Tech moguls launch $33M life science awards

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February 21, 2013 More than 2,700 companies nationwide are saving on lab supplies, shipping, news distribution, office products and more through the BIO Business Solutions cost-savings program. Find out how. 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  Tech moguls launch life sciences awards totaling $33M Eleven biotech and biomedical pioneers received $3 million each through the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation established by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki and Russian billionaire Yuri Milner. "This is the start of something that will hopefully be an inspirational thing for a lot of folks to come," Zuckerberg said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/20), Xconomy (2/20), American City Business Journals/San Jose, Calif. (2/20)        Health Care & Policy  Osiris gets European orphan-drug title for Prochymal Osiris Therapeutics now holds the orphan-drug designation in Europe for its stem cell treatment Prochymal for acute graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplant patients. The move will make it easier for Osiris to secure a partnership or sale. Bloomberg Businessweek (2/19)      Inspiration completes sale of 3 hemophilia drug candidates Cangene has finalized the purchase of Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals' three hemophilia drug candidates for as much as $300 million. The deal entitles Inspiration and its lead investor Ipsen to $5.9 million upfront, as much as $50 million in milestone fees and yearly sales payments. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (2/20), American City Business Journals/Boston/bioflash blog/Mass High Tech (2/20)      Bayer-Regeneron's Eylea enters study for macular edema Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer HealthCare initiated a late-stage trial to evaluate Eylea, or aflibercept, in patients with diabetic macular edema in Russia, China and other nations in Asia. The partners plan to conduct separate late-stage trials in Europe, Japan and the U.S. RTT News (2/19), Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (2/20)        Company & Financial News  Funding round brings in $2.5M for Sphere Fluidics U.K. firm Sphere Fluidics, which develops products and services for single-cell analysis, raised $2.5 million in its latest funding round led by 24Haymarket. "We are very pleased to close this round as it gives us the resources to further develop our business," CEO Frank Craig said. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (2/20)      Molecular Dx startup wins about $977K from Canadian government The Canadian government is providing Xagenic with about $977,495 to finance the development of its molecular diagnostic platform that can generate results in 20 minutes. The technology is designed to create nucleic acid sensors for identifying RNA and DNA using nanostructured microelectrodes. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (2/19)        Industry Deals  Merck, Samsung Bioepis collaborate on biosimilar development Merck and Samsung Bioepis agreed to jointly develop and market a number of undisclosed biosimilars. Merck will be in charge of commercialization while Samsung Bioepis will handle preclinical and clinical development, production and registration. Samsung Bioepis will get an upfront fee, product supply income and milestone fees. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (2/20)      Firms ally to develop drugs for respiratory disorders University of Newcastle tech transfer firm Newcastle Innovation will work with Proteologics to develop and market treatments for respiratory and other illnesses. They will work with Midline-1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays a role in airway inflammation as well as allergen- and rhinovirus-induced asthma. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (2/20)        Food & Agriculture  Judge sides with Monsanto in Paraguayan royalty dispute In Paraguay, a judge turned down a call from soy farmers to stop royalty payments involving Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds. The decision follows a similar rejection in another Paraguayan court. Reuters (2/19)        Industrial & Environmental  Plant cell-wall discovery may unlock future of biofuels Discovery of a possible connection between two types of cell-wall glycans and the arabinogalactan wall protein may offer biofuels a significant step forward. Researchers Li Tan and Debra Mohnen hope their discovery will lead to further research of plant cell walls and open up access to the sugars inside that can be used to economically create biofuels. DomesticFuel.com (2/19)        News from BIO  Ship with FedEx FedEx is now offering member companies discounts of up to 35% off select FedEx services, both U.S. and international services. The BIO program with FedEx is one of the many cost-savings programs offered by BIO through its Business Solutions program. There is no charge for BIO member companies to participate in any of the BIO Business Solutions programs -- it is a benefit of membership. 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