This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, pharmaceutical companies joining together to fight cancer, groups want biosimilar hearings in the House, developing an early stage cancer detection test, how biotechnology can help solve world hunger, Moderna wins $20M grant for RNA-based therapeutics, Enbrel biosimilar succeeds in late stage study, and Sanofi and Innate Pharma partner to develop cancer treatments.

Cell Culture Events

Webinars:

Innovative Solutions for cGMP-grade Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Time:

USA 12:00 Noon EST / 9:00 AM PST

Europe 11:00 AM CET / 10:00 AM London (GMT)

Asia 2:00 PM Seoul/ 1:00 PM Singapore (SGT)/ 10:30 AM India

Australia 4:00 PM Sydney (AEDT)

About this webinar:
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are currently the subject of many clinical trials world-wide, as researchers develop new treatments for a variety of regenerative and inflammatory diseases. The use of a completely defined, serum-free, xeno-free culture system for hMSCs is necessary to provide control over research variables and reduce the inconsistency inherent in serum-containing culture systems.

David Fiorentini will provide an overview of the novel NutriStem® MSC xeno-free, serum-free culture system, which efficiently supports initial isolation and optimal expansion of hMSCs from a variety of sources, while maintaining appropriate hMSC features, such as proper fibroblast-like cell morphology, phenotypic surface marker expression profiles, differentiation capacity, self-renewal potential, and genetic stability over time. In addition, he will also describe the MSCgo™ family of xeno-free, serum-free differentiation media for use in generating mature adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes using hMSCs isolated from a variety of sources.

Who Should Attend?

• Any researcher culturing hMSCs isolated from bone marrow, adipose tissue, cord blood, Wharton’s Jelly, placental tissue, or other source
• Researchers interested in improving cell culture results and minimizing lot-to-lot variation between experiments
• Researchers interested in learning new techniques for isolation, culture, cryopreservation, and/or differentiation of hMSCs
• Researchers interested in working with xeno-free and/or clinical grade hMSC culture conditions

Register here –  http://www.bioind.com/msc-webinar

Conferences:

January

PepTalk – January 18-22, 2016 – San Diego, CA

http://www.chi-peptalk.com/single-use-systems/

PepTalk: The Protein Science Week is one of the largest gatherings of protein science researchers in the world. It offers an array of education, innovation and networking programs, and provides many opportunities to scientists.

Don’t miss:

Tuesday, January 19^th at 9:35

Hollow Fiber Perfusion Bioreactors; The Original Upstream Single Use Continuous Manufacturing Technology

Scott Waniger, Vice President, Bioservices, Cell Culture Company

Hollow fiber perfusion bioreactor technology has been used in the bioprocessing industry for 30+ years and continues to be used to manufacture regulated biologics worldwide. While the technology has many similarities to stirred tank bioreactors, it also offers significant advantages over traditional technologies for many applications. The presentation will describe these advantages while explaining the setup, daily operation, and turn-around of this accepted technology within the bioprocessing industry. A case study showing steady state production of a monoclonal antibody (IgG) using hollow fiber bioreactors will be included.

February

Cell Therapy Manufacturing – February 3-4, 2016– Brussels, Belgium

http://www.informa-ls.com/event/celltherapy15

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, 2015 – 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

Check out the Top Blogs and Top Ask the Expert Sessions of 2015 –

The Top 25 Cell Culture Dish Blogs in 2015

The Top 10 Ask the Expert Sessions in 2015

Headlines

“Drug Companies to Try a Unified Front Against Cancer,” The New York Times

“Some leading pharmaceutical companies are joining forces in an effort to speed the testing of new types of cancer drugs that harness the body’s immune system to battle tumors.”

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

“Groups Want House Panel to Hold Biosimilar Hearings,” Bloomberg BNA

“Twenty-three patient groups Jan. 6 sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee asking for hearings on biosimilar drugs and patient safety as the FDA creates regulations to implement the biosimilars approval pathway.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – Gibco Essential 8 Flex Stem Cell Media Eliminates Need for Daily Feeding”

“Illumina Creating Company to Develop Early-Stage Cancer Detection Test,” The New York Times

“Some people see it as the holy grail in oncology — a simple blood test that can detect any kind of cancer at an early stage, when it is easiest to treat and possibly cure.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Biomanufacturing Innovations are Plentiful at This Year’s BPI Conference”

“How Biotech Will Help Achieve Zero Hunger,” Forbes

“I am not your typical pro-GMO advocate. As a twice-over returned Peace Corps Volunteer who shops at farmers’ markets, is a certified yoga teacher, and has built a career around alleviating hunger and poverty in the developing world, you might immediately peg me as someone who believes the only way is the organic way.”

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

“Moderna Wins Initial $20M Grant from Gates Foundation,” Genetic Engineering News

“Moderna Therapeutics said today it received an initial $20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a new affordable combination of messenger RNA–based antibody therapeutics geared toward preventing HIV infection.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Exosomes: A Major Phenomenon Flying Under the Radar”

“Baxalta-Coherus Enbrel biosimilar succeeds in late-stage study,” Reuters

“Baxalta Inc and Coherus Biosciences Inc said their experimental biosimilar of Amgen Inc’s arthritis drug Enbrel met the main goal in a late-stage study.”

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

“Sanofi Teams With Innate Pharma to Develop Cancer Drugs,” Bloomberg Business

“Sanofi has teamed up with Innate Pharma SA in an effort to develop cancer treatments using the body’s own immune system.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “You can teach an old dog new tricks: Vero cells for virus-based cancer vaccine therapies”