Amgen, Genzyme are developing new intracellular production methods

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/eiBfCduTtWCfwLojCidncVCicNQvrm

January 31, 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  Amgen, Genzyme are developing new intracellular production methods Genzyme and Amgen are pushing to develop cheaper and faster ways of manufacturing biological drugs inside cells. Amgen is working on a new process for protein production, while Genzyme is pursuing a concept called continuous manufacturing. MIT Technology Review online (1/30)        Health Care & Policy  FDA grants fast-track status to GI ARS drug by Soligenix Soligenix's OrbeShield obtained fast-track designation from the FDA as treatment for gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome. The drug has already won orphan-drug status to prevent death after a lethal or high dose of irradiation from a disaster. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (1/31)      Pluristem relocates to new manufacturing site in Israel Pluristem Therapeutics, which makes treatments based on placental cells, has relocated its operations to a new facility in Haifa, Israel. The site will be used to produce mass quantities of PLacental eXpanded cells and PLX product candidates. RTT News (1/30), Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (1/30)        Company & Financial News  Galapagos wins $3.4M grant for IBD drug research and development The Flemish agency for Innovation by Science and Technology awarded Galapagos a grant worth about $3.4 million to support research and development of new therapeutic compounds for inflammatory bowel disease. The goal of the program is to identify the roles GPR43 and two unidentified targets play in chronic inflammatory diseases. Galapagos will collaborate with researchers from Catholic University of Leuven and Ghent University. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (1/30)        Industry Deals  Idenix, Janssen work on hepatitis C treatments Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Idenix Pharmaceuticals are working together on clinical development of direct-acting antiviral combination treatments for hepatitis C virus. The collaboration covers a drug-drug interaction study, followed by a midstage trial. The trials will be conducted by Idenix. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (1/29)      Firms ally to develop Alzheimer's disease diagnostic test Amorfix Life Sciences will work with QPS Holdings to develop and validate the EP-AD test, with the goal of seeking FDA approval for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease early using a biomarker that could aid in clinical trials. The companies' research will include the collection and analysis of cerebral spinal fluid from patients at different stages of the condition. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (1/30)      Firms to develop T-cell-based assays using each other's technology Lophius Biosciences and Oxford Immunotec signed a licensing deal to share technology in the development of T-cell-based assays. Oxford will gain access to Lophius' Urea platform while Lophius will utilize Oxford's T-Spot platform. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (1/29)      Vela, Thomas Jefferson collaborate on assay development Singapore's Vela Diagnostics and the Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals in Philadelphia entered into an agreement to co-develop molecular diagnostic assays for cancer and infectious diseases. Thomas Jefferson will help validate the tests. Vela will be in charge of regulatory filings. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (1/30)        Food & Agriculture  Monsanto acquires some assets of plant breeding company Synthetic Genomics agreed to sell some of the assets of Agradis, a genomic-based plant breeding company, to Monsanto for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition covers Agradis' microbe collection, name and research facility in La Jolla, Calif. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (1/30)        Industrial & Environmental  Inbicon, ETH Bioenergia team up to cut cost of cellulosic biofuel Denmark's Inbicon signed a deal to work with Brazil's ETH Bioenergia to look for ways to bring down the cost of cellulosic biofuels. "The technology to produce second-generation ethanol has been known for many years. Producing it in a competitive and economically viable way is our big challenge now," said Carlos Eduardo Calmanovici, ETH Bioenergia's director of innovation and technology. Reuters (1/30)        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. Learn more about the BIO and FedEx program.      Learn more about BIO -> Conferences  |  Join BIO  |  Media  |  Issues  |  Industry   SmartQuote  Any workout which does not involve a certain minimum of danger or responsibility does not improve the body -- it just wears it out." --Norman Mailer, American writer          This SmartBrief was created for jmabs1@gmail.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Account Director:  Meryl Harold (202) 407-7828 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: Industry Home Readers' Choice Search Archive Grab our News Widget Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release Download a SmartBrief Mobile app today       Recent BIO SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Monday, January 28, 2013 Friday, January 25, 2013 Thursday, January 24, 2013     Lead Editor:  Tom Parks       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004     © 1999-2013 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information