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September 2006 Volume 2, Issue 9

Volume 2, Issue 9 | September 2006

September 2006

In this Issue

Informatics

IDBS, ISD forge data integration partnership

IDBS announced a major strategic partnership with data integration specialist In Silico Discovery (ISD) that will combine its E-WorkBook with ISD’s K3 integration platform.

Proteome, Agilent expand glycomics partnership

Companies are expanding a 2005 co-marketing agreement into a full-fledged collaboration to develop new workflow solutions for the discovery of diagnostic markers and drug targets by glycomics analysis.

GeneGo adds tissue gene expression database to MetaCore

Applied Biosystems and GeneGo collaborate to integrate ABI\'s Tissue Gene Expression Database into the MetaCore data mining platform.

Merck taps Iconix for toxicogenomics

A pilot service agreement between Iconix and Merck is drawing on Iconix’s toxicogenomics technology to perform in vitro studies of Merck compounds.

BioTek moves all software development in-house

Biotek reached end of a years-long project to bring all software development and support in-house.

Automation & Instrumentation

Roche, ATCC forge marketing alliance to provide transfection data

Companies collaborate to provide data on transfection of ATCC cell lines using Roche’s FuGENE reagents either by Roche scientists or via information culled from peer-reviewed publications.

Evotec sells IP to Olympus

To focus its business on cell imaging and handling technologies, Evotec Technologies GmbH sold the core of its single-molecule detection (SMD) technology and related IP.

SPRI joins Hurel for human-on-a-chip collaboration

Schering-Plough Research Institute joins in the scientific collaboration that Hurel has convened to develop “human-on-a-chip” technology.

ChemDiv, Avalon pool resources for oncology candidates

Avalon and ChemDiv are combining their technologies to seek small molecules active against cancer.

CalbaTech adds adult stem cell banking service

LifeStem Inc., a subsidiary of CalbaTech Inc., introduced a program that collects and banks adult stem cells from two tissue sources in healthy individuals.

Genomics & Proteomics

AVI BioPharma’s NeuBiotics touted for microbial drug resistance

Researchers use phosphoproteome to target cancer

Scientists scanned the phosphoprotein profile of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), identifying a novel mutant protein kinase (JAK3) that may drive AML progression

CAT and Molecular Partners sign cross-license deal

Both parties obtain “substantial freedom” to conduct research under certain of each other’s IP and develop therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic products.

Q&A: John Hooper, CEO, Genizon Biosciences

Montreal-based Genizon Biosciences occupies a rather unique position in the research of the gene-based diseases.

Stratagene, Rosetta team up to automate RNA isolation, purification

In a move that is largely aimed at clinical trial-level work but which has implications for drug discovery as well, Stratagene has entered into a joint development and license agreement with Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC.

Research & Development

Kane Biotech battles biofilms

Phylonix uses zebrafish model to target cancers

Lab mice may have competition in modeling human cancer, as scientists at Phylonix Pharmaceuticals successfully modeled various stages of tumor development in zebrafish.

Lentigen and U Penn pursue cell-based cancer therapies

Lentigen will collaborate with UPenn's Dr. James Riley to develop novel cancer therapies.

Consortium delves into autism disease targets, diagnostics

The Autism Gene Discovery Project is being called the first comprehensive genetic association study to examine the entire human genome related to autism.

Entelos, Novartis apply virtual patient technology to R&D

Entelos and Novartis Pharma to “conduct research in multiple disease areas.”

News Briefs

Pfizer, Odyssey Thera collaborate

Commentary

Open hostility

Global News

Global market for oligos exceeds $700 million

Total spending by research scientists on synthetic DNA oligonucleotides (oligos) is over US$700 million annually

EMBL creates spinout Elara for new drug apps

Elara Pharmaceuticals will be dedicated to drug development and following up on promising small molecule anti-cancer leads.

Gardant agrees to acquisition by Switch Pharma

Agreement to be acquired by Switch Pharma Ltd. expected to close on Sept. 30, subject to requisite approvals.

UK Biobank expanding data with Thermo’s Nautilus LIMS

At the UK Biobank, LIMS will track, store, manage and report on the biological data of 500,000 people.

Gilead Sciences acquires Corus Pharma for $365 million

The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2006 and to be dilutive to Gilead’s 2006 and 2007 earnings.

Editor's Focus

Twenty-five years of HIV/AIDS

The world came to my backyard (literally) last month as Toronto hosted the XVI International AIDS Conference and it was quite an eye-opening experience for this jaded editor. Rather than try to encapsulate the entire conference in a brief commentary, however, I wanted to offer a couple of thoughts.

Biomarkers: Busting blockbusters?

Fueled by the discovery of new biomarkers, personalized medicine will cause diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies to shift their thinking about new products, and eventually perhaps to adopt a radically new business model.