This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, Merck to submit ebola vaccine for approval, information about Zika virus, Samsung’s Enbrel biosimilar approved in EU, Pluristem gets FDA approval for Phase I study, finding the gems in DNA, Pfizer deciding on equipment sales and Acorda acquires Biotie Therapies.

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.

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) – January 23-27, 2016 – San Diego, CA

http://www.slas2016.org/

If you are attending SLAS this year, don’t miss these exciting events – http://info.beckmancoulter.com/l/60792/2016-01-11/6bfw7b

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, 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

“Merck to Submit Ebola Vaccine for Approval by End of 2017,” Bloomberg Business

“Merck & Co. has signed an agreement with Gavi, the world’s biggest funder of vaccines for developing countries, to submit its experimental Ebola vaccine for regulatory approval by the end of 2017.”

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

“Short Answers to Hard Questions About Zika Virus,” The New York Times

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned pregnant women against travel to several countries in the Caribbean and Latin America where the Zika virus is spreading. Infection with the virus appears to be linked to the development of unusually small heads and brain damage in newborns. Some pregnant women who have been to these regions should be tested for the infection, the agency also says. Here are some answers and advice about the outbreak.”

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

“Samsung Bioepis’ Enbrel drug copy gets EU approval,” Reuters

“Samsung Bioepis Co Ltd said on Sunday it had received European Commission approval for its copy of the blockbuster biotech arthritis drug Enbrel.”

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

“Pluristem (PSTI) Gets FDA Approval for Phase I PLX-R18 Trial,” Zacks

“Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced that the FDA has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to begin a phase I trial on PLX-R18 cells for treating incomplete hematopoietic recovery following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).”

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

“Telling Jewels From Junk in DNA,” The New York Times

“When you learned about genes in high school, chances are it went something like this: Our DNA holds about 20,000 protein-coding genes. To make a protein, a cell makes a copy of the corresponding gene, in the form of a single-stranded molecule called RNA. The cell uses the RNA molecule as a template to make the protein. And then the protein floats off to do its job.”

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Another Perspective on 4D Bioprinting”

“Pfizer Said to Weigh Sale of Pump Unit Acquired in Hospira Deal,” Bloomberg Business

“Pfizer Inc. is weighing a sale of the pumps and devices business it acquired in last year’s purchase of Hospira Inc., people with knowledge of the matter said.”

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

“Acorda snaps up Biotie and its Parkinson’s compounds,” PharmaTimes

“Acorda Therapeutics is snapping up Finnish biotech Biotie Therapies in a deal valued at around $363 million, giving the firm a much stronger footprint in the Parkinson’s disease field.”

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”