The Dish’s Weekly Biotechnology News Wrap Up – May 22, 2015
This week’s biotechnology news headlines include, AstraZeneca to invest in biotech drug facility, Valeant looking to acquire Amoun, UB and Roswell to share grant for Stem Cell Research, 21st Century Cures Bill, islet cell treatment for Type 1 Diabetes, Vanderbilt gets grant for flu vaccine research, and Sorrento sells Cynviloq.
Cell Culture Events
Workshops:
High Performance Tour 2015
Discover how to improve efficiency and productivity for your bioprocessing workflows during our exclusive High Performance Tour.
Learn how the choice of chromatography media (resins), hardware, and services can dramatically affect your process performance.
Register now to reserve your seat at this special event where you can gain insights in improved process efficiency and productivity.
Coming to these Cities:
- Boston, MA – June 3, 2015
- Philadelphia, PA – June 5, 2015
- Raleigh-Durham, NC – June 22, 2015
- San Diego, CA – September 15, 2015
- San Francisco, CA – September 17, 2015
To Register – https://promo.gelifesciences.com/na/K15104/landing.html
Conferences:
May
- 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
June
- Empowered Antibodies Congress 2015 – June 17 – 18 2015, Barcelona, Spain http://www.informa-ls.com/event/empoweredantibodies15
- Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research – June 24-27, 2015, -Stockholm, Sweden http://www.isscr.org/home/annual-meeting/isscr2015
- BIO International Convention – June 15-18, 2014 – Philadelphia, PA http://convention.bio.org/
- Viral Safety and Raw Materials Congress – June 24-25, 2015 – Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen – Vienna, Austria http://www.informa-ls.com/CQ3546VSRMCONGRESScellcultureJoin us at this year’s Viral Safety and Raw Materials Congress taking place in Vienna on the 24th-25th June to network and exchange with leading industry representatives, regulatory bodies and top level technology providers from across the globe to discuss and debate the latest trends in this changing sector.Packed with case studies, interactive tutorials, discussion panels and workshops, the conference agenda will provide you with key take home messages to benchmark your businesses’ strategies with regards to safeguarding against viral contamination enhancing the quality of your products.Covering all the key topics within the field of viral safety for biologics and raw materials, hear the latest on next generation detection technologies, supplier auditing, risk assessment techniques and raw material analytics from leading players including Roche, Genzyme, Sanofi Pasteur, Crucell and Abbott.For more information, please visit the event website: www.vsrm-congress.com (please hyperlink to: http://www.informa-ls.com/CQ3546VSRMCONGRESScellculture)
August
- The Bioprocessing Summit – August 3-7, 2015 – Westin Copley Place – Boston, MA http://www.bioprocessingsummit.com/
Headlines
“AstraZeneca to invest $285 million in Swedish biotech drug factory,” Reuters
“AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is investing $285 million to expand biotech drug manufacturing in Sweden as the company bets on the future of high-tech medicine for future growth.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Improving Continuous Process Efficiencies Through Development of a High-Performing Perfusion Media”
“Valeant Said to Be in Talks to Acquire Egyptian Drugmaker Amoun,” Bloomberg Businessweek
“Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. is in talks to acquire one of the largest drugmakers in Egypt to expand in both veterinary and human medicines, according to people with knowledge of the matter.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Continuous Downstream Processing – A Tool to Address Key Manufacturing Challenges”
“UB, Roswell to share $1.85 million state grant for Stem Cell Research,” The Buffalo News
“A state agency is giving scientists at the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute a $1.85 million grant to create a Stem Cell Research training program, the institutions announced Friday.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Materials and Assay Systems Used for 3D Cell Culture”
“Marketing Exclusivity Provisions for Rare Disease Drugs Back in 21st Century Cures Bill,” Regulatory Focus
“An updated draft of the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee’s 21st Century Cures Act has reintroduced a provision which would extend marketing exclusivity for some drugs repurposed to treat rare diseases or conditions by six months.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “A New Model for Continuous Processing in Downstream Purification”
“UIC team spurs fresh hope for an islet-cell cure for Type 1 diabetes,” Fierce Biotech Research
“Researchers have been experimenting with islet cell transplantation as a possible cure for Type 1 diabetes for decades. These insulin-producing cells are destroyed by Type 1 diabetes, but various transplant methods that worked in animals–including using tiny capsules to deliver the cells in a way that guards against an immune response–have failed to make the grade in humans.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “2014 FDA New Drug Approvals – 11 Biologics Receive Approval”
“Vanderbilt lands $9M grant to improve flu vaccines,” The Nashville Post
“Vanderbilt University researchers have received a $9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to design flu vaccines more effective than those currently offered.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Cool Tool – Cedex Bioprocess Analyzers for Vaccine Manufacturing”
“Sorrento Sells Cynviloq for $1.3B,” Genetic Engineering News
“Sorrento Therapeutics said today it agreed to sell its drug candidate Cynviloq™ (paclitaxel nanoparticle polymeric micelle) for up to $1.3 billion to NantPharma, a drug developer founded by Abraxis BioScience founder Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., and part of his NantWorks umbrella of nine companies.”
If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Closed Systems in Biomanufacturing Offer A Variety of Benefits”