October 2008- Volume 4, Issue 10
In this Issue
Automation & Instrumentation
Illuminating development
Illuminating development
KPL comjugate sales brightened by Thermo's DyLight technology
Pre-clinical play
Pre-clinical play
Varian and GE Healthcare join forces to develop a new 7T MR preclinical imaging system
More diagnostics for Qiagen
More diagnostics for Qiagen
Company acquires Pyrosequencing technology from Sweden’s Biotage for $53 million
Feature
Putting a new spin on old molecules
Putting a new spin on old molecules
Pharma companies increasingly embrace the idea of repositioning drugs in attempt to boost pipelines
Genomics & Proteomics
Taking the RNA for a little spin
Taking the RNA for a little spin
Scripps Florida spin-off CuRNA focuses on non-coding RNA
A new life
A new life
Neurologix licenses Aegera’s XIAP gene
Dangling the carrot
Dangling the carrot
New genomics bill in House offers tax credits for companion diagnostics
Running with ‘magic scissors’
Running with ‘magic scissors’
Sigma-Aldrich unveils new genome-editing tools using zinc finger nucleases
Permanent fixture
Permanent fixture
Record endowment gift to the Broad Institute moves it from 'experiment' to permanence
Research & Development
GSK’s kinase connection
GSK’s kinase connection
GSK signs potential $1.5B inflammatory disease deal with Cellzome
Restructured, refocused, retooled
Restructured, refocused, retooled
Big Pharma’s R&D divisions roll out strategies to combat market challenges
Beta-blocker boon
Beta-blocker boon
Duke beta-blocker discovery holds promise for heart failure therapies
Unraveling the MS mystery
Unraveling the MS mystery
Opexa Therapeutics and Myelin Repair Foundation partner on MS program
The eyes have it in Asterand-Allergan deal
The eyes have it in Asterand-Allergan deal
Asterand plc announced last month an exclusive licensing agreement with Allergan Inc. to develop and commercialize a series of Asterand’s proprietary compounds with ophthalmic indications.
Genzyme's helping HAND
Genzyme's helping HAND
Genzyme joins Medicines for Malaria Venture and Advinus in malaria research
Global News
Really out there
Really out there
NIH’s new T-R01 program seeks to fund projects that go outside the box
Shionogi buys out Sciele for $1.4B
Shionogi buys out Sciele for $1.4B
As a summer of blockbuster Japanese-foreign market pharma deals fades away, Shionogi & Co. ended the active season with a bang in early September when it announced its acquisition of Atlanta-based Sciele Pharma Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at $1.4 billion.
Angling for Alzheimer’s
Angling for Alzheimer’s
Pfizer Inc. enters development deal for Alzheimer’s drug with Medivation worth as much as $725 million
NIAID program targets drug-resistant TB
NIAID program targets drug-resistant TB
SRI International recently began a tuberculosis preclinical drug evaluation program in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Bayer nabs Direvo for $300 million
Bayer nabs Direvo for $300 million
Bayer HealthCare last week announced its acquisition of Direvo Biotech AG in an all-cash deal at a transaction value of E210 million or approximately $300 million.
Retigabine fits GSK
Retigabine fits GSK
Valeant gets $800 million for its neuronal potassium channel opener epilepsy candidate
Informatics
The revolution cometh
The revolution cometh
Thermo Fisher and Sage-N Research produce Linux-based proteomics data software
Clinical trial sweet spot
Clinical trial sweet spot
Phase Forward acquires IRT provider Clarix for $40 million
Informatics powerhouse
Informatics powerhouse
Biosof, IBM collaborate on software-hardware proteomics research platform
Data analysis on demand
Data analysis on demand
GenomeQuest rolls out next-gen sequencing research platform
Tripos reawakens
Tripos reawakens
Tripos acquires Pharsight for $57 million
Editor's Focus
Emptying the drawer of the editorial mind
Emptying the drawer of the editorial mind
Every now and then, I find it is helpful to simply clear my head of random thoughts that are jangling around inside my head that have been suggested by the work I do or simply what I see in my everyday life. As the election rolls around this year, it is apparent of the many things that separate the major candidates, there is very little either Obama or McCain disagree about that will have any kind of profound affect on the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
Patent News
Red or Blue? We’ll likely see biosimilars either way
Red or Blue? We’ll likely see biosimilars either way
It appears that no matter who wins the presidential election this November, both Barack Obama and John McCain back expanded use of generic drugs as a way to lower drug costs. According to their advisers, both campaigns have pledged their support to help create a market for generic biotech drugs or biosimilars.
Commentary
DDN takes lead with integrated news
DDN takes lead with integrated news
Just as the general public receives its news from many “touch points” like newspapers, TV, radio and the Internet, DDN delivers the news of the pharmaceutical industry through several different sources, both print and online. We offer these multi-vehicle integrated sources to deliver news for our readers—as well as integrated marketing programs for advertisers. Several research studies confirm the value of integrated news and marketing.
