November 2010- Volume 6, Issue 11
November 2010
In this Issue
New Products
Round bottom tube for critical cellular applications
Round bottom tube for critical cellular applications
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has introduced a new Thermo Scientific Nunc 14 ml round bottom tube for critical cellular applications.
Feature
Come to Philly to see how far cell biology has come
Come to Philly to see how far cell biology has come
Marking off a half century of annual meetings and even longer for cell biology scientific progress, the ASCB brings it all together in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’
Government Watch
To disclose or not to disclose?
To disclose or not to disclose?
U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in shareholder lawsuit against Matrixx over drug Zicam; decision could impact adverse effect reporting requirements
Overseas drug deals interest the feds
Overseas drug deals interest the feds
U.S. drug companies investigated for possible bribes
FDA hosts hearing on biologics issues
FDA hosts hearing on biologics issues
Agency seeks input on implementation of Biologics Price Competition and Innovation (BPCI) Act
Stem cell debate plays out in court
Stem cell debate plays out in court
After a federal court halts Obama administration’s expansion of embryonic stem cell research, an appellate court OKs government funding—for now
Diagnostics
Winning the hand of the girl next door
Winning the hand of the girl next door
Combination of MorphoSys and Sloning technologies set to increase success rates in drug development
Cepheid forms collaboration with Novartis
Cepheid forms collaboration with Novartis
Deal focuses on commercialization of test to monitor the BCR-ABL gene transcript in peripheral blood specimens related to Ph+ chronic myelogenous leukemia
A crystal ball for cancer
A crystal ball for cancer
Roche, German Cancer Research Center enter research agreement to predict cervical cancer
Getting it right the first time
Getting it right the first time
Sirius Genomics and Golden Helix collaborate on sepsis diagnostic development
Instruments & Informatics
Three-way triple threat
Three-way triple threat
Vivo Biosciences, ACEA Biosciences and Roche to develop xCELLigence System assays for stem cell and cancer research
Capture and release
Capture and release
IDBS and Genomic Health team up to streamline development of oncology diagnostic tools
A sunny solution
A sunny solution
Cisbio partners with Blue Sky to target kinases
Diaceutics and London Genetics to develop software for biomarker studies
Diaceutics and London Genetics to develop software for biomarker studies
New product to be launched in 2011 will be based on the Diaceutics Fusion and London Genetics Biomarker Pathway platforms
Omics & Systems Biology
Takeda and Envoy form schizophrenia research alliance
Takeda and Envoy form schizophrenia research alliance
Deal calls for $3 million upfront and $2.25 million per year over three years
Going with the flow
Going with the flow
Thermo Fisher Scientific and Proteome Sciences cement ongoing protein biomarker collaboration
The eyes have it
The eyes have it
RXi Pharmaceuticals and EyeGate Pharma see a future together focused on retinal therapies
Domo arigato
Domo arigato
Germany’s Kinaxo signs cancer research agreement with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo
Research & Development
Companies seek game-changer for CKD
Companies seek game-changer for CKD
Reata, Abbott team up to develop, commercialize bardoxolone methyl to treat chronic kidney disease
One down, two to go
One down, two to go
LabCorp enters into definitive agreement to acquire Genzyme Genetics, one of three business units that Genzyme is aiming to offload
Oncology trifecta
Oncology trifecta
Having signed recent deals with two other top cancer-focused companies, ImmunoGen announces collaboration with Novartis for rights to use TAP Technology
Following the natural laws of economics
Following the natural laws of economics
Endo Pharmaceuticals acquires generics giant Qualitest to be more responsive to changing healthcare environment
Pfizer adds pain jewels to crown
Pfizer adds pain jewels to crown
Staking its claim as a leader in the pain relief market, Pfizer acquires King Pharmaceuticals for $3.6 billion
Global News
What once was lost could be found
What once was lost could be found
AstraZeneca & UCL collaborate on stem cell solution to diabetic vision loss
Partners take it to the next level
Partners take it to the next level
Previous partners Janssen Pharmaceutica and Argenta enter into integrated cancer drug discovery service agreement
An orthogonal collaboration
An orthogonal collaboration
Evotec and Shionogi partner in fragment-based drug discovery program
Mimicry with real results
Mimicry with real results
Sanofi Pasteur to acquire U.S. biotech company VaxDesign and advance its MIMIC technology
One giant step for Covance … and perhaps other CROs
One giant step for Covance … and perhaps other CROs
Covance secures $2.2 billion R&D alliance with sanofi-aventis that may signal a market shift toward outsourcing more pharma services
Commentary
Guest Commentary: Bioproduction goes global
Guest Commentary: Bioproduction goes global
Biopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, make up an increasingly large proportion of drugs on the market and in the development pipeline.
Patent News
Practicing an industry standard may be basis for patent infringement
Practicing an industry standard may be basis for patent infringement
The Federal Circuit recently affirmed that an admission that an accused infringing device practicing an industry standard may, without more, be the basis for a finding of infringement.
Special Reports
Federal funding and the 40 years’ war on cancer
Federal funding and the 40 years’ war on cancer
Government bureaucracy may be thwarting funding of breakthrough cancer research
Knowledge is power
Knowledge is power
Breakthroughs in cancer research are frequently pioneered in the halls of academia
Editor's Focus
A new medium, a new message
A new medium, a new message
Controversy is a curious thing, especially when you throw today’s communication technology into the mix. Everybody has an opinion about everything, and takes to a keyboard to share it with the world.
