This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, expanded use approved for cystic fibrosis drug, personalized cancer vaccines, NewLink and Roche to partner on cancer drug, Novartis’ psoriasis drug, and Ebola treatment developments.

Cell Culture Events

2-Day Workshops on Modeling and Simulation in Biomanufacturing Operations

Bio-G is hosting 2-Day workshops around the country on Modeling and Simulation in Biomanufacturing Operations. Attendees work in hands-on sessions with the Bio-G Real-Time Modeling System (RTMS) to solve challenging manufacturing problems, including:

• Modeling and Optimization
• Production Planning and Scheduling
• Cycle Time Reduction and Debottlenecking
• Capacity Analysis
• Analysis of Utilities and Waste Streams

For more information on the 2-Day Workshops, including cities and dates, go to http://www.bio-g.com/post/2-day-workshops.

November

Don’t miss Life Technologies’ 2nd Annual, 24 Hours of Stem Cells Virtual Event

Register free for the 2nd Annual 24 Hours of Stem Cells virtual event, a major Stem Cell Research event running concurrently around the world for 24 hours on November 06, 2014.

Join the event anytime between:
November 5, 6:00 PM through November 6, 8:00 PM, US Eastern Time (November 5, 11:00 PM, through November 7, 1 AM, Greenwich Mean Time)

Please see our summary of the event from last year, “Today an Innovative Virtual Stem Cell Conference is Taking Place.”

Well Characterized Biologicals – November 3-4, 2014 – Washington Marriott at Metro Center Washington, DC

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

European Antibody Congress 2014 – November 10-12, 2014 – Geneva, Switzerland

http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/european-antibody-congress/index.stm

World Orphan Drug Congress, Europe 2014 – November 12-14, 2014 – The Egg, Brussels, Belgium

Highlights of the World Orphan Drug Congress this November include EURORDIS giving their perspective on new models for development, access and pricing, through a hard-hitting interview by BBC’s medical correspondent Fergal Walsh. Join the discussion and register by the close of today to save €100. Download the full brochure @ terrapinn.com/CellCultureDish

3^rd Annual Cell Culture and Bioprocessing Congress – November 17-18^th, 2014 – London, UK

This Congress is an executive platform for over 170 experts working in cell line development, cell line engineering, up and downstream operations, fermentation and biologics production. The Congress brings together leading experts to discuss ways to support this growth and overcome industry-wide challenges, and will be supported by key industry solution providers like Merck Millipore, Eppendorf, UPM, Solentim and Hamilton. Problems to be discussed include cell line stability, cell line authentication, scale-up improvements, contamination control and increasing reliability and consistency between batches. Please take a look at the website for more detail  http://www.cellculture-congress.com/

Headlines

“Testing for Ebola Vaccines to Start Soon, W.H.O. Says,” The New York Times

“Health authorities and pharmaceutical companies are planning to test several new vaccines to prevent Ebola infection over the next few months, including one that is taken as a tablet, making it easier to deploy in West Africa.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Stem Cell Culture Advances – The Final Blog in the ISSCR Series“

“GSK sees first Ebola vaccine doses ready late this year,” Reuters

“GlaxoSmithKline expects to have the first doses of its Ebola vaccine ready late this year and is looking to work with the rest of the pharmaceutical industry to scale up production.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “A High Throughput, Scalable Solution to Upstream Process Development”

“FDA panel votes to expand use of Vertex cystic fibrosis drug,” Reuters

“A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Tuesday voted 13-2 to recommend expanding approval of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc’s cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco to include a wider range of patients with the rare lung disease, the company said.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Highlights from IBC’s 4th Annual Cell Therapy Bioprocessing Conference”

“Are personalized approaches the solution for a troubled cancer vaccine field?” Fierce Vaccines

“Cancer vaccine developers have seen their fair share of disappointments, and failures have spurred some companies to test their treatments in smaller patient subpopulations. Now, researchers at the University of Connecticut are narrowing their focus even further as they gear up to trial personalized cancer vaccines.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Raw Material Sourcing for Cell Culture Media – Important Considerations”

“NewLink in $1 billion deal with Roche to develop cancer drug,” Reuters

“NewLink Genetics Corp (NLNK.O) said it entered into an agreement with Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) to develop NewLink’s cancer immunotherapy, making the Ebola vaccine developer eligible to receive over $1 billion in milestone payments.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Flexible Facilities for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing”

“FDA panel unanimously backs Novartis’ psoriasis drug,” Reuters

“An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unanimously recommended the use of Novartis AG’s anti-inflammation drug in patients with a type of psoriasis, paving the way for its approval.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Interactive Scheduling is Key to Successful Biomanufacturing Operations”

“Janssen, Bavarian Nordic Enter Ebola Vaccine Deal,” Genetic Engineering News

“Vaccine developerBavarian Nordic entered a license and supply agreement for its multivalent MVA-BN Filovirus vaccine candidate—designed to protect againstEbola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and Marburg virus—with Crucell Holland, one of theJanssen Pharmaceutical Companies and a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Improving Clone Isolation and Screening In Hybridoma Cells – Moving away from Limiting Dilution”