N.Y/N.J. slips in life sciences ranking, and Boston still leads

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February 12, 2013 BIO has teamed up with FedEx to offer member companies discounts of up to 35% off select FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery services through the BIO Business Solutions cost-savings program. Learn more. The news summaries appearing in BIO SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The information is not compiled or summarized by BIO. Questions and comments should be directed to SmartBrief at bio@smartbrief.com.   Today's Top Story  N.Y/N.J. slips in life sciences ranking, and Boston still leads The greater Boston area held the top spot in Jones Lang LaSalle's ranking of metropolitan life sciences clusters in the U.S. for 2012, while New York/New Jersey fell to No. 2 from the second spot in 2010. In the current rankings, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area are second and third, respectively. Ranking fourth through sixth were Raleigh-Durham, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. NJSpotlight.com (New Jersey) (2/11)        Health Care & Policy  Bayer seeks U.S. and EU approval of pulmonary hypertension drug Bayer HealthCare submitted riociguat for European and U.S. approval as a treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Riociguat is the first treatment to show efficacy against placebo in a trial involving CTEPH patients for whom surgery was not an option. Fox Business/Dow Jones Newswires (2/11)      AMRI licenses cancer drug candidate to Chai Therapeutics Albany Molecular Research granted Chai Therapeutics the right to develop its early-stage tubulin inhibitor compound, ALB 109564(a), against cancer. ALB 109564(a) is a novel analog intended to kill cancer cells by inhibiting mitosis. AMRI received a license fee and payment for certain intellectual property-related costs. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (2/12), Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (2/11)      ALS nonprofit kicks off midstage trial of fingolimod The ALS Therapy Development Institute has received FDA approval to initiate a Phase IIa trial to assess the safety and tolerability of fingolimod, or TDI-132. The trial could include 250 patients with Lou Gehrig's disease. The drug is already marketed as Gilenya by Novartis for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. American City Business Journals/Boston/bioflash blog/Mass High Tech (2/11)      Oncolytics' Reolysin reduces lung cancer tumors in trial Oncolytics Biotech's experimental drug Reolysin, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, was associated with the shrinking of tumors in 95% of patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the lung during a Phase II trial. "Based on these findings we intend to continue to look at Reolysin as a treatment for cancers of the lung and cancers that metastasize to the lung," CEO Brad Thompson said. Reuters (2/8)        Company & Financial News  Sanofi plans to buy more shares in Regeneron Sanofi plans to increase its stake in longtime drug development partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals by purchasing shares on the open market. Sanofi holds a 16.7% stake in Regeneron. An agreement gives Sanofi the right to boost its stake in Regeneron to up to 30%. The two companies are jointly developing drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and cholesterol. Reuters (2/11)      Gilead completes $510M buyout of Canadian biotech Gilead Sciences has finalized its purchase of Canadian firm YM BioSciences for about $510 million. The acquisition includes CYT387, YM's lead drug candidate for myelofibrosis. RTT News (2/8)        Global Developments  EU approves prostate cancer test from True Diagnostics European regulators have granted True Diagnostics CE mark approval to market a quantitative test for prostate-specific antigen. The TrueDXPSA is designed to allow doctors to measure patients' PSA levels quickly and at the point of care. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (2/8)      The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Paragonix Technologies, Inc., Announces Clearance of a 510(k) Pre-Marketing Notification Application with the US Food and Drug Administration for the Paragonix Sherpa(TM) Cardiac Transport System Interested in learning more about advertising in BIO SmartBrief? Contact Meryl Harold at (202) 407-7828 or mharold@smartbrief.com.    Food & Agriculture  Supreme Court to hear case on biotech soybeans A case before the U.S. Supreme Court could determine whether Monsanto and other developers of biotech seeds can prevent farmers from making copies of their products. The case concerns an Indiana farmer who bought progeny soybeans from a grain elevator for planting. Monsanto said that a negative ruling "would devastate innovation in biotechnology." Agricultural, medical, and environmental research innovations "depend critically on a strong, stable and nationally uniform system of patent rights and protections," according to BIO. The Washington Post (2/9)        Industrial & Environmental  Vilsack: Biofuels can help rural economy The Department of Agriculture remains dedicated to strengthening the biofuels industry, including reaching a goal of 14 million gallons of production this year by advanced-biofuels companies, writes Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "In the months ahead, USDA will continue to provide support for research and infrastructure. At the same time, we'll explore new efforts to provide flexibility for folks all along the supply chain," he writes. The Bladen Journal (Elizabethtown, N.C.) (2/11)        News from BIO  BIOtechNOW BIOtechNOW is the first in a number of new products from BIO intended to enhance our communications with the biotech community -- not only with our members, but with other stakeholders as well. This e-newsletter, combined with its website, serves as our flagship in that effort. BIOtechNOW will offer original content that emphasizes the business needs of the industry; highlight BIO's advocacy efforts; and provide a portal to all BIO activities and events. Most importantly, it will spotlight for those outside the industry the value of biotechnology. 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