November 2015- Volume 11, Issue 11
In this Issue
Business & Government Policy
Patent Docs: Federal Circuit changes the rules for biosimilar litigation
Patent Docs: Federal Circuit changes the rules for biosimilar litigation
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit renders fractured decision construing the terms of Biologics Price Control and Innovation Act for the first time
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Adheron acquired in deal worth up to $580 million
Adheron acquired in deal worth up to $580 million
Roche AG aims to add to pipeline with joint destruction mediator
Discovery
A ‘shock’ to the system
A ‘shock’ to the system
Small heat shock protein could be a model for new forms of Alzheimer’s therapy
Sifting through the genome
Sifting through the genome
Six NIH grants worth $13 million support research into finding the genomic variants that make a difference
The mediation of mTORC1
The mediation of mTORC1
New findings open opportunities for creating new medicines for metabolic, musculoskeletal, autoimmune and other age-related diseases
In-licensing inhibitors
In-licensing inhibitors
Horizon, Servier ink an in-licensing and option agreement for novel kinase inhibitors
Commentary
Out of order: You treat what you are
Out of order: You treat what you are
Despite so many achievements in pharma and biotech, the developing world continues to be ravaged by microbial infection, and that's something we ought to pay more attention to
Guest commentary: Immunotherapy research takes a lead showcasing innovative cancer models and translational platforms
Guest commentary: Immunotherapy research takes a lead showcasing innovative cancer models and translational platforms
As the design of anticancer agents has evolved, the processes, methods and equipment used to aid the fight against cancer have too, leading to the resurgence of immunotherapy as a powerful way of fighting cancer
Diagnostics
Prenatal testing: quo vadis?
Prenatal testing: quo vadis?
Hastings Center awarded NIH grant for major project on goals and practices of next-generation prenatal testing
Fragile blood vessels
Fragile blood vessels
UCLA MRI technology may help in diagnosing cardiovascular diseases and dementia through vascular compliance
A new tool to predict outcomes of kidney cancer treatment
A new tool to predict outcomes of kidney cancer treatment
Research indicates that expression levels of a key protein involved in tumor cell survival could predict response to first-line therapies targeting VEGF
It’s all about image
It’s all about image
Progenics hopes to acquire EXINI and combine EXINI’s imaging analysis with its own prostate cancer imaging products
Research & Development
Golden touch with zinc fingers
Golden touch with zinc fingers
MIT researchers use zinc fingers to detect DNA sequence and then pull trigger on cancer cells
Stem cells lead to improved neurotoxicity tests
Stem cells lead to improved neurotoxicity tests
UW-Madison aims to improve accuracy and reduce cost compared to animal studies of toxicity
Making models of cells
Making models of cells
TSRI and UC San Diego launch new consortium to create ‘Virtual Cell’
Lilly and Innovent kick oncology R&D pact to next level
Lilly and Innovent kick oncology R&D pact to next level
New deal between Eli Lilly and Innovent around bispecific antibodies could be worth $1 billion
Preclinical
Eye on the prize
Eye on the prize
Peer-reviewed publication of preclinical efficacy results for TxCell’s Col-Treg points to therapeutic potential in autoimmune uveitis
Money for something in RSV
Money for something in RSV
RSV vaccine findings net Novavax an $89-million Gates Foundation grant
Preclinical promise for FS102
Preclinical promise for FS102
F-star partners with BMS on potential treatment of HER2-positive cancers
Clinical Trials
Times are a-changin’ for rare diseases
Times are a-changin’ for rare diseases
Medgenics acquires NFC-1, a ‘game-changer’ for rare neurogenetic disorder
Knocking out kallikrein
Knocking out kallikrein
BioCryst Phase 1 study of BCX7353 achieves objectives for potential hereditary angioedema drug
Focusing on rare and ultra-rare diseases
Focusing on rare and ultra-rare diseases
Ultragenyx reports positive results from Phase 2 study of UX007 in long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder patients
Positive progress for CIC in Phase 3
Positive progress for CIC in Phase 3
Ironwood’s linaclotide reaches primary endpoint in chronic idiopathic constipation trial
Contract Services
Recording, analyzing and reporting
Recording, analyzing and reporting
BioClinica acquires Synowledge to add to drug safety and regulatory business process capabilities
Type 1 diabetes targeted
Type 1 diabetes targeted
Caladrius Biosciences and Sanford Research establish strategic collaboration to drive major advance in treatment of type 1 diabetes
Dealing in New Delhi
Dealing in New Delhi
Contract manufacturing in India up 20 percent with expected CAGR of 17 to 18 percent
Feature
ASCB Show Preview: The unhelpfulness of pigeonholes in cell biology
ASCB Show Preview: The unhelpfulness of pigeonholes in cell biology
The 2015 installment of the American Society for Cell Biology's annual meeting
Special Reports
Special Report on Inflammatory Diseases/Autoimmune Research: The undiscovered country
Special Report on Inflammatory Diseases/Autoimmune Research: The undiscovered country
Researchers follow epigenetic fingerprints to understand (and perhaps treat) autoimmune disease.
Editor's Focus
Getting the cure where it needs to go
Getting the cure where it needs to go
A roundup of some recent news of delivery options for therapeutics, since it's a subject that's often hard to find a home for in our usual news sections
