Breaking News on Contract Research, Manufacturing & Clinical Trials

Phylogeny launches first in situ miRNA detection service

23-Sep-2008 - Phylogeny has launched the first microRNA (miRNA) in situ hybridisation detection service to help scientists delve deeper into the mechanisms controlling key biological processes.

ChanTest to increase range of ion channel services

23-Sep-2008 - Ion channel expert ChanTest is expanding its range of ion channel services and cell lines that help identify promising target compounds and those that could cause harmful side effects.

Pharmaceutical Profiles the effects of diabetes drug

18-Sep-2008 - UK-based Pharmaceutical Profiles has used an imaging technique known as scintigraphy to quantify the effects of Amylin / Eli Lilly’s latest diabetes drug on the stomach.

Charles River expands Discovery Services

17-Sep-2008 - Charles River Laboratories has agreed to buy US-based drug discovery imaging expert Molecular Imaging Research, Inc. (MIR) for approximately $12.5m (€8.8m) in cash.

Assay Depot: ‘Ebay’ for drug discovery services debuts

16-Sep-2008 - Assay Depot, a new online marketplace which allows bench researchers around the world to choose and buy a broad range of drug discovery services, went live yesterday.

BioReliance expands to keep pace with GeneTox demand

11-Sep-2008 - BioReliance has had to significantly expand its Rockville, US, facility and hire new staff in order to accommodate the growing demand for its genetic toxicology (GeneTox) testing services.

Tripos looks to the future with Pharsight acquisition

11-Sep-2008 - Drug discovery informatics and services provider, Tripos International, has agreed to buy Pharsight Corporation, a provider of software and strategic services for clinical drug development.

New investment to help Quotient grow even faster

08-Sep-2008 - UK analytical services expert, Quotient Bioscience has received a significant equity investment from TA Associates to help further the firm’s acquisition-led and organic growth strategy.

Caliper measures up kinase profiling

04-Sep-2008 - Caliper Life Sciences has launched two new kinase profiling services as well as new assay kits that aim to provide researchers with a better understanding of their kinase inhibitor drug candidates.

AMRI raises guidance after BMS project moves forward

01-Sep-2008 - A milestone payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb for the successful advancement of a project into clinical development, along with strong sales by its contract research and manufacturing services unit, prompted Albany Molecular Research Inc (AMRI) to hike its full-year earnings forecasts.

LGC adds digital PCR to its service offering

28-Aug-2008 - UK laboratory services firm LGC has brought the first BioMark system into the UK in order to accurately quantify rare gene sequences for its pharmaceutical customers.

Galapagos adds Sareum services to BioFocus portfolio

26-Aug-2008 - Galapagos has bolstered the portfolio of its BioFocus DPI contract services unit by purchasing the structure-based drug discovery business of UK firm Sareum.

AstraZeneca and NCCS set sights on HCC

21-Aug-2008 - AstraZeneca and Singapore’s National Cancer Centre (NCCS) have selected inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the first target for their new drug collaboration.

Research business lifts Charles River in 2Q

11-Aug-2008 - Charles River Laboratories saw its operating income advance 16 per cent to $77m in the second quarter on strong demand for its research services division, and also announced a $53m deal to buy a German contract service organisation.

Lilly sells R&D campus to Covance in pioneering deal

07-Aug-2008 - Eli Lilly took a giant leap down the outsourcing road yesterday with the sale of a major R&D facility to contract research organisation Covance and the forging of additional agreement with Quintiles and i3.

Covance chief predicts healthy sector growth in Q2 statement

31-Jul-2008 - US contract research giant Covance saw a strong performance across its divisions in the second quarter that lifted its revenues by 15 per cent to $462m.

Biotechs generate 30% annual CRO revenue

28-Jul-2008 - The estimated 15 year period, $800m (€509) investment and one in 5,000 chance of successfully developing a new drug is likely to see more and more pharmaceutical firms partner with CROs in a bid to offset risk, according to a report Turner Investment Partners (TIP).

MDS trims down Pharma Services to cut costs

22-Jul-2008 - Life science tools and services company MDS Inc has said it will cut about 210 jobs at two of its divisions - its MDS Pharma Services and MDS Analytical Technologies - in a bid to reduce costs by around $20m a year.

Amgen taps Jubilant for drug discovery services

22-Jul-2008 - India's Jubilant Biosys, a subsidiary of Jubilant Organosys, has scored a major deal with US biotech giant Amgen for the provision of early-stage drug discovery services.

Weekly comment

Globalisation of advanced R&D services 'on the rise'

17-Jul-2008 - Pharmaceutical companies in the developed world have already shifted substantial manufacturing and clinical trial work to emerging economies such as China and India, but a new study suggest they are increasingly counting on these countries for advanced research and development services as well.

MDS Analytical buys Blueshift Biotechnologies

06-Jul-2008 - MDS Analytical Technologies has followed its acquisition of Molecular Devices last year by snapping up high content screening (HCS) experts Blueshift for $15m (€9.45m).

Preclinical services news in brief

03-Jul-2008 - In this week's review of activity within the preclinical research services arena, news has emerged involving Charles River Laboratories, Galapagos and AstraZeneca.

Immtech joins the China club

01-Jul-2008 - Immtech Pharmaceuticals has become the latest in a string of western research and development services firms to announce a partnership with a peer in China in a bid to get a foothold in this market of vast potential.

WuXi and Covance form joint venture

26-Jun-2008 - WuXi PharmaTech has formed a joint venture with its US-based peer Covance, in a deal which will create a powerhouse in drug development services.