The Dish’s Weekly Biotechnology News Wrap Up – January 16, 2015
This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, 23 and Me with investment from Genentech, ebola vaccine news, Tufts study says biopharma seeks to contain prices, Roche in deal to boost cancer efforts, Merck accelerates new drug submissions, FDA seeks to cut quality control lapses, and New Parkinson’s therapy into Phase II.
Cell Culture Events
February
Cell Line Development and Engineering – February 9-12, 2014, Dublin Ireland
http://www.informa-ls.com/event/Cellline
7th Annual Global Biomanufacturing Summit – February 18-20, 2015, Orange County, CA
With the affordable care act and added FDA pressure on companies to cut costs to the end user it has become imperative that the biological manufacturing industry optimizes and streamlines its processes in order to maintain profit margins and stay competitive.
The 7th Annual Global Biological Manufacturing Summit 2015 has been designed to enhance collaboration, discussion and networking amongst the Biological Manufacturing community.
The 2015 will programme will feature three dedicated streams, each tackling the latest challenges for the industry: Manufacturing, Supply chain, Quality and Regulation. Each stream will feature the most esteemed companies in their fields, including UCB, GSK, MEDIMMUNE GENENTECH, M W GROUP, KINAXIS.
Visit http://biomansummit.com/ for more information.
Book now via The Cell Culture Dish and save 15%
Cell Culture World Congress – February 23-25, 2015 –Munich Germany
The region’s premier congress for the bioprocess industry. Where all major existing and emerging players obtain practical and technical outcomes to Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing. Cell Culture World Congress is THE networking forum where pharma, biotech, academia and associated vendor stakeholders wanting to progress within the Cell Culture and Biomanufacturing market meet, debate and partner with those already strategically positioned.
Downstream Processing World Congress – February 24-25, 2015 – Munich Germany
Technology and process optimization for pharma, biotech and CMOs. Co-located with Cell Culture World Congress, the event is THE genuine meeting place for bioprocess scientists to meet, source new technologies and share best practice.
Headlines
“Surprise! With $60 Million Genentech Deal, 23andMe Has A Business Plan,” Forbes
“A deal being announced today with Genentech points the way for 23andMe, the personal genetics company backed by Facebook billionaire Yuri Milner and Google Ventures to become a sustainable business – even if the company’s discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stretch on for years.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “The Benefits of Implementing Bioprocess Monitoring and Quality by Design in Process Development“
“Ebola vaccine: Only government investment in private labs can achieve it,” San Jose Mercury News
“Had a licensed Ebola vaccine or therapeutic been available last year, the outbreak in West Africa would have unfolded very differently. Health care workers and international volunteers could have been vaccinated and protected before treating sick patients. Those infected could have recovered at a higher rate with an effective treatment. Unfortunately, these products are not yet available.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Raw Material Sourcing for Cell Culture Media – Important Considerations“
“Tufts CSDD Study: Biopharmas Eye R&D Improvements to Contain Prices,” Genetic Engineering News
“Drug developers plan to improve R&D management and operations in 2015 in order to cut development costs and avoid the glare of payers increasingly intent on containing drug prices, the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD) said in this year’s edition of its annual Outlook report.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “2014’s Top Ten Cell Culture Dish Ask the Expert Sessions”
“Roche in $1 billion-plus Foundation Medicine deal to boost cancer efforts,” Reuters
“Roche Holding will acquire a majority stake in molecular and genomic analysis business Foundation Medicine, it said on Monday, signaling its determination to expand in cancer immunotherapy by paying a hefty mark-up on the U.S. company’s current price.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Biologics Development: How do you Solve a Problem Like Data Management?”
“Merck Accelerates Drug-Submission Plans,” The Wall Street Journal
“Merck & Co. has accelerated its plans to submit new drugs for hepatitis C and lung cancer for regulatory approval, in a bid to close the gap with competitors in two lucrative segments.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Stromal Cell Isolation from Adipose Tissue”
“FDA launches project to cut quality control lapses at drugmakers,” Reuters
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched an initiative on Monday aimed at reducing lapses in quality control at pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Where’s the Beef!?”
“Newron puts non-oral Parkinson’s therapy into Phase II,” PharmaTimes
“With approval in Europe due shortly for Xadago, Newron Pharmaceuticals has begun mid-stage trials of another Parkinson’s therapy, which the Italian firm hopes could halt or even reverse disease progression.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “The Top 20 Cell Culture Blogs of 2014”