May 2014- Volume 10, Issue 5
May 2014
In this Issue
Business & Government Policy
Sun rises over Ranbaxy
Sun rises over Ranbaxy
Sun Pharmaceutical to acquire rival Ranbaxy Laboratories for $3.2 billion
Patent Docs: Patent Office guidelines implementing Myriad decision cause concern
Patent Docs: Patent Office guidelines implementing Myriad decision cause concern
The guidelines are much broader in their determination of what is patent ineligible than was mandated by the Supreme Court’s Myriad decision
Toward the first vaccine for a common infection
Toward the first vaccine for a common infection
Respiratory syncytial virus may finally meet its match if CEVEC has its way
Mallinckrodt bets $5.6 billion on Questcor
Mallinckrodt bets $5.6 billion on Questcor
Companies enter into deal under which they will merge to create a diversified specialty pharmaceuticals company
Horizon seeks to acquire Vidara for $660 million
Horizon seeks to acquire Vidara for $660 million
Deal would be structured as a reverse merger and domicile Horizon in Ireland
Research & Development
Epigenetics or bust
Epigenetics or bust
Roche and Oryzon partner to develop inhibitors of lysine-specific demethylase-1
Finding a gem in GARNET
Finding a gem in GARNET
University of Virginia researchers seeking genetic markers for stroke, cardiovascular disease make breakthrough through NHGRI-supported program
Revealing a mechanism of antibiotic drug resistance
Revealing a mechanism of antibiotic drug resistance
Scripps Florida research findings could be used to develop a line of antibiotic drugs that are less vulnerable to bacterial mutations
Breath of fresh air
Breath of fresh air
Proteostasis and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation extend collaboration to commercialize drug for most common CF mutation
Alector and J&J tackle Alzheimer’s target
Alector and J&J tackle Alzheimer’s target
Alector LLC recently announced a collaborative research agreement facilitated by the California Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centers
Diagnostics
Express yourself
Express yourself
Arno, University of Minnesota pursue gene expression in hopes of developing a companion diagnostic
Four times is the charm for Theradiag
Four times is the charm for Theradiag
Theradiag signs a fourth microRNA partnership agreement with CNRS; company gains access to theranostics portfolio in rheumatoid arthritis
Bio-Rad acquires GnuBIO
Bio-Rad acquires GnuBIO
Powerful in-vitro droplet technology headlines life-science acquisition
Colorectal cancer test makes gains East and West
Colorectal cancer test makes gains East and West
Epigenomics’ partner BioChain completes clinical validation study for Epi proColon in China; FDA panel votes favorably on test
HTG and OvaGene partner on gynecologic cancer tests
HTG and OvaGene partner on gynecologic cancer tests
Companies establish manufacturing supply agreement
Editor's Focus
Preventing a preventive medicine backlash
Preventing a preventive medicine backlash
There has been a backlash against vaccination in recent years significant enough to let formerly subdued diseases begin to get a foothold again. Is the reason a 'dumbing down' of America or might we need to look at some factors within pharma as well as contributors to this disturbing trend?
Commentary
Out of Order: Mutants Among Us
Out of Order: Mutants Among Us
It might be time to start looking at the reasons why some people don't get certain diseases despite so many factors saying they should. Such an approach might help lead us to new ways of preventing or curing what ails us.
The future of stem cells faces a Myriad of obstacles
The future of stem cells faces a Myriad of obstacles
Arguments that stem cells (like genes) are products of nature and unpatentable are wending their way through the federal courts with potentially significant repercussions for the stem cell industry
Q&A
Q&A: Hitching a ride to treat acute myeloid leukemia
Q&A: Hitching a ride to treat acute myeloid leukemia
A discussion with Dr. Kaushik J. Dave and Dr. John Pagel about the potential of a therapeutic platform based on mAbs and alpha particle emitters
Feature
ISSCR 2014 Show Preview: 12 years old and going strong
ISSCR 2014 Show Preview: 12 years old and going strong
ISSCR annual meeting in Canada will show just how far the stem cell field has come in a relatively short time
Clinical Trials
Lighting up the market with LAIs
Lighting up the market with LAIs
Phase 3 data support long-acting injectable aripiprazole lauroxil as a schizophrenia treatment
Insulin issue
Insulin issue
Molecular delivery system enhances drug effect in diabetic subjects
Two is better than one
Two is better than one
BioClinica signs $30 million in eClinical contracts with two top-10 pharmas
Liver cells combat urea cycle disorders
Liver cells combat urea cycle disorders
First data on Cytonet’s liver cell therapy presented at annual meeting of the Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders
Discovery
Argenta and Antabio announce milestone in antibacterial discovery collaboration
Argenta and Antabio announce milestone in antibacterial discovery collaboration
Argenta Discovery announced today that it has achieved a milestone with its collaboration partner, Labège, France-based Antabio, in an antibacterial drug discovery project funded by the Wellcome Trust
Going forward on the Fast Track
Going forward on the Fast Track
GSK’s Discovery Fast Track Challenge begins second year in North America and extends to Europe
G3 and Caprion partner on GLOBAL cardiovascular study
G3 and Caprion partner on GLOBAL cardiovascular study
Single largest prospective pan-omic study will investigate blood- based protein biomarkers and drug targets
Straight from the heart
Straight from the heart
Researchers identify heart disease culprit and work on therapeutic solution
Preclinical
A new collaboration FORMAtion
A new collaboration FORMAtion
FORMA, Celgene announce broad framework of three collaborations
Under your skin
Under your skin
Microinjection device assesses drug candidates and combinations for tumors
Albireo liver treatment on verge of human testing
Albireo liver treatment on verge of human testing
A4250 shown to protect against bile acid-mediated cholestatic liver injury in mice
Glioblastoma treatment produces positive results
Glioblastoma treatment produces positive results
ZIOPHARM’s DNA-based therapy slows rates of tumor growth and increases survival in mice
