The Dish’s Weekly Biotechnology News Wrap Up – October 3, 2014
This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, Roche breast cancer drug trial results, psoriasis drug meets end goal in studies, cancer drug meets main trial goal, AbbVie gets FDA approval for Crohn’s disease, biotech firms looking for biosimilars, and Johnson and Johnson to buy Alios BioPharma.
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.
The Future of Bioprocess Monitoring: How Greater Precision can Improve Quality and Yield Webinar – Wednesday October 15th
Roche Custom Biotech, AGU Industrial IT and Bayer Technologies will be sharing and discussing their experience of applying modern cell culture monitoring and how this enables succinct quality by design(QbD) with focus on:
- Solutions for reliable and precise measurements of a broad range of parameters taken from a small sample volume
- Modern data management approach towards a paperless lab solution with a “Closed Loop”
- Solutions for automated sampling, monitoring and storage in bio-pharmaceutical process development
October
Bioproduction – October 8-9, 2014 – Barcelo Sants Hotel – Barcelona, Spain
BioProduction 2014 is Europe’s leading and largest event for a comprehensive update on operational strategies, technologies, regulatory challenges, manufacturing production and process development in biological manufacturing.
http://www.informa-ls.com/event/bio-production14?xtssot=0
BioProcess International Conference & Exhibition
Conference: October 20-23, 2014, Exhibition: October 21-23, 2014
Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA
Complete programming coverage of the full bioprocessing continuum – featuring 65 innovative case studies and 70 new data presentations intended for companies of all sizes and at every stage of development.
The world’s largest bioprocess exhibition – featuring over 150 exhibitors, lounges, and the BPI Theater with live product launches to help you plan future purchasing decisions.
Face-to-Face Networking opportunities that no other bioprocessing event can offer, plus access BPI’s event specific partnering tool to schedule meetings.
Featured Technology Workshops at BPI:
New Paradigms in Bioproduction – Culture Media Development, by William Whitford, Senior Manager, Hyclone Cell Culture, GE Healthcare Life Sciences. Tuesday October 21st 11:50 am
Guidelines for the Selection of Chromatography Media (Resins) and Steps to Meet Specific Purification Challenges, by Jonathan Royce, Senior Product Manager, Bioprocess Product Marketing – Downstream, GE Healthcare
Headlines:
“Roche breast cancer drug “unprecedented” in extending lives,” Reuters
“A new breast cancer drug from Roche has shown “unprecedented” benefits in extending lives in a clinical trial and experts urged its widespread use for women with an aggressive form of the disease.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “A High Throughput, Scalable Solution to Upstream Process Development“
“Novartis Says Psoriasis Drug Met End-Goal of Arthritis Studies,” Bloomberg Businessweek
“Novartis AG (NOVN) said an experimental drug worked better than a placebo in two advanced clinical tests on psoriatic arthritis, improving the prospects for winning regulatory approval.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Interactive Scheduling is Key to Successful Biomanufacturing Operations”
“Life-saving drugs and deadly delays,” New York Post
“The Food and Drug Administration just granted permission for “expanded access” to an experimental medicine for Ebola. It’s OK as far as it goes, but it’s an exception to the FDA’s reluctance to approve the use of life-saving products.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Highlights from IBC’s 4th Annual Cell Therapy Bioprocessing Conference”
“Seattle Genetics and Takeda’s cancer drug meets main trial goal,” Reuters
“Seattle Genetics Inc and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd said their approved cancer drug was successfully used as a consolidation therapy in a late-stage trial for patients with a type of lymphatic cancer.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Raw Material Sourcing for Cell Culture Media – Important Considerations”
“Abbvie gets FDA approval for Crohn’s disease drug Humira,” Pharmaceutical Business Review
“AbbVie has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Humira (adalimumab) to reduce signs and symptoms as well as achieve and maintain clinical remission, in pediatric Crohn’s disease patients six years of age and older.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Flexible Facilities for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing”
“Hundreds of firms join global hunt for copycat biotech drugs,” Reuters
“Hundreds of companies around the world are chasing an emerging market for cheaper copies of costly biotech drugs, with more than 700 so-called biosimilars now in development or already approved, according to a major study of the sector.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease – Considerations for the Future”
“Johnson & Johnson to buy Alios BioPharma,” San Francisco Chronicle
“Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday it would pay $1.75 billion in cash for Alios BioPharma, a private biotechnology company in South San Francisco that is working on treatments for viral diseases.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Improving Clone Isolation and Screening In Hybridoma Cells – Moving away from Limiting Dilution”