US researchers have developed a faster, more efficient way to
produce a wide variety of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems,
using DNA molecules to bind the particles together.
Applied DNA Sciences, a specialist in the use of DNA as a security
and anti-counterfeiting technology, is to work with the US
Department of Energy to develop an improved process for identifying
its marker technology that should bring...
Genentech is currently evaluating Dutch biotechnology company
Crucell's STAR technology for the production of antibodies and
other proteins, acquired by the latter firm when it bought
ChromaGenics last March.
NextGen Sciences has licensed a new technology for protein
expression from Oxford Brookes University that reduces expression
timelines for proteins in insect cells by up to 10 days.
Technology used to enhance a mammalian cell based protein in
pharmaceutical production as well as the creation of new production
cell lines is the subject of collaboration between Pfizer and
Sangamo BioSciences.
Cell culture equipment company Integra Biosciences has launched a
new roller system designed to improve the cultivation of adherent
and suspension cells.
Invitrogen announced that it has obtained the licensed rights for
the development of protein microrrays, which contain more than 200
protein-based analytes, further increasing its intellectual
property position in the burgeoning microarray...
Canada's SemBioSys Genetics has been granted a US patent on a
vaccine production system that uses genetically modified seeds as
biological factories of vaccine antigens.
Nitto Denko and antisense specialist Isis Pharmaceuticals have
jointly developed a new solid support for the manufacture of
oligonucleotides that promises to reduce the high manufacturing
costs for this type of drug.
Exiqon has launched two new ProbeLibrary expression analysis kits,
covering the genomes of Arabidopsis thaliana and
Drosophila melanogaster, the most widely used models in
disease process and drug target studies.
Agilent Technologies has launched what it claims is the industry's
first fully automated, high-throughput 'lab-on-a-chip system' for
basic life science research and drug discovery. The Agilent 5100
Automated provides...
MatriCal has introduced its SonicMan sonication system to the
European compound management market with versions that can handle
384- as well as 96-well microwell plate formats.
Qiagen has launched the world's first automated sample preparation
system for viral nucleic acids to aid molecular diagnostics that
conforms to a European Union Directive on in vitro diagnostic
medical devices.
Invitrogen, which supplies reagents, services and software for the
life science market, has continued its acquisitive streak with the
announcement that it is paying $35 million (€27.5m) for a UK firm -
DNA Research Innovations - specialising...
Germany's MWG Biotech has said it will slash nearly two thirds of
its workforce in a further effort to reduce costs, prompting
speculation about the long-term future of the company in its
present state.
Researchers in the UK have developed a tabletop DNA test laboratory
that can cut the diagnosis of disease and infection from hours to
30 minutes. This new test laboratory will soon begin trials in UK
hospitals.
In-Pharmatechnologist.com recently reported on the opening of a new
biomanufacturing facility and laboratory by France's Lemnagene, a
new company specialising in the production of recombinant proteins
in duckweed. But why is...
Australia's Benitec, a specialist in gene silencing technologies
based on RNA interference (RNAi), has broadened its patent estate
by licensing a technology from Stanford University in the US that
could overcome the problems...
Fuji Photo Film has entered the worldwide nucleic acid extraction
marketplace with a product which it claims can deliver DNA whole
blood samples in as little as six minutes.
Genomics specialist MWG Biotech has decided to pull out of
microarrays and laboratory automation and focus on its core areas
of making nucleic acids and oligonucleotides and DNA sequencing.
Germany's febit has filed for insolvency, just nine months after
launching its first product, the geniom one DNA analysis
instrument, into the life science sector.
BASF has threatened to relocate research into 'green genetic
engineering' to other countries if German law continues to restrict
R&D into plant biotechnology, with applications as diverse as
crop biomanufacturing of...
US biotechnology company Corgentech has licensed a peptide delivery
technology from UK-based Cyclacel to help it develop a new class of
gene blocking drugs.
Dutch biotech firm Qiagen has announced the acquisition of key
assets of Molecular Staging (MSI), which includes the Whole Genome
Amplification (WGA) technology, designed to eliminate limitations
created by scarce quantities of DNA...
German biotechnological company SIRS-Lab, has introduced the
Lab-Arraytor 60-inflammation, a biochip that comprises a total of
780 inflammation-defined genes, specifically to understand the
molecular framework of acute inflammatory...
The first molecular-scale images of DNA binding to an adenovirus
enzyme, a crucial step for a virus to cause infection, have been
produced, which shows how binding to DNA may stimulate the enzyme,
aiding to the design of new antiviral...
Biotechnology Company, Nucleonics, has filed a request with the
Commissioner of Patents in Australia for Re-Examination, which
questions the validity of Benitec's patent concerning
gene-silencing technology claiming ambiguity...
The world's first commercialised genetic test for determining
intracontinental subpopulation (ethnic) admixture of individuals
could lead to the development of more specific, better-tolerated
and more effective drugs in the future.
A team of researchers has issued a plea that that
microarray-derived gene expression data should be available in a
public repository in the same way that gene sequence data is
collated for use by all.
Canada's Chromos Molecular Systems has entered into a collaborative
agreement with Centocor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson &
Johnson, to develop cell lines for the manufacture of biological
drugs.
Bio-Rad has completed its purchase of MJ GeneWorks, the parent
company of DNA analysis specialist MJ Research, for $32 million,
well short of the $47 million originally forecast.
The potential to use a phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi)
to selectively switch off genes associated with disease has
captured the attention of drug developers, but as with antisense
before it, delivering the agents is the...
Sigma-Aldrich and Caliper Life Sciences have teamed up to develop
and co-market a series of automated systems for a wide variety of
applications in genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery.
The market for oligonucleotides is set to more than double in the
next few years, promising rewards for those companies that can meet
the demand for custom ingredients and manufacturing services.
A new screening technique has been developed to target genes that
change patients' responses to cancer drugs and other medications.
By identifying genetic factors affecting patients drug responses,
customisable treatment plans...
Viruses are increasingly being used as delivery vectors in the
pharmaceutical industry, for example to deliver genes to cells or
DNA sequences that function as vaccines. But formulating them so
that the virus' activity is retained...
Lonza Biologics has licensed rights its proprietary CHOK1SV cell
line to Canadian firm Chromos Molecular Systems for a project aimed
at making improved mammalian cells for biological syntheses.
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that physical
symptoms and neurological damage caused by an inherited
neurodegenerative disease that is similar to Huntingdon's disease
(HD) may be prevented by gene therapy.
Oxford BiomMedica has entered into a partnership with a US company
to try to overcome the primary obstacles to producing recombinant
proteins in eggs, the low level of expression of the gene
transcript coding for the target protein...
Tomtec has launched a new multipurpose pipetting workstation that
can handle tiny volumes (down to less than 1 microlitre) and has
features that allows the automation of a number of routine
laboratory liquid handling tasks.
Bionanotechnology company Bioforce hasreached an agreement to field
test its transformational molecular printer, NanoArrayer, at the
Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US, writes Wai Lang
Chu.
GE Healthcare, the life sciences business formed by the merger of
General Electric and Amersham earlier this year, has formed an
alliance with Cellomics to develop a new software suite for its IN
Cell Analyzer product range.
Contract research manufacturer Diosynth has forged a joint venture
with a Swiss firm for a technology that could dramatically reduce
the time and cost of developing new cell lines for manufacturing
proteins, writes Phil Taylor.
A Korean company has developed a new way of making peptide nucleic
acids - a promising drug category that has been limited to date by
an expensive and cumbersome synthetic process.
Merck KGaA subsidiary EMD Biosciences has formed a partnership with
The Automation Partnership that will see EMD's products included on
the new Piccolo system for recombinant protein production.
