This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, 21^st Century Cures initiative, Ebola virus mutating, Novartis cleared to buy GSK’s oncology business, precision medicine, Ebola vaccine study, CDC makes deal with Quest, and global regulators reducing drug approval times.

Cell Culture Events

February

Cell Line Development and Engineering – February 9-12, 2014, Dublin Ireland

http://www.informa-ls.com/event/Cellline

7^th 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.

50% off Cell Culture World Congress Attendance for Cell Culture Dish Readers by using the link below – https://secure.terrapinn.com/V5/rCalc.aspx?E=6871&R=NXJD

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.

50% off Downstream Processing World Congress Attendance for Cell Culture Dish Readers by using the link below –

https://secure.terrapinn.com/V5/rCalc.aspx?E=7159&R=PJQK

March

Biopharmaceutical Development and Production Week – March 30-April 2, 2015 – Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, Huntington Beach, CA (Co-located with Single-use Applications and Flexible Facilities)

http://www.ibclifesciences.com/BDPWeek/overview.xml

Genome Editing Applications – March 18-19, 2015 – Hilton Boston Back Bay, Boston MA

www.IBCLifeSciences.com/GenomeEditing

Headlines

“Patients at the heart of draft 21st Century Cures Initiative,” BioWorld

“More of an outline than a proposal, the first discussion draft of the 21st Century Cures Initiative puts patients front and center. The result of a year’s worth of roundtables and hearings, the draft was released Tuesday, marking the beginning of the legislative phase of the bipartisan initiative intended to accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of promising new treatments and cures and to maintain the U.S.’ standing as the biomedical innovation capital of the world.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “The Benefits of Implementing Bioprocess Monitoring and Quality by Design in Process Development”

“The Ebola Virus Is Mutating, Say Scientists,” Time

“Scientists at a French research institute say the Ebola virus has mutated and they are studying whether it may have become more contagious.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Three vaccines in development are poised to make significant impact on global public health”

“EU clears Novartis to buy GSK’s oncology business with conditions,” Reuters

“The “European Commission said on Wednesday it had cleared the acquisition by Novartis of GSK oncology business subject to conditions.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – PureFlex Plus – A Robust Single Use Fluid Management Film for High Volume/Value Applications”

“Two Generations of Geneticists, Two “Precision Medicine” Wish Lists,” Xconomy

“In late 2012, President Obama awarded Leroy “Lee” Hood the National Medal of Science for a lifetime of achievements, including the invention of machines that made the historic Human Genome Project possible.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Biologics Development: How do you Solve a Problem Like Data Management?”

“NIH to Start Ebola Vaccine Study With Glaxo, Merck,” The Wall Street Journal

“The National Institutes of Health detailed its plans to test an Ebola vaccine on thousands of Liberians, with the help of two major drug companies. The NIH, GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Merck & Co. plan to begin the effort as early as Friday, according to people familiar with the research. The plan is to enlist as many as 27,000 people for the study at a rate increasing to as many as 3,000 a week in the immediate vicinity of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Glaxo said its first doses of the vaccine candidate are scheduled to arrive in Liberia Friday.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Stromal Cell Isolation from Adipose Tissue”

“Quest in broad deal with CDC for hepatitis analysis,” Reuters

“Laboratory testing company Quest Diagnostics Inc said on Tuesday it had signed a $520,000 agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify trends in screening, diagnosis and treatment of four strains of viral hepatitis.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Where’s the Beef!?”

“International Regulators Closing Approval Time Gap With FDA,” FDA News

“Global drug regulators have reduced drug approval times over the last 10 years, and while the FDA remains the fastest at approving new drugs, other regulators are closing the gap.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “The Top 20 Cell Culture Blogs of 2014”