May 2015- Volume 11, Issue 5
May 2015
In this Issue
Business & Government Policy
The M&A roundup
The M&A roundup
Recent merger and acquisition activity in pharma and biotech
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Patent Docs: FDA approves Sandoz’s filgrastim biosimilar drug product
Patent Docs: FDA approves Sandoz’s filgrastim biosimilar drug product
Many have pontificated about the benefits of a biosimilar approval pathway in the United States; those predictions have begun the process of being tested with approval of Zarxio
Big changes for Coronado
Big changes for Coronado
Company changes name to Fortress Biotech and makes some key deals in oncology
Two’s company; three’s a crowd?
Two’s company; three’s a crowd?
Mylan makes $29-billion offer for Perrigo, inspiring Teva to make $40-billion offer for Mylan
Getting to the heart of gene therapy
Getting to the heart of gene therapy
Bristol-Myers Squibb and uniQure to explore gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases
Q&A
Q&A: 'We all came from the sea…'
Q&A: 'We all came from the sea…'
We speak to Mark Currie, CSO and president of R&D for Ironwood Pharmaceutical, about treatments for painful intestinal disorders and more.
Clinical Trials
Bigger, faster, better connected
Bigger, faster, better connected
The clinical trials community continues to focus on collaborations and new technology to speed results, cut costs
Superior for skin?
Superior for skin?
Boehringer Ingelheim compound outperforms Stelara in head-to-head psoriasis study
One and done
One and done
Investigational drug is designed to prevent scarring in dialysis patients
Keeping pace with Kura
Keeping pace with Kura
Biopharmaceutical company inks Janssen oncology partnership, completes private placement
Commentary
Commentary: Intralesional Melanoma Treatments Are Ready for Prime Time
Commentary: Intralesional Melanoma Treatments Are Ready for Prime Time
A reprint of a commentary from our Cancer Research News site looking at three candidate drugs currently under investigation as intralesional agents for melanoma treatment
Out of order: Asilomar remembered
Out of order: Asilomar remembered
Consensus tends to be lacking as to the dividing line between permissible germline genome modification to treat human disease vs. questionable attempts at human enhancement, and that is something we need to sort out
Research & Development
Immune dysfunction role in schizophrenia?
Immune dysfunction role in schizophrenia?
UC Davis to establish Conte Center for schizophrenia research to explore novel concept
GAP and IMI team up to accelerate Alzheimer’s drug development
GAP and IMI team up to accelerate Alzheimer’s drug development
The organizations will seek to build a global, standing, trial-ready platform
Ruthigen and Pulmatrix enter into merger agreement
Ruthigen and Pulmatrix enter into merger agreement
Upon the closing of the deal, Pulmatrix will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Ruthigen
California dreamin’
California dreamin’
Amyris, Genome Compiler partner to launch first-of-its-kind DNA design and construction software
ChemInteract consortium wins funding to assess chemical toxicity
ChemInteract consortium wins funding to assess chemical toxicity
New technology aims to reduce animal testing and improve safety testing of chemicals
Fatty acids to fight cancer
Fatty acids to fight cancer
WSU researchers show a mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids inhibit prostate cancer
Constructing ‘beautiful, basic science’
Constructing ‘beautiful, basic science’
Scripps Florida scientists build ribosome assembly process; discover key targets of new anticancer drug candidates
Preclinical
Eastern efforts
Eastern efforts
Covance to begin drug development partnership with China’s Sihuan Pharmaceutical
Vical in- licenses antifungal from Astellas
Vical in- licenses antifungal from Astellas
Preclinical data indicate faster fungicidal activity than marketed drugs and activity against azole-resistant pathogens
Stem cells instead of Viagra?
Stem cells instead of Viagra?
Liposuction byproduct could cure erectile dysfunction, study suggests
Enhancing xenograft use in oncology research
Enhancing xenograft use in oncology research
Novel technology from Taconic and Cellaria collaboration could better generate cells from patient-derived tumors
Dye light in the limelight
Dye light in the limelight
Okayama University team says light-responsive dye could help combat blindness
Editor's Focus
21st Century Cures could arrive this century
21st Century Cures could arrive this century
In what seems so far to be something approaching a truly bipartisan effort and possibly a sincere desire for positive change, Congress tackles draft of potential bill that would advance healthcare and health research, as well as boost NIH funding
Feature
Stem cells: Taking stock in Stockholm
Stem cells: Taking stock in Stockholm
ISSCR will hold 2015 annual meeting in Sweden as part of its ‘great vision’ of global activity
Diagnostics
ConfirmMDx sniffs out prostate cancer
ConfirmMDx sniffs out prostate cancer
Data supporting expanded use of MDxHealth test presented at ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
GE Healthcare collaboration targets digital pathology
GE Healthcare collaboration targets digital pathology
Effort seeks to give cancer pathology similar computational support as other areas of medicine
Innovating with Inivata
Innovating with Inivata
Biodesix teams with U.K. genomics company to develop NGS blood-based tests for lung cancer
Of a mind for ‘open innovation’
Of a mind for ‘open innovation’
Philips enters collaboration with Janssen on handheld blood test to validate neuropsychiatric disorders
Discovery
Targeting two with PTP1B
Targeting two with PTP1B
CSHL-Glaxo collaboration looks to combat diabetes and obesity by regulating enzymatic activity of phosphatase PTP1B
A blueprint for new therapies
A blueprint for new therapies
Blueprint Medicines launches strategic collaboration with Alexion to advance new drug candidates in rare genetic disease
‘Attracting success’
‘Attracting success’
Evotec, Sanofi launch multifaceted strategic alliance with outsourcing, library sharing
From cancer to heart disease
From cancer to heart disease
Bayer and Broad Institute partner to pinpoint genetic roots of cardiovascular disease
