborn babies. Toronto-based VisualSonics is hoping to change that impression. Recently, Executive Editor Randall C Willis spoke with VisualSonics President and CEO Tom Little.
Global News
California stem cell initiative sprouts concerns
California stem cell initiative sprouts concerns
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine hears issues raised over stem cell line licenses owned by WARF as well as prospective royalty schedules for funded research.
Automation & Instrumentation
Molecular Devices buys LCM business from Arcturus
Molecular Devices buys LCM business from Arcturus
Molecular Devices Corp. acquired the laser capture microdissection (LCM)-related business of Arcturus Bioscience for $10 million in cash, a strategic acquisition that expands Molecular Devices’ life sciences product portfolio to include complete systems and reagents for LCM.
ProMetic, Sartorius collaborate
ProMetic, Sartorius collaborate
ProMetic Lifes Sciences Inc. and Goettingen, Germany-based Sartorius AG entered into a pair of collaborative agreements in the area of protein purification, one of which will create \"affinity composites\" using ProMetic’s Mimetic Ligand technology in conjunction with Sartorius’ membrane chromatography technology called Sartobind.
Artel launches Liquid Delivery Quality Assurance
Artel launches Liquid Delivery Quality Assurance
Photometric and liquid delivery specialist Artel announced in late March a suite of services intended to provide training, certification, optimization and compliance guidance to help companies ensure the integrity of their liquid delivery systems.
Acquiring an acquirer: Millipore expands with Serologicals
Acquiring an acquirer: Millipore expands with Serologicals
After a string of acquisition including Innovata’s gene expression technology and the companies LINCO and Cytomyx, Atlanta-based Serologicals Corp. is itself being acquired by Millipore Corp. in a $1.4 billion deal.
