Biotechnology

Biotechnology Stewardship is Critical to Meeting Global Needs for Increased Food and Energy

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Oct. 7, 2009 - Innovations in biotechnology can help address the growing global demand for food and fiber and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel, told attendees of the BioJapan 2009 World Business Forum.

“Through biotechnology, we have the opportunity to transform how we produce and distribute food and how we source energy and materials,” Borel said.    » read more »

New Brunswick, N.J. -- June 17, 2009 -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act with respect to its previously announced planned acquisition of Cougar Biotechnology (Nasdaq: CGRB).    » read more »

Company Relocating Lab and Commercial Operations From Chicago to Madison

June 02, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Integrated Genomics, Inc. will receive a $200,000 loan and $50,000 grant from the Technology Venture Fund. The company plans to relocate its laboratory and commercial operations from Chicago to Madison. This project could create up to 18 new positions.

“Integrated Genomics, Inc. is exactly the type of company our state should be investing in – companies that are developing innovative solutions in the biotechnology industry,” Governor Doyle said. “I am pleased to welcome Integrated Genomics, Inc. to Madison and to support the company’s efforts in advancing and benefiting the field of microbial genetics.”    » read more »

Claims BASF is Infringing Patents Relating to Herbicide Tolerance Technology

Wilmington, Del., June 1, 2009 - DuPont today filed a lawsuit claiming BASF is infringing four patents relating to biotechnology traits similar to those used in DuPont’s proprietary Optimum® GAT® trait. The patents listed in the lawsuit confer tolerance to an herbicide class with excellent environmental characteristics known as ALS inhibitors and pertain to certain methods for controlling weeds. The lawsuit was filed today in U.S Federal Court in the District of Delaware.    » read more »

29 May 2009 -- The proliferation of non-government laboratories handling dangerous microorganisms, combined with a troubling incident or two, has prompted the government to consider costly new security measures that scientists fear may be unnecessary and could do more harm than good, according to a new report.    » read more »

Arbitration Demand to Resolve Dispute over Agreements for REMICADE® and SIMPONI™

New Brunswick, N.J. (May 27, 2009) – In an arbitration demand filed today with the American Arbitration Association, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has requested a ruling that the agreement and plan of merger between Merck & Co., Inc., and Schering-Plough Corporation constitutes a change of control that would permit the termination of the agreements between Schering-Plough and Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., regarding the product REMICADE® (infliximab), a well-established biologic product for inflammatory/immunological diseases, and SIMPONI™ (golimumab), a next-generation treatment.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson announced today that the National Institutes of Health will be sending more than $1.5 million in funding to Nebraska as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds will be used for biomedical research and training.

“These funds will help some of Nebraska’s leading research institutions to stay on the forefront of biomedical research,” said Senator Ben Nelson. “In addition, these grants will provide research opportunities for students who would otherwise not have been able to secure funding.”    » read more »

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- May. 26, 2009 -- Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) today announced that it has sent to its stockholders a letter urging them to vote Biogen Idec’s WHITE proxy card FOR all of the Company’s Board of Directors’ highly regarded and experienced nominees. The letter emphasizes several critical points for stockholders to consider in determining their vote:

1. Since the merger of Biogen and Idec, the Company has achieved exceptional performance.

2. Biogen Idec continues its market leadership in multiple sclerosis.

3. Biogen Idec continues to grow and advance its product pipeline.    » read more »

Access to Late-Stage, First-in-Class Prostate Cancer Treatment Strengthens Presence in Oncology

New Brunswick, NJ, and Los Angeles, CA. (May 21, 2009) – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Cougar Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGRB), a development stage biopharmaceutical company with a specific focus on oncology, today announced a definitive agreement whereby Cougar Biotechnology will be acquired for approximately $1.0 billion in a cash tender offer.

Cougar Biotechnology, which has compounds in development for the treatment of prostate cancer, as well as breast cancer and multiple myeloma, will work with Ortho Biotech Oncology Research & Development, a unit of Centocor Research & Development, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that it has submitted the final documentation to address all items in the FDA’s complete response letter for Lumizyme™ (alglucosidase alfa), produced at the 2,000 L bioreactor scale.

The submission included clinical data requested by the FDA from Genzyme’s Pompe Registry. The FDA has agreed that these data can fulfill the requirements for a verification study to demonstrate the clinical benefit of Lumizyme. Also included in the submission were the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) and the final label for the product.    » read more »

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 18, 2009) - As Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley readies to attend the BIO 2009 International Convention in Atlanta this week, he joined today with Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board members, Maryland bioscience executives and officials at Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation in Rockville to celebrate Maryland’s bio milestones and unveil the recommendations of the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board (LSAB).

The Governor also detailed plans to promote Maryland at BIO 2009 this week, the largest global gathering of the bioscience industry, where he will lead a contingent of close to 400 attendees from Maryland, including a delegation of 30 Maryland bioscience companies.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will travel Tuesday for a three-day economic development trip to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) international convention, which is being held this year in Atlanta, Ga.

The trip will mark the second visit by Gov. Beshear to BIO and the ninth consecutive year that Kentucky has exhibited at the convention, which draws over 20,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors from more than 60 nations.

Joining the Governor will be Economic Development Cabinet Interim Secretary Larry Hayes, Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters and the Economic Development Cabinet’s Department of Commercialization and Innovation Commissioner Deborah Clayton.    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced the launch of the first-of-its-kind research tool, iResearchGeorgia. The online, free database is the only one in the U.S. that combines the research capabilities of multiple public and private universities within a single state.

“We are proud to freely share Georgia’s intellectual capital with the world in this innovative way,” said Governor Perdue. “iResearchGeorgia will foster the kind of collaboration among research institutions and industry that generates jobs and investment in the biosciences, one of the state’s fastest-growing industries.”    » read more »

Governor Rendell Says Pittsburgh & Philadelphia Firms To Help Stimulate Biotech Sector

May 14, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania is setting the stage for future opportunity and innovation while expanding its reputation as a leader in the life science industry, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G Rendell said today as he announced investments in three venture capital firms that will help stimulate growth in the state’s rapidly developing bio-technology sector.    » read more »

Increases over last decade largely due to traditional breeding and conventional agricultural improvements

April 14, 2009 -- For years, the biotechnology industry has trumpeted that it will feed the world, promising that its genetically engineered crops will produce higher yields.

That promise has proven to be empty, according to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields.    » read more »