October 2013- Volume 9, Issue 10
October 2013
In this Issue
Products & Services
HTG launches two multiplexed gene expression assays for use on award-winning HTG Edge system
HTG launches two multiplexed gene expression assays for use on award-winning HTG Edge system
The new HTG Edge multiplexed assays for drug and oncology research are the DMPK and TOA Assays.
High-throughput in-vivo CNS pharmacology screening
High-throughput in-vivo CNS pharmacology screening
High-throughput in-vivo CNS pharmacology screening provides rapid, tailor-made lead validation service using selected in-vivo and ex-vivo assays.
Hamilton Robotics delivers new high-tech liquid handling platform
Hamilton Robotics delivers new high-tech liquid handling platform
The VANTAGE is for simple to complex lab requirements and applications. A single vertically integrated system can easily replace four to six other pipetting robots and provides more functionality than other platforms.
Larger diameter Kinetex core-shell HPLC prep column enables higher loads for pharma lab-scale purification
Larger diameter Kinetex core-shell HPLC prep column enables higher loads for pharma lab-scale purification
Phenomenex announces a new 30 mm internal diameter (I.D.) Kinetex core-shell 5-micron column in Axia hardware for preparative HPLC and SFC in pharmaceutical lab-scale purification.
MultiFlo FX combines bulk dispel-sing and washing for improved, automated workflows
MultiFlo FX combines bulk dispel-sing and washing for improved, automated workflows
MultiFlo FX is a fully modular, automat-d reagent dispenser for six- to 1,536-well plates offering BioTek’s unique Parallel Dispense technology—both peristaltic and syringe pump operation down to 500 nL.
Molecular Devices launches ImageXpress Micro XLS system for wide-field high-content screening
Molecular Devices launches ImageXpress Micro XLS system for wide-field high-content screening
Molecular Devices announced today the launch of ImageXpress Micro XLS System, the latest improvement to its high-content screening portfolio.
Bio-Rad’s ddPCR library quantification kit optimizes performance of Ion Torrent NGS systems
Bio-Rad’s ddPCR library quantification kit optimizes performance of Ion Torrent NGS systems
Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. launched its ddPCR library quantification kit for Ion Torrent library preparation.
Certara launches Cardiac Safety Simulator to determine arrhythmia risk for drug candidates
Certara launches Cardiac Safety Simulator to determine arrhythmia risk for drug candidates
Based on an in-silico model of human ventricular heart cells, Certara’s Cardiac Safety Simulator (CSS) helps sponsors to assess arrhythmia risk before a new drug candidate enters clinical trials and determine safe drug doses for specific patient populations.
96-well microplates with 3D epoxy surface for covalent binding of biomolecules
96-well microplates with 3D epoxy surface for covalent binding of biomolecules
The 3D epoxy surface of the 96-well microplates is the ideal platform for covalent binding of proteins, peptides, DNA and oligonucleotides
Th17, Treg, IFN, TLR, NF-B Reporter Cell Lines for drug discovery screening
Th17, Treg, IFN, TLR, NF-B Reporter Cell Lines for drug discovery screening
IMGENEX’s proprietary Reporter Cell Lines provide the most advanced system available for screening Treg, Th17, TLR, STAT3 and inflammatory pathway mediators.
Accelrys brings next-generation decision-making to scientific discovery with launch of Accelrys Insight
Accelrys brings next-generation decision-making to scientific discovery with launch of Accelrys Insight
Accelrys Insight and Accelrys Insight for Excel offer research scientists an entirely new way of accessing, visualizing and analyzing data that is locked in disparate locations across internal discovery teams and networked external partners, helping to lower long-standing barriers to bringing innovative therapeutics to market faster and more cost effectively.
Abcam launches SimpleStep ELISA kits
Abcam launches SimpleStep ELISA kits
SimpleStep ELISA kits have a greatly simplified protocol when compared to standard multistep ELISAs, providing significant time savings and ease of use.
ACD/Labs announces the release of ACD/ChemAnalytical Workbook
ACD/Labs announces the release of ACD/ChemAnalytical Workbook
ACD/ChemAnalytical Workbook is an all-in-one experiment, workflow and data management tool that allows scientists to document analytical information and benefit from the knowledge gained in future projects.
Cresset’s new Activity Miner for lead optimization highlights and explains key activity insights
Cresset’s new Activity Miner for lead optimization highlights and explains key activity insights
Cresset announces the release of the Activity Miner module for Torch and Forge. Activity Miner is a new intuitive SAR interpretation tool that identifies the key 3D structural and electrostatic changes impacting biological activity.
Optibrium and AstraZeneca sign agreement for global license of StarDrop
Optibrium and AstraZeneca sign agreement for global license of StarDrop
Optibrium, a developer of software for drug discovery, today announced that AstraZeneca has signed an agreement to license Optibrium’s StarDrop software.
Clinical Trials
Tracking the trends
Tracking the trends
Thomson Reuters’ quarterly report on drugs to watch analyzes trends
Heading for a merger
Heading for a merger
Update Pharma, Resolute Oncology ink binding term sheet
Getting the numbers right
Getting the numbers right
PhRMA Joins with National Minority Quality Forum and Microsoft to address diversity in clinical trials
Indiana to advance with Covance
Indiana to advance with Covance
Alliance aims to bring more clinical research to Indiana and provide quicker access to patients in Phase I clinical trials
GPS for stem cells
GPS for stem cells
America Stem Cell receives FDA clearance for multicenter, dual-umbilical cord transplantation trial
Commentary
A guide for potency assay development of cell-based product candidates
A guide for potency assay development of cell-based product candidates
The development of a potency assay for cellular therapy products entails many steps of innovations and discoveries, while keeping in mind the end user and the requirements of the regulatory authorities.
A celebration of instrumentation
A celebration of instrumentation
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation sponsors The Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences. The purpose of the foundation is to “to advance the science of chemistry, chemical engineering and related sciences as a means of improving human relations and circumstances.” This year, the $250,000 Dreyfus prize was, for the first time, focused on chemical instrumentation.
Special Reports
PCR turns 30 (part one)
PCR turns 30 (part one)
One of the most important and widely used processes in biotechnology is going strong as it marks the 30th anniversary of its invention
PCR turns 30 (part two)
PCR turns 30 (part two)
Continuing coverage of special report on PCR
Editor's Focus
The gravity of the government shutdown’s impact on science
The gravity of the government shutdown’s impact on science
When we went to press with this issue, close to 1 million government workers were furloughed, some members of Congress gave up their salary pay and government agencies key to the welfare of the drugmaking industry went on a hiatus of undetermined length. The NIH in particular was already smacked down by the sequestration earlier this year, losing $1.5 billion out of its already stretched-thin operating budget. Now the bruised-up agency stands to lose an estimated $600 million more when the government reopens.
Feature
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (part one)
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (part one)
Sunny San Diego plays host to annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (part two)
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (part two)
Additional pre-show coverage of Neuroscience 2013
Research & Development
Amgen’s big bang theory
Amgen’s big bang theory
Seeking to stave off generic competition, Amgen spends $10.4 billion to acquire Onyx and its FDA-approved cancer drug, Kyprolis
Dollars and antisense
Dollars and antisense
Biogen Idec and Isis Pharmaceuticals collaborate to advance treatment of neurological disorders
Waiting to inhale
Waiting to inhale
Sweden’s Meda acquires Mass.-based Acton Pharmaceuticals, inhaler Aerospan, in deal worth up to $200 million
A young man’s game
A young man’s game
Stem cells from older donor patients may be less effective than their younger counterparts, according to Tulane University study
Earning their stripes
Earning their stripes
Zebrafish continue to gain popularity as lab models for drug discovery
Tools & Technology
Image is everything
Image is everything
Oncodesign, Banook Central Imaging to develop biomarkers for clinical imaging
Horizon Discovery licenses two gene-editing technologies
Horizon Discovery licenses two gene-editing technologies
Company boosts rAAV gene-editing platforms with technologies from Sigma Life Science and Harvard
Good things come in small packages
Good things come in small packages
Nanomedicine can reduce cost and enhance safety of drug discovery
South-of-the-border buyout
South-of-the-border buyout
Agilent Technologies signs agreement to acquire assets from ABC Instrumentación Analítica
Omics & Systems Biology
Risk-takers at Vanderbilt drive drug discovery research
Risk-takers at Vanderbilt drive drug discovery research
Researchers use Tecan Freedom EVO 200 to provide routine processing of three ADME assays
Taking a user snapshot
Taking a user snapshot
OGT publishes survey results of researchers using next-generation sequencing
NIH launches second phase of Human Microbiome Project
NIH launches second phase of Human Microbiome Project
Government earmarks $22.1 million to fund three research studies over three years
‘A clear mechanistic link’
‘A clear mechanistic link’
Multi-institute collaboration discovers cascade mechanism underlying Alzheimer’s disease
Global News
A real steal?
A real steal?
Otsuka to acquire Astex for about $886 million, which several market-watchers claim undervalues the company
China’s pharma boom
China’s pharma boom
GlobalData predicts more than 650-percent revenue growth by 2020
J&J joins amazing race
J&J joins amazing race
Johnson & Johnson joins academia and medical charity in Big Pharma’s hunt for Dengue fever vaccine
Debiopharm eyes antibiotics market
Debiopharm eyes antibiotics market
Company teams up with TCG Lifesciences to develop novel class of antibiotics
Diagnostics
Pay to play
Pay to play
With acquisition of BioFire, bioMérieux seeks to consolidate position as major player in infectious disease diagnostics
Bringing flu testing closer to home
Bringing flu testing closer to home
Novel testing method brings promise of inexpensive at-home flu test
Nurturing the next generation
Nurturing the next generation
Enzymatics acquires ArcherDx and next-generation diagnostic technology
Early infection detection
Early infection detection
MIT team unveils work on microfluidic device for early-stage malaria detection
