Israeli generics behemoth Teva is following the market and banking
on the promise of biologics with its purchase of Human Genome
Sciences biotech spin-off, CoGenesys.
Skin cancer detection specialists DermTech have decided to turn
their hand to acne after signing an agreement with Stiefel
Laboratories to identify spot-causing genes.
Applied Biosystems (ABI) has teamed up with several service
providers to increase scientists' access to its SOLiD genome
analysis system and hopefully save them some money.
Scientists have discovered a potential new drug target that will prick up the ears of sportsmen and athletes alike. Not that this is an performance-enhancing drug; instead, it could help athletes recover from injury more quickly.
Microarray expert Affymetrix is to buy molecular biology reagent
firm USB Corporation for $75m (€52m) in a bid to accelerate the
development of new genetic analysis tools.
A new genetic identity test that can be used to confirm the breed
and origin of meat from farm animals has been developed to enable
complete meat traceability.
Gene expression analysis expert Exiqon is to pay up to $45m
(€30.7m) for diagnostics company Oncotech as a first step towards
becoming a world leading miRNA diagnostic manufacturer.
The World Economic Forum has announced this year's 'Technology
Pioneers', firms which have developed a life-changing technology
innovation that has the potential for long-term impact on both
business and society.
Researchers have developed a nanoparticle signalling system that
can be used as cellular 'nano-flares' that enable the visualisation
and quantification of RNA in living cells.
Applied Biosystems and BioTrove have signed a licensing and
collaboration agreement to commercialise an analysis platform for
high-throughput (HT) genotyping applications.
The UK's largest charity, the Wellcome Trust, has awarded £1.3m
(€1.9m) to fund the world's largest ever genome-wide association
study to identify the genetic origins of Alzheimer's disease.
Illumina's third quarter revenues soared 82 per cent while
Affymetrix looked to bolster its slice of the genetics market by
filing more patent infringement claims against the young pretender.
Illumina has released a new microRNA (miRNA) assay for gene
expression profiling at a cost that the company believes is less
than half that of other commercially available systems.
Promega has launched a new method of isolating the DNA sequences
that bind to proteins that removes the need to generate specific
antibodies used in traditional ChIP experiments.
Two new techniques have been developed that could signal the end of
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification for sequencing
applications and dramatically increase the efficiency of sample
preparation.
Researchers have developed a new microfluidic device that enables
high-throughput (HT), cell-free protein synthesis for genomic and
proteomic functional analysis.
Avecia Biologics has signed a development and manufacturing deal
with US firm BaroFold, making use of the company's protein
processing technology to produce its lead interferon-based multiple
sclerosis (MS) candidate.
The discoverer of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and two other
scientists have won a Nobel Prize for their work to develop a
'magic wand' to modify the mouse genome.
Applied Biosystems (ABI) has exclusively licensed Olink
Bioscience's proximity ligation assay (PLA) technology that enables
the correlation of gene and protein expression data.
Caliper Life Sciences has launched a new high throughput (HT)
microfluidic assay that automates RNA quality and concentration
assessment for gene expression analysis.
ZS Genetics has signed up outside academic assistance to speed
up development of its 'revolutionary' microscopy-based genetic
analysis technology platform.
Loneliness has been linked to serious diseases such as cancer,
heart disease and infection but a new study could point to new ways
of reducing its impact on health.
A group of Canadian scientists have developed a technique to
automatically inject material such as DNA or experimental drugs
into individual cells, to use in drug screening.
Enzo Biochem has lodged an appeal after its patent infringement
claims against Applied Biosystems (ABI) were dismissed on Friday in
a summary judgement.
US biopharmaceutical company CytoGenix has announced breaking
ground on a new $3.8m facility to expand the company's
manufacturing capability of synthetic DNA.
Through a new service partnership, Applied Biosystems is helping
scientists study genetic variations - even if they can't access or
afford the necessary lab equipment.
Australian biotech company, Benitec, is about to start dosing
patients in the first ever human trial of its RNA therapy, which
attacks HIV on three separate fronts.
At a packed out session at last week's Controlled Release Society
meeting in the US, two experts battled it out to win one of the key
debates in gene delivery: which is superior - viral or non-viral
delivery?
US researchers have developed a microfluidic device for purifying
and concentrating DNA directly from blood samples that could speed
up the use of genomics in clinical trials.
Sigma-Aldrich is to collaborate with Sangamo BioSciences to develop
zinc finger DNA-binding proteins to create knock-out cell lines and
cell lines with enhanced protein production performance.
The European Commission (EC) has given a €2.75m grant to a
consortium of companies, led by Amaxa, to develop the first ultra
high-throughput (UHT) devices for transfecting cells.
Roche Diagnostics has strengthened its position in the genomics
field with the acquisition of DNA microarray expert NimbleGen in a
deal worth $272.5m (€203m).
German researchers have developed a microfluidic device that
greatly increases the efficiency of measuring the melting
temperature of DNA double strands.
Applied Biosystems (ABI) has started its early access program for
its next-generation DNA sequencing system, SOLiD, as well as
starting to take customer orders.
A French firm developing an innovative gene delivery tool has
received a cash boost of €80,000 to ramp up good manufacturing
processes for its synthetic delivery molecule.
In this week's review of activity within the preclinical research
services arena, new deals have emerged involving Gene Bridges,
Panacos Pharmaceuticals, and GenScript.
A group of Swedish scientists have discovered a new method of
disabling genes that could be used to stop genetic disorders in
their tracks, such as Huntington's and some cancers.
A new biotech company has been formed to fully exploit
technology for repairing genes that cause rare, hereditary diseases
such as sickle cell anaemia and spinal muscular atrophy.
Scientists have used a biochemical chip to explain the important
role a certain protein plays in the mating habits of yeast cells.
The finding could lead to new cancer drugs with fewer side effects.
Applied Biosystems are soon to launch their next generation genetic
analysis platform into a market that should allow a whole new wave
of biological understanding.