October 2013- Volume 9, Issue 10

October 2013

In this Issue

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

Products & Services

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

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.
A guide for potency assay development of cell-based product candidates

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.

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.

Omics & Systems Biology

‘A clear mechanistic link’

‘A clear mechanistic link’

Multi-institute collaboration discovers cascade mechanism underlying Alzheimer’s disease

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

Taking a user snapshot

Taking a user snapshot

OGT publishes survey results of researchers using next-generation sequencing

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

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

Tools & Technology

South-of-the-border buyout

South-of-the-border buyout

Agilent Technologies signs agreement to acquire assets from ABC Instrumentación Analítica

Good things come in small packages

Good things come in small packages

Nanomedicine can reduce cost and enhance safety of drug discovery

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

Image is everything

Image is everything

Oncodesign, Banook Central Imaging to develop biomarkers for clinical imaging

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

Waiting to inhale

Waiting to inhale

Sweden’s Meda acquires Mass.-based Acton Pharmaceuticals, inhaler Aerospan, in deal worth up to $200 million

Dollars and antisense

Dollars and antisense

Biogen Idec and Isis Pharmaceuticals collaborate to advance treatment of neurological disorders

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

Clinical Trials

Tracking the trends

Tracking the trends

Thomson Reuters’ quarterly report on drugs to watch analyzes trends

GPS for stem cells

GPS for stem cells

America Stem Cell receives FDA clearance for multicenter, dual-umbilical cord transplantation trial

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

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

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
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