“Biotech Improved in 2011; Future Uncertain: Report,” Reuters

The aggregate financial performance of biotechnology companies in four of the world’s major markets — the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia — improved in 2011, but funding for small companies is increasingly scarce, raising questions as to whether that growth is sustainable long term, according to a new report.

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Strategies for Improving Antibody Production in CHO Cells”

”Osiris Gets OK from New Zealand for Stem-Cell Therapy,” Baltimore Business Journal

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. has received approval for its stem-Cell Therapy drug in New Zealand, the second country to approve the drug for treatment of a rare disease.  Columbia-based Osiris (NASDAQ: OSIR) said Thursday that the company’s Prochymal drug is expected to be available for commercial sale there later this year.

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Culture and Expansion of Stem Cells in Stirred Suspension Bioreactors Could Provide Key in Large Scale Manufacturing”

“Competitors Form Partnership to Develop Autism Drugs,” New York Times

Two of the front-runners in the race to develop drugs to treat mental retardation and autism are joining forces, hoping to save money and get to the market sooner.  A deal, expected to be announced on Tuesday, will pool the resources of Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, and Seaside Therapeutics, a private 30-employee company based in Cambridge, Mass.

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Combining Insulin and Transferrin in Cell Culture Supplements”

“Hay Fever Vaccine Shows Efficacy in Phase IIa Trial,” News Medical

A novel vaccine for grass pollen allergy has shown significant improvements for patients in a Phase IIa trial. The vaccine BM32 is based on an innovative recombinant peptide carrier technology that allows for fewer injections and shows fewer side effects compared with other immunotherapy treatments for allergy sufferers. BM32 has been developed by Biomay AG, an Austrian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the discovery and development of innovative allergy therapeutics. The company has already initiated a Phase IIb trial for BM32 with 180 allergic patients.

If you like this story, please see our stem cell blog titled “Gains in Cell Growth and Productivity Through the Supplementation and Design of Cell Culture Media”

“Pluristem in Talks with Drug Makers on PLX-PAD Licensing,” Bloomberg

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI), a developer of placenta-based stem-cell therapies, said it has been in contact with drugmakers to set up partnerships for its flagship blood-circulation disease treatment PLX-PAD.

If you like this story, please see our stem cell blog titled “The Arduous Path to the Clinic – Plan Early to Avoid Late Attrition”

“Smaller Biotechs Partner to Tackle Neglected Diseases,” MASS High Tech

Small- to medium-sized biotech businesses are stepping up alongside big pharma to develop treatments and diagnostics for neglected diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and dengue fever, which because they typically affect impoverished third-world countries have been considered noncommercial markets.

If you like this story, please see our blog titled “Manufacturing Strategies for Improving Viral Yield and Lowering Production Cost”