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Thursday, December 29, 2005

EMO Biomedicine of Taipei announces intent to form cell therapy joint venture with Chromos Molecular Systems of Canada to treat chronic Hepatitis B

EMO Biomedicine of Taipei announces intent to form cell therapy joint venture with Chromos Molecular Systems of Canada to treat chronic Hepatitis B

(Press release, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industries Program Office (BPIPO) and EMO Biomedicine Corporation)

23 December, 2005
With the strong guidance and assistance of the BPIPO (Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industries Program Office, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan), and lead-in from MDS Capital of Canada, Danshuei Jen, Taipei, Taiwan-based EMO Biomedicine Corporation announced today that a Letter of Understanding to form a joint venture in Taiwan had been signed with Chromos Molecular Systems, Inc, a cell-engineering and development company based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

"We have an exciting opportunity to efficiently launch a clinical trial with an aim to cure chronic hepatitis B," said Shing-Mou Lee, President of EMO Biomedicine. "This chronic disease is endemic throughout Asia, and current treatments do not eliminate the progressive liver damage that can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma, the number one cause of death in men over 40 in Taiwan."

The Chromos REM technology is a proprietary method for the isolation and expansion of antigen-specific T-cells in order to enhance the body's natural ability to fight disease. The REM method selects the rare T cells that are capable of eliminating disease and expands these cells to clinically relevant numbers that allow the body to fight the disease effectively.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this agreement with EMO," said Alistair Duncan, President and CEO of Chromos. "The chronic hepatitis B product and the REM program are poised for immediate technology transfer and clinical testing can begin in the near term to address this long-term healthcare problem in the nation of Taiwan as well as the rest of Asia."

Under terms of a definitive agreement outlined in the letter of understanding, Chromos would provide the joint venture an exclusive license to use REM technology as a platform to develop and commercialize cell therapies for treatment of infectious disease and cancer in Taiwan and an option to expand its license to other parts of Asia. The joint venture will focus initially on obtaining product efficacy data by performing clinical trials to treat chronic Hepatitis B. Chromos will provide the existing clinical design and protocol, critical reagents, documentation, and on-site technology transfer for the manufacture of anti-Hepatitis B cell therapy product in Taiwan. EMO will provide the GTP manufacturing facility, personnel, clinical, quality, and regulatory oversight, and local and regional relationships and partnerships to manage the joint venture operations. Completing the transaction depends on securing adequate financing for the joint venture and signing definitive agreements.

"We look forward to working with our healthcare, university, government, and financial communities in Taiwan and other nations in Asia," said Lee. "Together, we can establish an innovative and exciting new company that seeks to address a substantial unmet medical need for patients in Asia who are suffering from this debilitating and eventually deadly disease"

About chronic Hepatitis B
HBV is a virus that infects liver cells and results in significant morbidity and mortality. The Hepatitis Foundation International estimates that more than 2 billion people worldwide have been exposed HBV and, of those, over 350.0 million people are chronically infected. While many HBV carriers show no outward signs of the disease, symptoms can include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea and vomiting. In addition, approximately 25.0% to 30.0% of patients experience symptomatic disease such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer and liver failure. The HBV vaccine is effective and generates more than US$1Billion in annual sales, however, current treatments and therapies for those already infected do not cure chronic HBV.

About EMO
EMO Biomedicine Corporation was founded in 2004 by Shing-Mou Lee, a cell therapy entrepreneur and medical technologist with former roles as VP of research at Alarvita BioLife and many years of senior research at the Development Center for Biotechnology in Taipei. EMO's new class 10,000 GTP pilot manufacturing facility is designed to manufacture product for Phase I and II clinical trials. EMO also provides cell-based assay services to quality healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology clients in Taiwan, Japan, and China.

About Chromos
Chromos employs proprietary technology to develop, manufacture and commercialize innovative biological therapies for debilitating diseases. Chromos has exclusive worldwide rights to two platform technologies, the ACE System (Artificial Chromosome Expression System) and REM (Rapid Expansion Method) technology. In the near term, Chromos will focus on continued commercialization of the ACE System for engineering cell lines for biopharmaceutical manufacture. To date Chromos has entered into corporate partnerships with partners including Pfizer Inc., Centocor, Inc., BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and Cambridge Antibody Technology. In addition, the Company has strategic alliances with AppTec Laboratory Services, Inc., a leading biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer and with SAFC Biosciences, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group providing cell culture media development services to biopharmaceutical customers.

Certain of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

For further information:
Shing-Mou Lee,
President, EMO Biomedicine Corp.
Tel: 886 2 28096390
Email: smlee@emobio.com
Website: www.emobio.com

Joseph Zendegui, Ph.D.
Vice President, Corporate Development
Chromos Molecular Systems, Inc.
Tel: 604-415-7128
Email: jzendegui@chromos.com
Website: www.chromos.com

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Wednesday, December 28, 2005

[ biotech news ] The Biotechnology Venture Capital Best Practices Conference - the World's Top VC

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The Biotechnology Venture Capital Best Practices Conference - the
World's Top VCS On Valuations, Exit Strategies and Investment
Practices
Aspatore, Inc., Nov 2005

Description

The Biotechnology Venture Capital Best Practices Conference features
eight speeches totaling more than three hours of authoritative,
insider's perspectives on the best practices of the world's top
biotechnology venture capital firms. Featuring managing and venture
partners from some of the nation's top companies, this conference
provides a broad yet comaprehensive overview of the biotechnology
venture capital world, presenting to attendees superior venture
capital strategies. Each speaker shares their insight for thriving
business practices and industry expertise in a format similar to a
radio address, with graphics displayed in the background. Simply
insert the CD-ROM into your computer, sit back, and watch and learn
from the top professionals in the field as they discuss their
specific strategies for valuating companies, attaining exit
strategies, and ensuring success. The breadth of perspectives
presented enable attendees to get inside some of the great minds of
the biotechnology venture capital world without leaving the office.
The conference has been produced on CD-ROM and can be viewed in
PowerPoint by any PC-based computer.

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c29415/

In this CD-ROM you will learn:

- How to make successful investments in Biotechnology VC.
- The biggest factors in establishing a Biotechnology VC valuation.
- How valuations change with different funding rounds.
- The Top 5 things an entrepreneur can do to increase their chances
for a higher valuation
- The best time to pursue an exit strategy in Biotech VC.

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[ biotech news ] BIO to Host Japan Trade Mission at Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnolog

BIO to Host Japan Trade Mission at Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial
Biotechnology

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- The Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO), the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and the state of
Hawaii will host a Japanese Bio Mission at the Pacific Rim Summit on
Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy in Honolulu Jan. 11-13,
2006. BIO is sponsoring the conference in conjunction with the
state of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Life Sciences
Council (HLSC), Enterprise Honolulu, and the Oceanic Institute.

"The purpose of the conference is to highlight the emerging
field of industrial biotechnology, which is being used to convert
agricultural wastes to renewable energy and to make many types of
manufacturing processes more environmentally sustainable," said
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO's Industrial &
Environmental Section. "BIO sees regional biobased economies
emerging in various states of complexity and development. The trend
is clear that industrial biotech is growing in importance in the
Pacific Rim countries."
The trade mission will be made up of 13 individuals from
Japanese biotech and energy companies, universities, newspapers, and
embassy officials, all seeking opportunities to do business with
U.S. producers of biobased goods and materials. Japan and other
Pacific Rim nations are increasingly looking for sustainable sources
of energy, and cleaner, more efficient methods of industrial
production, including new ways to make pharmaceuticals and other
chemicals. Biotech applications that can enable industrial
processes to use agricultural instead of petrochemical feedstocks
are growing in importance in the Pacific Rim countries.
Participants in the Japanese BIO Mission include the Committee
for Energy Policy Promotion, RIKEN Plant Science Center, Bio Matrix
Research Inc., Kona Stones Inc., and Osaka University.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations
across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are
involved in the research and development of healthcare,
agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization
Web Site: www.bio.org

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005

[ biotech news ] Mendel Biotechnology Awarded SBIR Phase IIB Grant for Continued Research

Mendel Biotechnology Awarded SBIR Phase IIB Grant for Continued
Research on Disease Resistance

HAYWARD, California -- 15 December 2005 -- Mendel Biotechnology,
Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today that
it was granted a Phase IIB Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
grant from the National Science Foundation. The SBIR phase IIB grant
provides two years of supplemental funding for a Phase II grant
awarded to Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. for development of crops with
improved disease resistance, based on matching funds from a third
party investor. Protection of crops against fungal pathogens is one
of the most significant unmet needs in agriculture. Over $600
million is spent each year in the United States to protect plants
against fungal pathogens. Nonetheless, annual losses to fungal
pathogens are approximately $900 million in North America for
soybean alone, with total crop losses of approximately $5 billion.
The grant will fund research that aims to enhance a plant's natural
ability to resist pathogen infection, thereby reducing or
eliminating the need for fungicides.

T. Lynne Reuber, Ph.D., Director of Research, will serve as the
Principal Investigator of the grant.

Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. was a pioneer in the
application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes.
Mendel's initial mission, now largely complete, was to discover and
characterize the function of plant transcription factor genes as the
basis for creating novel products for agriculture. Mendel is now
commercializing transcription factor technologies in the
agricultural biotechnology and chemistry sectors. Products
incorporating Mendel technologies are being developed for large
acreage row crops, and for the forestry, ornamental and
horticultural markets. Mendel has partnerships with leading
agriculture companies, including Monsanto, the world's leader in
commercializing transgenic crops.

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[ biotech news ] The Maize Genetics and Genomics Database

The Maize Genetics and Genomics Database. the Community Resource for
Access to Diverse Maize Data

Authors

Lawrence, Carolyn
Seigfried, Trent
Brendel, Volker - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Plant Physiology
Publication Acceptance Date: January 27, 2005
Publication Date: May 2, 2005
Publisher's URL:
http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/content/abstract/138/1/55
Citation: Lawrence, C., Seigfried, T.E., Brendel, V. 2005. The Maize
Genetics And Genomics Database. The Community Resource For Access To
Diverse Maize Data. Plant Physiology. 138(1):55-58.

Interpretive Summary: Maize (referred to commonly as corn or by its
botanical name Zea mays L. spp. mays) is an important crop. Not only
is it a source of food for both people and livestock the world over,
it also is an important component of many items where its content is
less apparent. Maize is used in the manufacture of diverse
commodities including glue, paint, insecticides, toothpaste, rubber
tires, rayon, molded plastics, and the list goes on. Maize also is
the nation¿s major source of ethanol, a fuel that is more
environmentally friendly than gasoline and that may turn out to be a
more economical fuel alternative in the long run. Access to data
describing the biology of maize is of interest to researchers the
world over. The depth and breadth of biological data related to
maize is ever increasing, and researchers need to be able to search
across data and to find information. This functionality coupled with
worldwide accessibility could only be realized by storing the data
in a relational database and making that information available
through an online Web interface. By creating logical connections
between, for example, how a plant looks and the genetic sequences
responsible for causing that phenotype, researchers can use data
created in the past as a springboard for future experiments. This
manuscript describes technical, curatorial, and usage aspects of the
Maize Genetics and Genomics Database (MaizeGDB) project and
demonstrates how the database can be used to solve problems by way
of a few example usage cases. This information described in this
manuscript will aid scientists and stakeholders interested in maize
genetics and genomics (including those involved in breeding and crop
improvement, as well as the public at large) to find information
describing traits, phenotypes, genotypes, and other related data for
maize.
Technical Abstract: The Maize Genetics and Genomics Database
(MaizeGDB) serves the maize (Zea mays) research community by making
a wealth of genetics and genomics data available through an
intuitive Web-based interface. The goals of the MaizeGDB project are
three-fold: to provide a central repository for public maize
information; to present the data through the MaizeGDB Web site in a
way that recapitulates biological relationships; and to provide an
array of computational tools that address biological questions in an
easy-to-use manner at the site. In addition to these primary tasks,
MaizeGDB team members also serve the community of maize geneticists
by lending technical support for community activities, including the
annual Maize Genetics Conference and various workshops, teaching
researchers to use both the MaizeGDB Web site and Community Curation
Tools, and engaging in collaboration with individual research groups
to make their unique data types available through MaizeGDB.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?
seq_no_115=183344

http://www.maizegdb.org/

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California Urged To Take Nanotechnology Lead

(Tuesday, December 20, 2005 11:03:59 AM)

California asked to make investments to lead the nanotechnology revolution.

Monday, December 19, 2005: To be at the centre of the estimated one trillion dollar nanotechnology industry, California has been urged to make immediate investments in education and infrastructure. But that's only the beginning. The nascent sector promises countless other breakthroughs from toothpaste to spacecraft. The state will be promoted as the world leader in nanotech by hosting events.

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[ biotech news ] Cancer Genomics - NIH Cancer Genome Atlas

NIH Launches Comprehensive Effort to Explore Cancer Genomics: The
Cancer Genome Atlas Begins With Three-Year, $100 Million Pilot

Cancer Treatment
http://www.imhcaz.com/

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome
Research Institute (NHGRI), both part of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), today launched a comprehensive effort to accelerate
our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the
application of genome analysis technologies, especially large-scale
genome sequencing. The overall effort, called The Cancer Genome
Atlas (TCGA), will begin with a pilot project to determine the
feasibility of a full-scale effort to systematically explore the
universe of genomic changes involved in all types of human cancer.

"Now is the time to move forward with this pioneering initiative.
Thanks to the tools and technologies developed by the Human Genome
Project and recent advances in using genetic information to improve
cancer diagnosis and treatment, it is now possible to envision a
systematic effort to map the changes in the human genetic blueprint
associated with all known forms of cancer," said NIH Director Elias
A. Zerhouni, M.D. "This atlas of genomic changes will provide new
insights into the biological basis of cancer, which in turn will
lead to new tests to detect cancer in its early, most treatable
stages; new therapies to target cancer at its most vulnerable
points; and, ultimately, new strategies to prevent cancer."

NCI and NHGRI announced today at a news conference in Washington,
D.C., that they have each committed $50 million over three years to
the TCGA Pilot Project. The project will develop and test the
complex science and technology framework needed to systematically
identify and characterize the genetic mutations and other genomic
changes associated with cancer. The pilot will involve a few types
of cancer that will be chosen for their value in helping to
determine the feasibility of a possible larger-scale project. The
process for determining the types of cancers to be studied is
currently underway.

Cancer is now understood to include more than 200 different
diseases. In all forms of cancer, genomic changes -- often specific
to a particular type or stage of cancer -- cause disruptions within
cellular pathways that result in uncontrolled cell growth. TCGA will
delve more deeply into the genetic origins leading to this complex
set of diseases, and, in doing so, will create new discoveries and
tools that will provide the basis for a new generation of cancer
therapies, diagnostics, and preventive strategies.

"The goal of studying the human genome has always been to improve
human health. The Cancer Genome Atlas Pilot Project represents
another bold step in that direction," said National Human Genome
Research Institute Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "Such an
ambitious venture requires significant planning. Given the genetic
complexity of cancer, we are certain to face many daunting
challenges in this pilot. But by pulling together some of the best
minds in the cancer and genomics research communities, I am
confident that the pilot will succeed, and we will go on to develop
an atlas that will accelerate cancer research in ways we cannot even
imagine today."

NCI Deputy Director Anna D. Barker, Ph.D., said, "The Cancer Genome
Atlas Pilot Project is a revolutionary step in cancer medicine that
leverages advances in cancer biology, genomics technologies,
biorepositories, and bioinformatics for the ultimate benefit of
cancer patients. Key challenges for the TCGA Pilot Project include
not only addressing cancer's complexity, but also developing the
technologies to advance the science of cancer genetics. A better
understanding of cancer genetics is part of the overall effort to
eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer."

Data and technologies produced by other genomic projects have
provided the tools necessary to produce new insights into how and
why genetic changes cause cancer. The Human Genome Project, an
international effort led in the United States by NHGRI and the
Department of Energy, was completed in April 2003 and provided a
reference DNA sequence of the human genome. The Human Genome Project
also helped to advance sequencing technologies and paved the way for
other genome-based research tools, including a comprehensive map of
human genetic variation, or haplotypes, recently produced by the
International HapMap Consortium.

Genetic mutations linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, melanoma,
and other cancers already have led to diagnostic tests that can
point to the most effective intervention. Recent discoveries in
cancer genomics have helped to identify several treatments that work
by targeting cancer cells with a specific genetic change, such as
Gleevec®, a drug for chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal
stromal tumors, and Herceptin®, a drug for one form of breast
cancer. These successful developments support further examination of
the molecular origins of cancer to more quickly develop new tools to
diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer.

In the TCGA Pilot Project, a Human Cancer Biospecimen Core Resource
will support the collection, processing, and distribution of
cancerous and healthy, control tissue samples to Cancer Genome
Characterization Centers and Genome Sequencing Centers. The genes
and other genomic targets identified will be sequenced by the Cancer
Genome Sequencing Centers using high-throughput methods similar to
those employed in the Human Genome Project. The Cancer Genome Atlas
Pilot Project seeks to identify genetic mutations in the DNA code
that are specifically associated with the type of cancer being
sequenced. In addition, the Cancer Genome Characterization Centers
will work to identify other types of larger-scale genomic changes,
such as copy number changes and/or chromosomal translocations, that
contribute to cancer development and/or progression.

These data from TCGA Centers will be deposited in public databases
supported by NCI's cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG) and
the National Library of Medicine's National Center for Biotechnology
Information. As in the Human Genome Project, TCGA data will be made
available to the worldwide research community. This data will
provide researchers and clinicians with an early glimpse of what is
hoped will evolve into an unprecedented, comprehensive "atlas" of
information describing the genomes of all cancers. This atlas will
enable researchers throughout the world to analyze and use the data
in their own research to develop new diagnostics and therapies for
different cancers.

Recognizing that not all technologies needed for high-throughput,
cost-effective analysis of the cancer genome are already in hand,
TCGA also will support new technology development. Some of these
methods will focus on improving current genomic analysis
technologies, while others will emphasize new approaches, such as
epigenomics. Epigenomics looks at how various small molecules, such
as methyl groups, when added or removed from DNA, can have profound
effects on gene function.

Each component of the TCGA Pilot Project will have clear milestones
and goals. Only if the pilot achieves its goals will the full-scale
project to develop a complete atlas of the cancer genome move
forward.

The Cancer Genome Characterization Centers, Genome Sequencing
Centers, and Biospecimen Core Resources will be selected in 2006.
Applications and proposals will be reviewed by experts in the field,
and awards will be based on merit and programmatic needs of The
Cancer Genome Atlas Pilot Project.

####

NCI and NHGRI are two of the 27 institutes and centers at NIH, an
agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more details about The Cancer Genome Atlas, including Q&As, a
graphic, a glossary, a brief guide to genomics, and a media library
of available images, please go to http://cancergenome.nih.gov.

For more information about cancer and the National Cancer Institute,
please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov, or call
NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Additional information about NHGRI can be found at its Web site,
http://www.genome.gov.

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[ biotech news ] Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center Receives Major Research Funding

Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center Receives Major Research Funding
Tuesday December 20, 9:30 am ET

LINCOLN, Neb., Dec. 20 The U.S. Congress directed $1.5 million in
cancer research funding to the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center as
part of the Department of Defense appropriations for the current
fiscal year.

This critical new funding will allow doctors and researchers at
Lincoln- based Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center to develop new, more
effective treatments for cancer patients based on their molecular
profile. This funding is expected to be signed into law soon.

"This research will help us identify genomic sequence changes
associated with cancer in individual patients," said Dr. Mark
Carlson with the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center.

"Our hope for the future is that your doctor can run a simple test
on a small tumor sample and use a quick genetic analysis to tailor
the best therapy for you as an individual," explains Dr.
Carlson. "It looks increasingly promising that this form of genetic
testing will improve development of cancer therapy and help more
people survive cancer."

Some call this personalized medicine. This Lincoln cancer center is
now part of a fundamentally different way to cure disease. Delving
more deeply into the genetic origins leading to this complex set of
diseases will help create new discoveries and tools for a new
generation of cancer prevention, diagnostic and therapy strategies.

"Cancer is a very complex disease that will kill over 560,000
Americans this year," explains Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb. "This
research will link cancer research around the country and
potentially revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
cancer," Fortenberry said in announcing the research funding. Both
U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel and Sen. Ben Nelson worked closely with
Rep. Fortenberry to bring this research funding to Nebraska.

"We are pleased that Nebraska will help explore how physicians can
use this information to save lives. It is a great opportunity for
our local medical community to work together on new ideas in cancer
therapy. For the seriously ill, we will create access to the latest
research ideas in a hometown setting," Fortenberry adds.

The funding is part of an ongoing Department of Defense technology-
transfer initiative. This program is aimed at moving dual-use
discoveries and medical treatments more rapidly into society, so
both the military and the public benefit from government research.
In this case, the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center will be part of
the U.S. Department of Defense's National Functional Genomics Center.

The Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center will use the funds to create a
local network to collect cancer tissue samples from patients and
follow these patients' progress through therapy. Information will be
merged into a massive nationwide database that will help physicians
make personalized cancer treatment decisions.

This large-scale effort combines government, academic and private-
sector resources. The program also uses a "systems biology" approach
that brings together advanced science in pharmaceuticals, molecular
biology, genetic screening, bio-informatics systems and other
technology.

"This program will be very meaningful in Nebraska," adds Tracy
Christianson, Director of Research, Southeast Nebraska Cancer
Center. "The latest figures indicate that more than 8,000 new cases
of invasive cancer will be diagnosed among our state's citizens.
Sadly, we will experience nearly 3,500 deaths, based on these
estimates. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Nebraska,
after heart disease. This research will help us make faster progress
in solving a critical health issue for our state and our country."

While great strides have been made in cancer research, says
Christianson, more must be done. "We can now study tens of thousands
of variations at a time, rather than focus on single genes. We can
open new frontiers in medical knowledge for new cures, faster, and
more effectively than ever before," she added.

The Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center is a unique participant in this
program, Christianson adds.

"The other participants are large medical research institutions
around the country," she explains. "Our center is the only local
physician's clinic in the program. We are the pioneer in launching
this diagnostic innovation into a local medical community. What we
learn will be the model nationally."

The Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center has an active clinical research
program, she says. This made it an ideal candidate to be the first
local community based center to participate in the program.

"Our main goal in doing clinical trials is to offer our patient's
the latest options in cancer treatment. Our clinical study program
matches very well with this effort to implement the latest
innovations in using genetics to diagnose the most effective
treatment alternatives."

---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Source: Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center

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[ biotech news ] U.S. Invests $9.5 Billion in R&D for Developing Nations

U.S. Invests $9.5 Billion in R&D for Developing Nations
Tuesday December 20, 3:15 pm ET
First Known Estimate of Public and Private Funding for Global Health
Research

http://www.arizonabiotech.com/

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 Public and private sources in the U.S. spent
$9.5 billion in 2003 on research and development (R&D) to improve
health in developing nations, according to a new report from
Research!America.

The benchmark study, supported by a grant from The Ellison Medical
Foundation, is the first known estimate and analysis of the United
States' total investment in R&D for global health. It focuses on
U.S.-funded research that aims to improve health in developing
nations and measures Americans' attitudes toward that research.

"This analysis brings a long-overdue look at what our nation invests
in the health of the developing world," said The Honorable John
Edward Porter, Research!America board chair and former U.S.
Congressman. "We can no longer afford to view human health as solely
a domestic issue. For humanitarian, economic and national security
reasons, America needs strong, sustained investment in health and
medical research to address needs both within and beyond our
borders."

U.S. investment in global health research flows primarily from three
sectors:

* Pharmaceutical and biotech companies contributed the majority
of global
health R&D funding in 2003 -- about 58%, or $5.5 billion.
This amount
does not include donations of materials, facilities or
expertise for
global health needs.

* The U.S. government funded about 36%, or about $3.4 billion,
in 2003.

-- 87% of that -- $3 billion -- came from the National
Institutes of
Health;

-- The remaining 13% came from the U.S. Agency for
International
Development ($338 million), the Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention ($24 million), the Department of Defense ($61
million)
and Department of State ($10 million).

* Private foundations contributed $505 million in 2003.

In comparison with the $9.5 billion 2003 global health R&D
investment, a recent Research!America report estimates that public
and private U.S. sources invested $109 billion in 2004 for all
health R&D, for domestic and global needs.

"Tracking U.S. investment in health research overall is challenging,
and particularly so when trying to parse out the portion directed at
solving health concerns in low- and middle-income countries," said
Research!America's Stacie Propst, PhD, who led the development of
both reports. "However, we believe this to be the most comprehensive
estimate to date of global health R&D spending by the United States."

Global Health R&D and Public Opinion

Research!America has tracked Americans' views on medical and health
research for more than a decade, and global health registers as a
strong priority. Nine in 10 Americans say they are concerned about
the health problems facing the world (2004, Harris Interactive for
Research!America).

"Large majorities of Americans support the United States investing
considerably more to improve health and quality of life worldwide as
well as at home," said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!
America. "They also strongly support eliminating health disparities
in order to speed cure, treatment and prevention of disease,
disability and injury for people everywhere."

A 2004 Research!America survey on global health showed:

* 93% of Americans say the U.S. should spend more on global
health
research.

* Concerns about global health problems include contagious
diseases
reaching the U.S. (93%) and health problems elsewhere causing
economic
(82%) or national security (77%) problems here.

* Americans say the U.S. should be involved in improving health
around the
world because we are the world's leader in scientific
expertise and
medical research (78%). Other reasons include preventing
future health
crises and disease outbreaks (78%) and protecting Americans'
health
(77%).

About the Report
The global health R&D report builds on Research!America's estimates
of the total U.S. investment in health research. Data in those
reports shows U.S. public and private sources spent $1.55 trillion
overall on health in 2002, with $92 billion of that on research --
or 6% of the total. For 2004, the U.S. total health expenditure was
$1.8 trillion, and Research!America estimates that $109 billion went
toward research.

Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public
education and advocacy alliance working to make medical and health
research-including research to prevent disease, disability and
injury and to promote health-a much higher national priority. Its
500 member organizations represent the voices of more than 100
million Americans. To read the global health R&D report, visit
www.researchamerica.org.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
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Monday, December 19, 2005

[ biotech news ] Pharmion Corporation and GPC Biotech Announce Partnering Agreement for Satraplat

Pharmion Corporation and GPC Biotech Announce Partnering Agreement
for Satraplatin

* Pharmion Obtains Commercial Rights for Satraplatin in Europe,
Turkey, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand; GPC Biotech
Retains Rights in North America and all other Territories
* Pharmion to make an upfront payment of $37.1 million to GPC
Biotech; GPC Biotech may receive up to $270 million in total based
upon the achievement of regulatory and sales milestones
* Target Enrollment Achieved in Pivotal Phase 3 Study for Second-
Line Chemotherapy in Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer; Pharmion
Expects to Submit for European Marketing Authorization in 2007
pending concurrence with the EMEA

BOULDER, Colo., MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, Germany, WALTHAM, Mass. and
PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 20 -- Pharmion Corporation (Nasdaq: PHRM -
News) and GPC Biotech AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: GPC; TecDAX
index; Nasdaq: GPCB) today announced that the companies have entered
into a co-development and license agreement for satraplatin, the
only oral platinum-based compound in advanced clinical development.
Satraplatin has shown promising safety and efficacy as demonstrated
by significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) in a
randomized study of first-line treatment of patients with hormone-
refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and is currently the subject of a
Phase 3 registrational trial as second-line chemotherapy treatment
for patients with HRPC. Data from the pivotal Phase 3 trial are
expected to form the basis of a Marketing Authorization Application
(MAA) in Europe and a New Drug Application (NDA) in the U.S. for
this indication. Based on data from this trial, Pharmion expects to
file the MAA in Europe in 2007, pending concurrence with the EMEA.
ADVERTISEMENT

Under the terms of the agreement, Pharmion gains exclusive
commercialization rights for Europe, Turkey, the Middle East,
Australia and New Zealand, while GPC Biotech retains rights to the
North American market and all other territories. Pharmion is to
provide an upfront payment of $37.1 million to GPC Biotech,
including an $18 million reimbursement for past satraplatin clinical
development costs and $19.1 million for funding of ongoing and
certain future clinical development to be conducted jointly by
Pharmion and GPC Biotech. The companies will pursue a joint
development plan to evaluate development activities for satraplatin
in a variety of tumor types and will share global development costs,
for which Pharmion has made an additional commitment of $22.2
million, in addition to the $37.1 million in initial payments.
Pharmion will also pay GPC Biotech $30.5 million based on the
achievement of certain regulatory filing and approval milestones,
and up to an additional $75 million for up to five subsequent EMEA
approvals for additional indications. GPC Biotech will also receive
royalties on sales of satraplatin in Pharmion's territories at rates
of 26 to 30 percent on annual sales up to $500 million, and 34
percent on annual sales over $500 million. Finally, Pharmion will
pay GPC Biotech sales milestones totaling up to $105 million, based
on the achievement of significant annual sales levels in the
Pharmion territories. Pharmion and GPC Biotech will lead regulatory
and commercial activities in their respective territories.

"We believe that satraplatin has the potential to provide
significant additional benefits in the well-characterized platinum
treatment class, and we will work closely with GPC Biotech to get
this vital therapy to physicians and patients as quickly as
possible," said Patrick J. Mahaffy, Pharmion's president and chief
executive officer. "Satraplatin represents an important addition to
our product portfolio, complementing our existing products as well
as the global regulatory, clinical development and commercial
organizations that support them."

Bernd R. Seizinger, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer of GPC
Biotech, said: "We were very pleased with the significant interest
in satraplatin shown by a large number of pharmaceutical and biotech
firms in the U.S. and Europe. We have selected Pharmion as a partner
because we believe they are ideally suited to help us fully exploit
the potential of satraplatin in Europe and are strongly committed to
continued development of this important compound for a variety of
cancers. The deal structure provides us with significant funding but
still allows GPC Biotech to retain the full commercialization rights
to the U.S. market and other key pharmaceutical markets." Dr.
Seizinger continued: "Pharmion's expertise and its strong oncology
focused commercial infrastructure in Europe and other licensed
territories will be critical in bringing satraplatin to patients in
those countries. With the complementary expertise and the great
respect that our teams have developed for one another, we look
forward to a very productive relationship."

About Satraplatin and its Clinical Development

Satraplatin, an investigational drug, is a member of the platinum
family of compounds. Over the past two decades, platinum-based drugs
have become a critical part of modern chemotherapy treatments and
are used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unlike the platinum
drugs currently on the market, all of which require intravenous
administration, satraplatin is an orally bioavailable compound and
is given as capsules that patients can take at home. An oral
platinum drug could offer key advantages, including ease of
administration and patient convenience, in a variety of applications.

The results of a clinical study conducted by the European
Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) evaluating
satraplatin in HRPC were presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the
American Society for Clinical Oncology. Fifty patients were
randomized to evaluate the use of satraplatin plus prednisone (n=27)
versus prednisone alone (n=23) for use as a first-line chemotherapy
treatment in HRPC. The study showed that treatment with satraplatin
significantly lengthened progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.023);
the median PFS was 5.2 months for satraplatin compared to 2.5 months
for the control arm. Additionally, at six months, 41 percent of
patients treated in the satraplatin arm were progression-free
compared to 22 percent of patients in the control arm. A greater
than 50 percent decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was
experienced by 33 percent of patients (9/27) in the satraplatin arm
versus 9 percent of patients (2/23) in the control arm (p=0.046).
The median overall survival time was 15 months for patients treated
in the satraplatin arm versus 12 months for patients in the control
arm (p value not statistically significant). To date, satraplatin is
the only platinum compound that has demonstrated efficacy in a
randomized trial in HRPC.

In the second half of 2003, GPC Biotech launched its phase 3
Satraplatin and Prednisone Against Refractory Cancer (SPARC)
registrational trial. The SPARC trial, which assesses the safety and
efficacy of satraplatin in combination with prednisone as second-
line chemotherapy in patients with HRPC, compares satraplatin plus
prednisone to placebo plus prednisone. This trial is powered to show
improvements in both endpoints of PFS and overall survival. Target
enrollment of 912 patients in this multicenter, multinational,
double-blind, randomized study was achieved earlier this month. GPC
Biotech has initiated the rolling submission of an NDA with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for satraplatin in combination
with prednisone as a second-line chemotherapy treatment for patients
with HRPC. Assuming continued progress, GPC Biotech expects to
complete the NDA filing in the second half of 2006. Data from the
SPARC trial are also expected to form the basis of an MAA in Europe
for this indication, and, pending concurrence with the EMEA,
Pharmion expects to submit that application in 2007.

In addition, satraplatin has been studied in a range of tumors, and
Phase 2 trials have been completed in HRPC, ovarian cancer and small
cell lung cancer. In other trials, satraplatin appeared to augment
the antitumor effects of radiation therapy, a clinical application
in which satraplatin's oral bioavailability could be particularly
advantageous. A Phase 1/2 study evaluating this combination in
patients with non-small cell lung cancer has been initiated. Several
other Phase 1 and 2 studies evaluating satraplatin in combination
with other therapies and in various cancers are underway or planned.

Conference Call Scheduled

Separate conference calls are planned for Pharmion Corporation at
8:30 a.m. and GPC Biotech at 9:30 a.m. (both times Eastern) to which
participants may listen via live webcast, accessible through each
company's Web site at www.pharmion.com, www.gpc-biotech.com, or via
telephone. Details, including dial-in numbers, will be provided in
separate announcements.

About Pharmion Corporation

Pharmion is a pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring,
developing and commercializing innovative products for the treatment
of hematology and oncology patients in the U.S., Europe and
additional international markets. For additional information about
Pharmion, please visit the company's website at www.pharmion.com.

About GPC Biotech

GPC Biotech AG is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and
developing new anticancer drugs. The Company's lead product
candidate -- satraplatin -- has achieved target enrolment in a Phase
3 registrational trial as a second-line chemotherapy treatment in
hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The U.S. FDA has granted fast
track designation to satraplatin for this indication, and GPC
Biotech has begun the rolling NDA submission process for this
compound. Satraplatin was in-licensed from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. GPC biotech is also developing a monoclonal antibody with a
novel mechanism-of-action against a variety of lymphoid tumors,
currently in Phase 1 clinical development, and has ongoing drug
development and discovery programs that leverage its expertise in
kinase inhibitors. GPC Biotech AG is headquartered in
Martinsried/Munich (Germany). The Company's wholly owned U.S.
subsidiary has sites in Waltham, Massachusetts and Princeton, New
Jersey. For additional information, please visit the Company's Web
site at www.gpc-biotech.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which
express the current beliefs and expectations of management. Such
statements are based on current expectations and are subject to
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that
could cause future results, performance or achievements to differ
significantly from the results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual
results could differ materially depending on a number of factors,
including the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the results
of clinical trials, Pharmion's and GPC Biotech's relative success
developing and gaining market acceptance for any new products, and
the effectiveness of patent protection. There can be no guarantee
that GPC Biotech will receive all of the payments and royalties
outlined in this press release. There can be no guarantee that the
SPARC trial will be completed nor that satraplatin will be approved
for marketing in a timely manner, if at all, nor that, if marketed,
satraplatin will be successful. We direct you to GPC Biotech's
Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended, for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004, Pharmion's most recent filings on Form 10-Q and
10-K, and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission for additional details on the important factors that may
affect the future results, performance and achievements of either
Pharmion or GPC Biotech. Forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date on which they are made and neither Pharmion nor GPC Biotech
undertakes any obligation to update these forward-looking
statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Source: Pharmion Corporation; GPC Biotech AG

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Sunday, December 18, 2005

PHOENIX DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE - BIOTECHNOLOGY

PHOENIX DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE - BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology and Education

We are committed to furthering the well being of our citizens through biomedical research and direct patient care. The only urban Biomedical Center in Arizona will provide an exceptional location for firms to recruit the most talented doctors and researchers. Let us help you locate or expand your bio company to Phoenix .

Be near the Phoenix Biomedical Campus at Copper Square (PBC), a 30-acre urban research park planned for two million sq. ft. of biomedical related research, laboratory, and academic facilities. Present locates include the following:

TGen/IGC Headquarters

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) headquarters opened in December 2004 and is a $46 million, six-story, 170,000 sq. ft. research facility.

The NIDDK Laboratories identify and characterize susceptibility genes for diabetes and obesity as they affect the Native American population

The UA Downtown Phoenix Medical School is expected to begin with 24 students in fall 2006 and expects to expand to 150 students at build out. The former Phoenix Union High School buildings along Van Buren between 5th and 7th streets are being renovated for this project.

The Arizona Biomedical Collaborative (ABC) initiative has its first facility (ABC 1) in early design and will consist of a four story building of approximately 83,000 square feet and will be located just north of the historic buildings along 5th Street . Biomedical academic and research programs at this location will focus on cancer, metabolic diseases and bioinformatics.

Arizona State University Downtown Campus. ASU is partnering with the City of Phoenix to develop a new, urban 2 million square foot campus downtown that will increase the student population to 15,000 students by 2015. The current 160,000 square foot campus offers full degree programs as well as course work towards bachelor's, graduate, and post graduate degrees in business, public administration, nursing, and education.

Science High School - The Phoenix Union High School District is working with the City on the construction of a Science High School which will be located in close proximity to the epicenter of bioscience development -- the Phoenix Biomedical Center at Copper Square (PBC). The Science High School will be located at Pierce and McKinley between 5th and 6th streets. Construction will begin in the fall of 2005 and is scheduled in two phases. The first phase includes the construction of a 2-story, 30,000 SF facility along McKinley followed by a second phase of 17,000 SF of new build and 9,000 SF remodeling of the historic McKinley School. The Science High School is scheduled to open in the fall of 2006 and expects to eventually serve a total of 400 students.

Downtown Development Office

Contact us!
Email: downtown @ phoenix.gov
Phone: 602-534-7143
TTY: 602-534-3476

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[ biotech news ] Invitrogen Enters into Worldwide Co-Marketing Agreement with genOway Focused on

Invitrogen Enters into Worldwide Co-Marketing Agreement with genOway
Focused on RNAi Services; Deal Positions Companies to Address in
vivo Target Validation Market

CARLSBAD, Calif. & LYON, France Dec. 15, 2005--Invitrogen
Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN), a provider of essential life science
technologies for disease research and drug discovery and genOway, a
creator of genetically modified biological models today announced
the signing of a co-marketing agreement around RNAi related
services. Under the terms of the agreement, Invitrogen and genOway
will combine Invitrogen's expertise in RNAi research technologies
with genOway's portfolio of transgenesis technologies and RNAi in
vivo experience to create a services platform offering RNAi vector
design through the creation of RNAi transgenic rodent models. Both
companies will share revenues but specific financial terms of the
collaboration were not disclosed.

An important part of the drug discovery research and development
process involves in vivo studies, often performed in animal models.
As RNAi technology has advanced, the need to validate RNAi knockdown
in model systems has been regarded as the next step in the eventual
development of therapeutics based on the technique.

"Combining the services of these two leading RNAi companies will
provide researchers with a complete solution to ensure successful
RNAi research for drug discovery and therapeutic applications," said
Jon Hindar, Senior Vice President of Life Sciences at
Invitrogen. "This broad service offering has the potential to
significantly accelerate target validation studies in disease
research."

"RNAi continues to gain acceptance in drug discovery and development
applications," explained Kader Thiam, Head of Transgenic
technologies of genOway. "Our leading in vivo RNAi technologies are
strengthened by the solid in vitro applications Invitrogen has
developed."

RNAi has rapidly become one of the most widely used techniques in
drug discovery research. Using RNAi technology, scientists can turn
genes "off," enabling them to observe a cell's behavior in the
absence of the targeted gene's protein product. This may lead to
better understanding of disease mechanisms and eventually, better
therapies.

Invitrogen has built a strong RNAi technology portfolio in recent
years, first offering a family of products under the BLOCK-iT(TM)
name in September 2003, including short interfering RNA (siRNA),
kits for creating short hairpin RNA (shRNA), and technologies to
deliver RNAi reagents to cells and tissues. In November 2003,
Invitrogen announced that it had acquired privately-held Sequitur,
Inc. of Natick, Mass. Sequitur brought to Invitrogen Stealth(TM)
technology, a proprietary synthetic RNA molecule that holds
advantages over traditional siRNA in specificity, efficacy,
stability and reducing "off target" effects of silencing. Invitrogen
continues to develop technologies to enhance its comprehensive RNAi
solution to address evolving needs of researchers in the formative
era of the application. This year Invitrogen launched the BLOCK-iT
(TM) pol II miR RNAi expression vector kits and services which
combine the advantages of traditional RNAi vectors with capabilities
for tissue specific expression and multiple target knockdown from
the same transcript.

In three years, genOway has become the leading company for in vivo
RNAi rodent models. Beginning in 2003 genOway launched its Safe RNAi
Transgenesis(TM) technology based on random integration of shRNA
into ES cells. In 2004 the company launched its RNAi Quick Knock-in
(TM) technology that allows targeted insertion of the shRNA into a
specific gene locus, HPRT. Most recently genOway has started
offering a Rat Knock-down R&D program.

About genOway

Based in Lyons, France and Hamburg, Germany genOway is a service
provider fully dedicated to the development of tailor made
transgenic mouse and rat models. The company has established
business relationships with renowned academic research centres,
major biotech companies and leading pharmaceuticals companies.
Operating in 20 countries in Europe, North America and Japan,
genOway is, with respect to staff and clients, the largest company
in its field in Europe. For more information, visit www.genoway.com.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN) provides products and services
that support academic and government research institutions and
pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to
improve the human condition. The company provides essential life
science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and
commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development
efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of
biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics,
bioinformatics and cell biology - placing Invitrogen's products in
nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987,
Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California and conducts
business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company
globally employs approximately 4,800 scientists and other
professionals and had revenues of more than $1 billion in 2004. For
more information, visit www.invitrogen.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release are
considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is
Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe
harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to: 1) Invitrogen and genOway will combine in vitro and
in vivo applications to form a complete RNAi services platform; 2)
Invitrogen and genOway will share revenues from the co-marketing
agreement; and 3) The collaboration will accelerate target
validation studies in disease research. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, the risks: a) Details of the agreement are subject to
change according to the evolution of the program; b) Financial terms
of the agreement may vary; and c) The collaboration and co-marketing
agreement may have no significant impact on target validation or
disease research, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed
from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings.

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[ biotech news ] Johnson & Johnson Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Animas Corporation,

Johnson & Johnson Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Animas
Corporation, an Insulin Delivery Company

Johnson & Johnson

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December 16, 2005

- Animas Corporation Expands LifeScan, Inc. Diabetes Management
Offering -

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. and WEST CHESTER, Pa., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-
FirstCall/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Animas Corporation
(Nasdaq: PUMP), an insulin delivery company, today announced a
definitive agreement whereby Animas will be acquired in a cash-for-
stock merger transaction. Animas is expected to operate as a stand-
alone entity reporting through LifeScan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson
company offering blood glucose monitoring systems. The acquisition
affords LifeScan immediate entry into the fast-growing insulin
delivery pump market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Animas stockholders will receive
$24.50 for each outstanding Animas share. The net value of the
transaction as of the anticipated closing date is estimated to be
approximately $518 million based upon Animas' 22 million fully
diluted shares outstanding, net of estimated cash on hand at time of
closing.

The boards of directors of Johnson & Johnson and Animas have
approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain foreign
regulatory approvals, Animas stockholder approval and other
customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close
in the first quarter of 2006.

Eric Milledge, Johnson & Johnson company group chairman with
responsibility for the LifeScan business, said: "Diabetes is a
worldwide issue, growing at an alarming rate. Our vision is to
create a world without limits for people with diabetes. The
combination of Animas' insulin delivery systems and LifeScan's
glucose monitoring systems will allow us to offer more comprehensive
disease management solutions for our patients. We have worked in
partnership with Animas Corporation since 2003 and know they share
our commitment and passion for advancing the standards of care for
people with diabetes."

Dr. Katherine D. Crothall, chief executive officer and president of
Animas Corporation, said the acquisition would not only be in the
best interest of Animas stockholders and employees, but would
benefit people with diabetes. "Insulin pumps allow significant
improvements in blood glucose control over conventional therapy for
people with insulin-requiring diabetes, reducing the long term
morbidity of diabetes and improving quality of life. We expect that
in combination with LifeScan, our capacity to further contribute to
the management of this disease will be meaningfully increased."

LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company and a leading maker of blood
glucose monitoring products, is dedicated to creating a world
without limits for people with diabetes. Every day, people with
diabetes rely on the company's OneTouch(R) Systems for simple
testing and accurate results. In the United States, OneTouch is the
number-one selling brand and is the leader in healthcare
professional recommendations. For company, product and diabetes care
information visit www.LifeScan.com.

Animas, a leading maker of insulin infusion pumps and related
products, is dedicated to improving diabetes management and making
insulin pump therapy easier for patients with insulin requiring
diabetes and healthcare professionals through product innovation,
exemplary customer support and superior customer education. For more
information on Animas, visit www.animascorp.com or call Animas
Corporation at 877-937-7867.

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are based on current expectations of future events. If
underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks and
uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from
the companies' expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties
include the satisfaction of the conditions to closing, including
receipt of stockholder and regulatory approval; general industry and
conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest
rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances
and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new
product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals;
domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and
regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment. A
further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other
factors can be found in Exhibit 99(b) of Johnson & Johnson's Annual
Report on Form 10- K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2005, and
in Animas Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004. Copies of said Annual Reports on Form 10-K
are available online at www.sec.gov or on request from the
applicable company. Neither company assumes any obligation to update
any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or
future events or developments.)

Additional Information and Where to Find It:

This material is not a substitute for the proxy statement Animas
Corporation will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investors are urged to read the proxy statement when it becomes
available, because it will contain important information. The proxy
statement and other documents, which will be filed by Animas with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be available free of
charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by visiting Animas'
website at www.animascorp.com.

Animas and certain of its directors, executive officers and certain
other members of its management may be deemed to be soliciting
proxies from Animas' stockholders in connection with the proposed
transaction. Investors may obtain a detailed list of names,
affiliations and interests of Animas participants in the
solicitation of proxies of Animas' stockholders by reading the proxy
statement when it becomes available.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson

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Thursday, December 15, 2005

[ biotech news ] GPC Biotech Begins Rolling NDA Submission for Lead Drug Candidate Satraplatin

http://www.arizonabiotech.com/

GPC Biotech Begins Rolling NDA Submission for Lead Drug Candidate
Satraplatin

MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, GERMANY -- -- 12/15/2005 -- Waltham, Mass. and
Princeton, N.J. -- GPC Biotech AG (Frankfurt: GPC) (TecDAX index)
(NASDAQ: GPCB) today announced that the Company has begun the
rolling submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for satraplatin in combination
with prednisone as a second-line chemotherapy treatment for patients
with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). To begin the rolling
NDA process, the Company has submitted to the FDA the chemistry,
manufacturing and controls -- or CMC -- section of the NDA filing.

"It is very gratifying for us to begin the rolling NDA submission
process for our lead drug candidate satraplatin," said Bernd R.
Seizinger, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. "Building on our
recent achievement of reaching target enrollment in our Phase 3
registrational trial, it marks another important milestone in the
development process of satraplatin as a potential new treatment
option for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. We are
focused on working with regulatory authorities to efficiently move
our compound through the filing and review process, with the
ultimate goal of making satraplatin available to patients as quickly
as possible."

The rolling submission process enables companies that have been
granted "fast track" designation by the FDA to submit sections of
the NDA to the agency as they become available, allowing the review
process to begin before the complete dossier has been submitted.
Under U.S. regulations, within sixty days after the receipt of such
a submission, the FDA will determine whether that application may be
filed. The filing of an application means that the FDA has
determined that the application is sufficiently complete to permit a
substantive review.

The FDA's fast track programs are intended to expedite the review of
drugs to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that
demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs. The FDA
granted fast track designation to satraplatin as a second-line
chemotherapy treatment for patients with HRPC in September 2003.

About Satraplatin

Satraplatin, an investigational drug, is a member of the platinum
family of compounds. Over the past two decades, platinum-based drugs
have become a critical part of modern chemotherapy treatments and
are used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Worldwide sales of
these drugs exceeded $2.2 billion in 2004. Unlike the platinum drugs
currently on the market, all of which require intravenous
administration, satraplatin is an orally bioavailable compound and
is given as capsules that patients can take at home. An oral
platinum drug could offer key advantages, including ease of
administration and patient convenience, in a variety of
applications. Target enrollment has been achieved in a Phase 3
registrational trial -- the SPARC trial -- as a second-line
chemotherapy treatment for HRPC. GPC Biotech has completed a Special
Protocol Assessment with the U.S. FDA and has received a Scientific
Advice letter from the European regulatory authority, the European
Medicines Agency (EMEA). The FDA has also granted fast track
designation to satraplatin for this indication. Satraplatin was in-
licensed from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Phase 2 trials have been completed in HRPC, ovarian cancer and small
cell lung cancer. Promising early clinical results have also been
shown when satraplatin is combined with radiation therapy, and a
Phase 1/2 study evaluating this combination in patients with non-
small cell lung cancer has been initiated. Several other studies
evaluating satraplatin in combination with other therapies and in
various cancers, including breast and lung cancers, are underway or
planned. Further information on satraplatin can be found in the
Anticancer Programs section of the Company's Web site at www.gpc-
biotech.com.

GPC Biotech AG is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and
developing new anticancer drugs. The Company's lead product
candidate -- satraplatin -- is currently in a Phase 3 registrational
trial as a second-line chemotherapy treatment in hormone-refractory
prostate cancer following completion of a Special Protocol
Assessment by the U.S. FDA and receipt of a Scientific Advice letter
from the European central regulatory authority, EMEA. The FDA has
also granted fast track designation to satraplatin for this
indication. The Company is also developing a monoclonal antibody
with a novel mechanism-of-action against a variety of lymphoid
tumors, currently in Phase 1 clinical development, and has ongoing
drug development and discovery programs that leverage its expertise
in kinase inhibitors. GPC Biotech has a multi-year alliance with
ALTANA Pharma AG working with the ALTANA Research Institute in the
U.S., which provides GPC Biotech with revenues through mid-2007. GPC
Biotech AG is headquartered in Martinsried/Munich (Germany). The
Company's wholly owned U.S. subsidiary has research and development
sites in Waltham, Massachusetts and Princeton, New Jersey. For
additional information, please visit the Company's Web site at
www.gpc-biotech.com.

This press release may contain projections or estimates about plans
and objectives relating to our future operations, products, or
services; future financial results; or assumptions underlying or
relating to any such statements. These statements are forward-
looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which
are beyond our control. Actual results could differ materially
depending on a number of factors, including the timing and effects
of regulatory actions, the results of clinical trials, the Company's
re

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