This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, Zika vaccine news, Obama seeks 1 billion for cancer moonshot, Editas raises 94.4 million in IPO, EU approves Astra Zeneca lung cancer drug, James Wilson to use CRISPR/Cas9 to target liver disease, and NCI urges HPV vaccination.

Cell Culture Events

Conferences:

February

Cell Culture World Congress – February 23-24, 2016 –Munich Germany

The Cell Culture World Congress is where pharma, biotechs, researchers & innovative start-ups gather to develop new strategies and partnerships to advance biotherapeutic production, manufacture, and commercialisation. Join the largest cell culture event focused on producing new therapeutics and immunotherapies at a commercial scale and see where biologic manufacture is headed next.

Key speakers include:

Dr Stefan Wildt, VP, Global Head Technical Research and Development, Cell- and Gene Therapies, Novartis.

Bo Kara, Head Process Development, Advanced Therapy Delivery, GSK

Sam Wadsworth, CSO, Dimension Therapeutics

Dr Lorenz Mayr Vice President of Reagents & Assay Development at AstraZeneca

For more information download the brochure: http://bit.ly/1JJWO5y

Downstream Processing World Congress – February 23-24, 2016 – Munich Germany

The Downstream Processing World Congress 2016 will introduce new and exciting content focusing on innovation and development with an emphasis on new methods. Showcasing exciting new technologies such as purifying complex molecules, PAT, continuous purification, chromatography alternatives and new methods of purification. Content will include cutting edge research and even more case studies , over 40 presentations from those working in bioprocess in big pharma, interactive sessions with biotechs and will be collocated with the 6th annual Cell Culture World Congress.

Key speakers include:

Dr Mark Federspiel, Director, Viral Vector Production Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic

Dr Yogesh Waghmare, Staff Scientist, Late Stage Process Development, Genzyme Sanofi

Nicholas Clarkson, Group Lead, Analytical Development, Oxford Biomedica

Prof Manuel Carrondo, Director, IBET

For more information download the brochure: http://bit.ly/1l5kQMx

March

ISBioTech 6^th Spring Meeting – March 7-9, 2016 -Washington, DC

www.isbiotech.org/6thspringmeeting

Three concurrent programs on:

–        Cellular Therapies

–        Viral Vectors & Vaccines

–        Baculovirus Expression Technology

BPI West – March 14-March 17, 2016 – Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, CA

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

World Vaccine Congress – March 29-30, 2016 –Grand Hyatt– Washington D.C.

http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/world-vaccine-congress-washington/index.stm

June

Progress in Continuous Biomanufacturing – June 27-28, 2016 – Robinson College, Cambridge, UK

The conference is enhanced by the participation of several leading industrial technologists, scientific, vendors and also leading academics from Europe and USA. They have come forward to share their experience and knowledge to provide a better understanding of the current technologies and their application in continuous biomanufacturing. There is also a plenary lecture by a distinguished professor in the field of bioprocessing, and you will also benefit from access to unpublished data. This meeting will address several advancements and their successful application with data in the Technology both Upstream and downstream and also on Initiatives to process developments and project to the future direction of the industry. By joining with us you can benefit from the current state of-the-art advancements in continuous manufacturing and also learn about the successful organisations that are developing and applying these methods in-house.

http://www.subramanian.org.uk/

Check out the Top Blogs, Top Ask the Expert Sessions and Top Cool Tool Features of 2015 –

The Top 25 Cell Culture Dish Blogs in 2015

The Top 10 Ask the Expert Sessions in 2015

The Top 10 Cell Culture Dish Cool Tools Features in 2015

Headlines

“Zika vaccine may be ready for emergency use this year: developer,” Reuters

“A vaccine for the Zika virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects in thousands of infants, could be ready for emergency use before year-end, one of its lead developers said on Thursday, a timetable well ahead of estimates by U.S. officials.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Biomanufacturing CHO Media – A look at different approaches and optimization opportunities”

“Obama seeking $1 billion for ‘cancer moonshot’,” The Hill

“President Obama will ask Congress for nearly $1 billion to ramp up cancer research as part of the administration’s proposed budget that will be unveiled next week.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Enabling High Density Cell Banking using a Single-Use, Closed-System”

“Editas Raises $94.4 Million in First U.S. IPO of the Year,” Bloomberg Business

“Editas Medicine Inc., the gene-editing drugmaker backed by Bill Gates and GV, raised $94.4 million in the first U.S. initial public offering of 2016, pricing the shares at the low end of the marketed range.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cell Culture Basics: Stem Cell Media – The “What” and “Why”

“Hawaii Biotech joins race to develop Zika vaccine,” Reuters

“Privately owned vaccine developer Hawaii Biotech Inc has joined the race to produce a vaccine for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, a fast-spreading infection which has been linked to severe birth defects in babies.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool- Hybridoma cell growth and performance in reduced serum + Zap-SR”

“EU approves AZ’ first-in-class lung cancer drug,” PharmaTimes

“Patients in Europe with a certain form of lung cancer could soon get access to a new, first-in-class treatment option after regulators waved through AstraZeneca’s targeted therapy Tagrisso.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “2015 FDA New Drug Approvals – 13 Biologics Receive Approval”

“Gene therapy pioneer James Wilson uses CRISPR/Cas9 to target liver disease,” Fierce Biotech Research

“One of the pioneers in the whole Gene Therapy movement of the past 35 years has combined his knowledge of viral vectors with the hot new CRISPR/Cas9 tech to tackle a rare genetic liver disease. And his work with rodents highlighted both the promise of this new technology as well as an unexpected hurdle.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Hollow Fiber Provides a Sweet Spot for Several Biomanufacturing Applications”

“NCI’s Cancer Centers join in HPV vaccination push,” Fierce Vaccines

“All 69 of the United States’ National Cancer Institute-designated centers have joined together to issue a statement urging an increase in HPV vaccinations, declaring the vaccines “tragically underused” and calling low uptake a “public health threat.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – Zap-SR; Reduced Serum Conditions for Industry Relevant VERO Cell Expansion”