WASHINGTON – "Why could we not in the longer term take a coordinated effort to change our approach to toxicology to focus on human embryonic stem cells and IPS cells?" asked Francis Collins in his keynote address to the Translational Research Forum Presentation at the BIO International Convention. Read More
Drug discovery firm Forma Therapeutics Inc. has always been unconventional, and its latest deal with Roche AG's Genentech subsidiary is no exception. Read More
As the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting kicked off over the weekend in San Diego, The Lancet published rather grim data on just how entrenched the problem has become: New analysis estimated the worldwide number of individuals with diabetes at almost 350 million worldwide. That number implies that diabetes cases have more than doubled since 1980, and is a sharp increase from a 2009 study which put the global estimate at 285 million. Read More
Shares of Icagen Inc. popped more than 150 percent in early trading Monday on news that the biotech is engaged in preliminary buyout discussions with long-time partner Pfizer Inc. Read More
Redwood Bioscience Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., secured an undisclosed amount of funding from Takeda Ventures Inc. to further develop its precision protein-chemical engineering platform for drug conjugate optimization. The money will advance Redwood's site-specific protein modification technology for enhancing antibody-drug conjugates and peptide therapeutics. Read More
Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Montreal, said Phase II data for MIM-D3 in dry eye disease showed the drug was well tolerated and significantly improved signs and symptoms of dry eye at the low and high doses. Detailed data will be presented at a scientific conference. MIM-D3 is a small-molecule mimetic of nerve growth factor. Read More
Sangamo BioSciences Inc., of Richmond, Calif., said Nature published a preclinical study that demonstrated permanent functional correction of the gene that causes hemophilia B by the systemic delivery of zinc finger nucleases. The study represents an advance in the development and systemic delivery of ZFP therapeutics and proof of concept for ZFN-based gene-editing to treat hemophilia and other monogenic diseases. Read More
WASHINGTON – Amid the usual sessions on finance, business development and biomarkers, a fledgling emerging leaders workshop met Monday at BIO 2011 International Convention to discuss commercialization, an activity that has become a bigger focus for biotech, as the industry matures and as policy makers put increasing pressure on reimbursement and differentiation. Read More
WASHINGTON – For Western biotechs, getting regulatory approval to market a drug in the emerging Chinese market won't just involve the challenges of navigating a process that's different from the U.S. FDA's. There's also the challenge in dealing with drug review capacity at China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) and its Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) that's a fraction of the FDA's. Read More
