This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, FDA approves Meningitis B vaccine, pharma and academia partner on proteins, Novartis selling flu vaccine unit, 2 in 1 diabetes drug approved, ovarian cancer drug wins EU backing, 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

Dr John Lambert, EVP & CSO at IummnoGen will discuss engineering antibodies for the treatment of cancer – an update on clinical development at the European Antibody Congress, 10-12 November 2014, Geneva. Join the discussion and preview the brochure for more info at http://bit.ly/1uh1PV7

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

The European Commission will give the latest updates on the support available for orphan drug development through Horizon 2020 at the World Orphan Drug Congress, 12 -14 November in Brussels. Be witness to the latest developments and register your place now.

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/

December

Cell Therapy Manufacturing – December 3-4, 2014 – Brussels, Belgium

http://www.informa-ls.com/event/celltherapy2013

ASCB – December 6-10, 2014 – Philadelphia, PA

http://www.ascb.org/meetings-home

Headlines

“Ebola: The making of a $1 billion drug,” CNN Money

“At least that’s what some experts are betting on. The deadly virus has struck such fear globally that people are betting many governments will start stockpiling Ebola drugs to combat any future outbreaks.”

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

“FDA approves new vaccine for meningitis B,” USA Today

“The Food and Drug Administration today gave accelerated approval to a new meningitis vaccine that targets the strain of the bacteria that caused outbreaks at Princeton University and the University of California-Santa Barbara last year.”

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

“Amgen, Sanofi, Ono link with academia on proteins project,” Reuters

“U.S.-based Amgen, France’s Sanofi and Ono Pharmaceutical of Japan have linked with three research institutes to study a super-family of proteins controlling everything from taste to the spread of cancer.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Last Week’s BioProcess International Conference and Exhibition”

“In race for Ebola vaccines, technical hurdles loom large,” Reuters

“Drugmakers sprinting to develop Ebola vaccines face a series of technical hurdles if they are to get millions of doses ready for use next year — even assuming clinical trials are successful.”

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

“Novartis Selling Flu Vaccine Business to CSL for $275M,” Genetic Engineering News

“Novartis is selling itsinfluenza vaccine business, including its development pipeline, toCSL for $275 million, in a deal announced yesterday that is subject to regulatory approvals and set to close next year.”

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

“AstraZeneca Ovarian-Cancer Drug Wins EU Agency’s Backing,” Bloomberg Businessweek

“AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) won backing from a European Union regulator for an ovarian-cancer drug, one of the experimental medicines the company cited as a reason for fending off Pfizer Inc.’s $117 billion takeover offer this year.”

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

“AstraZeneca wins U.S. approval for two-in-one diabetes pill,” Reuters

“A new two-in-one diabetes pill from AstraZeneca has been approved by U.S. regulators, the British drugmaker said on Thursday.”

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