The Dish’s Weekly Biotechnology News Wrap Up – April 10, 2015

April 10, 2015 Written by Brandy Sargent

This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, California’s controversial vaccine bill, brain scan to evaluate autism outcomes, Sanofi’s plans for Dengue vaccine roll out, BMS investing in Gene Therapy company, ovarian cancer drug receives FDA Breakthrough designation, Caribou Bio raises 11M for gene editing technology, and stem cells can be manipulated to promote bone growth.

Cell Culture Events

Conferences:

April

World Vaccine Congress – April 7-9, 2015 –Walter E. Washington Convention Center– Washington D.C. http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/world-vaccine-congress-washington/index.stm
Bioprocess International European Summit – April 14-15, 2015 – Swissotel Dusseldorf Neuss, Germany http://www.informa-ls.com/event/bpi15
Interphex – April 21-23, 2015 – New York, NY – Javits Center – http://www.interphex.com/

May

TIDES – May 3-6, 2015 – Town and Country Resort, San Diego, CA http://www.ibclifesciences.com/TIDES/overview.xml
PEGS Boston – May 4-8, 2014 – Seaport World Trade Center – Boston, MA http://www.pegsummit.com/
Cell Line Development & Engineering – May 18-20, 2015 – Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco, CA http://www.ibclifesciences.com/CellLine/overview.xml Co-located with Bioconjugates: From Targets to Therapeutics – http://www.ibclifesciences.com/Bioconjugates/overview.xml and Next Generation Protein Therapeutics Summit – http://www.ibclifesciences.com/ProteinSummit/overview.xml
10^th Annual World Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Conference 2015 – May 20-22, 2015 – Business Design Centre, London, UK Scaling up, commercialization and collaboration for market access.
Cord Blood World Europe Congress 2015 – May 20-21, 2015 – Business Design Centre, London, UK Build deposits, reduce costs, retain quality, decrease volume and increase utilization.
ISCT – May 27-30, 2015 – Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas, NV http://www.isct2014.com/
Cell Culture World Congress USA – http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/cell-culture-world-congress-usa/index.stm Americas Antibody Congress http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/cell-culture-world-congress-usa/C52321.stm World Biosimilar Congress http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/cell-culture-world-congress-usa/C52322.stm Downstream Processing World http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/cell-culture-world-congress-usa/C52323.stm May 27-28, 2014 – Marriott San Diego Mission Valley – San Diego, CA

Headlines

“Calif. lawmakers advance controversial vaccine bill,” USA Today

“A bill that would eliminate personal-belief exemptions from vaccine requirements passed a state health panel amid impassioned pleas from parents, doctors and activist Robert Kennedy Jr. Under the proposal, which Wednesday passed the state Senate Health Committee on a 6-2 vote, exemptions would be available only for children with health problems.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “The Evolution of Vaccine Manufacturing – Past, Current, and Future Trends”

“Brain scan predicts autism outcome,” The San Diego Union Tribune

“Brain scans of possibly autistic infants and toddlers can predict whether they will develop normal language skills, according to a new study by UC San Diego researchers.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “2014 FDA New Drug Approvals – 11 Biologics Receive Approval“

“Sanofi ‘flipping the model’ for high-stakes dengue rollout,” Fierce Vaccines

“After the company’s largest investment ever in the development of a vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur’s dengue vaccine launch is set for this year, and it’ll be closely watched as the group introduces the jab in a manner reversed from traditional launches.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “10 Biologics on Best Selling Drugs List for 2014”

“Bristol-Myers to invest in Dutch Gene Therapy company uniQure,” Reuters

“Bristol-Myers Squibb Co said it would invest in Dutch biotech uniQure NV, joining other big drugmakers who have moved to gain a foothold in the promising Gene Therapy market.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Materials and Assay Systems Used for 3D Cell Culture”

“Clovis Oncology says ovarian cancer drug rucaparib awarded breakthrough status by FDA,” Fox Business

“Shares of Clovis Oncology got a boost Monday after the company said it will get special incentives as it studies its ovarian cancer drug rucaparib.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Continuous Downstream Processing – A Tool to Address Key Manufacturing Challenges”

“Doudna’s Caribou Bio Raises $11M To Expand Uses For Gene Editing Tech,” Xconomy

“Caribou Biosciences, one of the biotech startups working to advance a much-watched new technology for precise gene editing, announced today it has raised an $11 million Series A round from venture capital firms and Swiss drug giant Novartis.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cell Therapy: Are we there yet?”

“Study finds stem cells can be manipulated to promote bone growth,” Fox News

“A new study has identified an enzyme in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that is responsible for creating either bone or fat— a finding that scientists argue may lay the groundwork for new osteoporosis and obesity treatments.” If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – Minimize the Impact of Stress on Pluripotent Stem Cell Health in a Range of Workflows”