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Thyretain TSI Reporter BioAssay test for detecting auto-antibodies attains the FDA clearance

Diagnostic HYBRIDS announces the FDA clearance, for marketing under the 510(k) pre-notification process, of the Thyretain TSI Reporter BioAssay. Thyretain is an in vitro diagnostic use test that specifically detects auto-antibodies called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) in patient serum.

25 Aug 2009

Neurogen stockholders to receive $11 million in Ligand Pharmaceuticals common stock as part of acquisition deal

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) and Neurogen Corporation (NASDAQ:NRGN) announced today they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Ligand will acquire Neurogen. Under the transaction, Neurogen stockholders will receive an estimated $11 million in Ligand common stock and will be granted Contingent Value Rights (“CVRs”) under four CVR agreements.

25 Aug 2009

Studies reveal that obese men are at increased risk for erectile dysfunction

Obese men are at increased risk for erectile dysfunction (ED), likely caused by atherosclerosis-related hypertension and cardiovascular disease, as well as hormonal changes associated with obesity, as described in a timely article published in Obesity and Weight Management, a journalzine published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

25 Aug 2009

INSERM researchers engineer a chimeric protein that improves stem cell engraftment

Researchers at INSERM (France) have engineered a chimeric protein that increases cell survival, migration and proliferation to improve stem cell engraftment. The results, which appear in the September 2009 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, show that TAT-Tpr-Met, a cell permeable form of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor can increase the number of hepatic stem cells integrated into the liver of the mouse.

24 Aug 2009

Encorium releases second-quarter 2009 results

Encorium Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENCO), a full service multinational contract research organization (CRO) that provides design, development, and management capabilities for clinical trials and patient registries to many of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

24 Aug 2009

Emergency contraceptive tablet to help prevent an unintended pregnancy

There is good news for college students as they head back to campus this fall. A new emergency contraceptive, Plan B® One-Step (levonorgestrel) tablet, 1.5 mg, is now available at the local pharmacy for all students 17 and older.

24 Aug 2009

Complete Genomics raises $45 million in private equity financing

Complete Genomics Inc., a third-generation human genome sequencing company, announced that it has raised $45 million in private equity financing and closed its Series D funding round with two new investors — Essex Woodlands Health Ventures and OrbiMed Advisors, LLC.

24 Aug 2009

Israeli government and a private investment fund Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics to complete pre-clinical studies in ALS

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (OTCBB: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies and therapeutics, announced today that the company has secured the funding required to complete pre-clinical trials underway for the treatment of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The company expects to begin Phase I clinical studies in 2010.

24 Aug 2009

MIT to honor Dr. Khine of Shrink Nanotechnologies as one of the top 35 global innovators

Shrink Nanotechnologies, Inc. (“Shrink”) (OTCBB: INKN), an innovative nanotechnology company that develops products, licenses its patent-pending technologies and acquires related assets in three core vertical markets: (i) solar energy production, (ii) medical diagnostics and sensors and (iii) biotechnology research and development tools, today announced that Dr. Michelle Khine, Ph.D., the scientific founder of Shrink’s nanofabrication platform, was named by MIT Technology Review as one of the top 35 global innovators under the age of 35.

24 Aug 2009

Simulations Plus extends share repurchase program through December 1, 2009

Simulations Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLP), a leading provider of simulation and modeling software for pharmaceutical discovery and development, announced today that its board of directors has approved an extension of its share repurchase program through December 1, 2009.

24 Aug 2009

Ocimum Biosolutions finds place in third annual Inc. 5000 list

Ocimum Biosolutions, a leading integrated life sciences solutions company, has been listed in the third annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the America’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs.

24 Aug 2009

Sigma-Aldrich scientists to leverage proprietary gene editing technology to develop genetically-engineered rodent research models

Sigma-Aldrich(R) (Nasdaq: SIAL) announced today that scientists at its new Sigma Advanced Genetic Engineering (SAGE(TM)) Labs in St. Louis will leverage its exclusive CompoZr(TM) Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) gene editing technology (www.compozrzfn.com) to define, develop and offer a new generation of genetically-engineered rodent research models. Such models are commonly used to study disease states in humans and play a key role in the drug discovery process.

24 Aug 2009

Nutra Pharma launches Cobroxin for chronic pain relief

Nutra Pharma Corp. (OTCBB: NPHC), a biotechnology company that is developing treatments for Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), HIV and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has announced today that it has launched an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, Cobroxin, for the treatment of Stage 2 (moderate to severe) chronic pain.

21 Aug 2009

Lonza submits non-binding proposal to buy all of outstanding restricted voting shares of Patheon

The Special Committee of Independent Directors of Patheon Inc. (TSX:PTI) and Lonza Group AG (SIX:LONN) announced today that Lonza, one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries, has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all of the outstanding Restricted Voting Shares of Patheon at a price of US$3.55 per Restricted Voting Share.

21 Aug 2009

CEL-SCI to raise $4.4 million by selling 9.7 million units to institutional investors

CEL-SCI Corporation. (NYSE Amex: CVM), a biotechnology company entering a late stage oncology trial and focused on infectious disease, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with several institutional investors to sell 9.7 million units, with each unit consisting of one of the Company's common shares and 0.50 warrants to purchase one share of common stock, for gross proceeds of approximately $4.4 million, before deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses, in a "registered direct" offering.

21 Aug 2009

Inc. magazine ranks Signature Genomic Laboratories no.1012 on its fastest-growing private companies ranking list

Inc. magazine ranked Signature Genomic Laboratories no. 1012 on its third annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The company, which performs microarray-based diagnostic genetic testing of chromosome abnormalities in individuals with unexplained mental retardation and/or birth defects, experienced three-year sales growth of 302.9%, more than twice that of the Inc. 5000 industry median and over 12 times the industry benchmark. Signature was also ranked 70th of companies in the healthcare sector.

21 Aug 2009

Southern Research's Birmingham campus to have a Comprehensive Chemical Biology Center

Southern Research Institute today announced that it has been selected as one of 11 organizations to help establish the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Chemical Biology Consortium (CBC)--a program meant to coordinate and accelerate the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents to treat cancer patients. Southern Research will establish one of NCI's five Comprehensive Chemical Biology Centers at its Birmingham campus.

21 Aug 2009

Results of PCF funded study could impact the standard of care for prostate cancer patients

Twice-yearly intravenous infusion with denosumab, a new targeted therapy to stop bone loss, increased bone density and prevented spinal fractures in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. The report from an international research study, the first to document reduced fracture risk in men receiving the hormone-blocking treatment, was published today in the print edition of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Both fundamental research on rank ligand (RANKL) in prostate cancer bone metastasis and other molecular factors involved in the denosumab study were supported at Massachusetts General Hospital with funding from the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).

21 Aug 2009

Medicago and Ajanta Pharma forge MoU to commercialize seasonal influenza VLP-based vaccines in India

Medicago Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Ajanta Pharma Limited ("Ajanta") to discuss and negotiate an agreement to commercialize Medicago's pandemic and seasonal influenza VLP-based vaccines in India and other territories.

21 Aug 2009

Genetic engineering technique used to treat bowel disorders

For the first time, scientists have used a genetically engineered "friendly" bacterium to deliver a therapy.

21 Aug 2009

Biotechnology News and Research

Thyretain TSI Reporter BioAssay test for detecting auto-antibodies attains the FDA clearance

Neurogen stockholders to receive $11 million in Ligand Pharmaceuticals common stock as part of acquisition deal

Studies reveal that obese men are at increased risk for erectile dysfunction

INSERM researchers engineer a chimeric protein that improves stem cell engraftment

Encorium releases second-quarter 2009 results

Emergency contraceptive tablet to help prevent an unintended pregnancy

Complete Genomics raises $45 million in private equity financing

Israeli government and a private investment fund Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics to complete pre-clinical studies in ALS

MIT to honor Dr. Khine of Shrink Nanotechnologies as one of the top 35 global innovators

Simulations Plus extends share repurchase program through December 1, 2009

Ocimum Biosolutions finds place in third annual Inc. 5000 list

Sigma-Aldrich scientists to leverage proprietary gene editing technology to develop genetically-engineered rodent research models

Nutra Pharma launches Cobroxin for chronic pain relief

Lonza submits non-binding proposal to buy all of outstanding restricted voting shares of Patheon

CEL-SCI to raise $4.4 million by selling 9.7 million units to institutional investors

Inc. magazine ranks Signature Genomic Laboratories no.1012 on its fastest-growing private companies ranking list

Southern Research's Birmingham campus to have a Comprehensive Chemical Biology Center

Results of PCF funded study could impact the standard of care for prostate cancer patients

Medicago and Ajanta Pharma forge MoU to commercialize seasonal influenza VLP-based vaccines in India

Genetic engineering technique used to treat bowel disorders

Industry Focus eBook - Biotechnology (4th edition) eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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