Obama urges lawmakers to protect investment in medical research

President Barack Obama hit upon some familiar themes in his fourth State of the Union (SOTU) address last night. Perhaps the theme most relevant to biopharma was his call for more basic research spending, which he linked not only to past science and tech triumphs but to the promise of a cure for a deadly disease as well as another science victory over other nations, a half-century after the U.S. reached the moon first, ahead of the old Soviet Union.   >>

Major Wave of Biotech Mergers Expected

Amgen and Celgene, looking to boost oncology offerings, announced separate deals for small biotech companies Thursday, the latest in what analysts expect to be a major wave of biotech mergers.   >>

Illinois Sees Biotech as Key to Job Growth

For every job created in the biotech industry, up to five additional jobs are created to build research facilities; maintain laboratory and computer equipment; supply laboratory and office equipment, and provide basic services to even the most modest biotechnology facilities.   >>

FDA releases draft guidance on medical device applications

The Food and Drug Administration unveiled draft guidance Wednesday on how it reviews applications for low-risk medical devices.   >>

Mayo Clinic plans to sequence patients' genomes to personalize care

Project will give doctors the genetic information they need to choose drugs that work best and minimize side effects   >>

Gene therapy breakthrough treats hemophilia B

A virus carrying a replacement gene for blood clotting was used by University College London researchers to help six patients.   >>

NIH Licensing Efforts Target Start-Ups

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed a new short-term licensing arrangement they hope will encourage licensing of NIH and FDA inventions to start-up companies. The NIH Start-Up Exclusive License Agreements targets start-up companies less than 5 years old, with less than $5M in raised capital, and fewer than 50 employees. By offering an exclusive license, they hope to accelerate the technology transfer process. However, this temporary pilot program runs only until September 30   >>

The Most Significant Medical Advances and Events of 2011

The Affordable Care Act continued to make headlines in 2011 as the law headed to the courts and provisions were dropped, challenged, and defended. Breaking drug news captured Medscape members' attention, as did ongoing controversy surrounding discredited vaccine risks and disputed cell phone risks. Take a look back at these exciting stories and more in Medscape's The Year in Medicine 2011.   >>

THE CHANGING ROLE OF CHEMISTRY IN DRUG DISCOVERY

This new report celebrating the end of the International Year of Chemistry 2011 delivers an action packed review of the changing role of the Chemist in today's Pharmaceutical Research.   >>

China: The Intersection of Innovation

Biotech is one of China's "strategic pillars" for meeting its ambitious goals for healthcare access and delivery.   >>

Drugs for Unmet Needs May Get Faster Approval Under Senate Plan

Congressional talks to renew the fees drugmakers pay to fund Food and Drug Administration reviews include proposals to fast-track evaluations of medicines for conditions with no approved cures, according to two U.S. Senate aides.   >>

KACST holds Advanced Technologies Forum 2011

King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology is holding its Advanced Technologies Forum on the 28th - 30th November 2011 when it will be discussing the national science and technology plan and innovation and technology incubation initatives.   >>

Drugmaker GSK announces $50M fund to invest in promising research

GlaxoSmithKline has announced the launch of a new $50 million innovation fund to invest in early stage breakthrough research.   >>

US Ok's therapy using human cord blood cells

U.S. drug regulators have for the first time approved a therapy that uses cells of human blood from the placenta and the umbilical cord to treat people with blood-forming disorders or cancer.   >>

KACST and KFMC Launch First Laboratory for Patients Diagnosis and Treatment According To The Genes

A new medical achievement is added to the list of significant achievements of the Kingdom the medical field.   >>

Pfizer Signs Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Plant Deal, SPA Says

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) signed an agreement to open a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia, the official Saudi Press Agency said.   >>

KSU Scientists Patent Asthma Drug

RIYADH – Two King Saud University (KSU) scientists have patented a new drug derived from a Saudi plant to treat and inhibit asthma.   >>

Scientists Find New Uses for Existing Drugs by Mining Gene-Activity Data Banks

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have paired up medicines and maladies with help from a molecular match-maker. When the scientists applied an "opposites attract" algorithm to publicly available databases, surprising sparks flew: They found potential compatibilities between numerous existing drugs and diseases for which those drugs had never before been thought to be beneficial.   >>

GSK Invests in Biotech Start Up

Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has given a press release detailing an investment in biotechnology company Autifony Therapeutics Limited.   >>

Make Mine Rare

With mounting interest from biotechs, Big Pharma, and the federal government, research on rare diseases is burgeoning.   >>

DNA Construction Software Saves Time, Resources and Money

DNA construction, also known as DNA cloning or recombinant DNA technology -- among a host of other terms -- is one of the principal tools of modern biotechnology, used for a wide variety of purposes, including genetic studies, medical research, and the development of advanced biofuels.   >>

FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Medical Devices and Biomarkers

The Food and Drug Administration has issued two new guidance affecting genomic technologies and genetic testing, including one detailing its policies for making risk-based assessments of medical devices, and another covering the process for the submission of genomic biomarkers for qualification by regulatory authorities.   >>

Wireless sensor network monitors patients on the move

A hospital in the US is testing a wireless sensor network that monitors patients’ vital signs even as they move about.   >>

New Webinar

Building the Drug Discovery Portal with Dr. Blair Johnston, University of Strathclyde   >>

Webinars from Pharma IQ

Pharma IQ offers online learning opportunities through expertly produced pharma webinars. Our webinars are prime pharma resources, providing learning from industry leaders and experts. All webinars can be conveniently accessed on-demand by members.   >>

Top 7 in Genomics & Genetics

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in genomics, genetics, and related areas, from Faculty of 1000   >>

Biotech M&A activity jumps in 1H 2011

Even with a stingy IPO market for life sciences firms, there's still light at the end of the tunnel for biotech VCs. A new report from private equity group HBM Partners sheds light on the alive-and-well M&A market for venture-backed biotech companies, saying that deal activity during the first half of this year hit its highest mark since the second half of 2006.   >>

Venture group building a $50M fund for new biotech investments

A life sciences venture fund with a keen eye for Midwestern biotech companies has rounded up $25 million for its new fund. And Hopen Life Science Ventures in Grand Rapids, MI says it's keeping the fund open for now as it shoots for $50 million by the end of the year.   >>

What Parasites Eat Provides Key to Better Drug Design

A new study has revealed in unprecedented detail how parasites use different nutrients needed for growth, providing University of Melbourne researchers with unique drug targets against Leishmania, a tropical parasite that infects 12million people worldwide and causes 500,000 deaths annually.   >>

Single Molecule DNA Sequencer to Enhance European Genomics Research

A novel DNA sequencing instrument that enables the sequencing of single DNA molecules in real time will shortly be operating in a major European genomics research center.   >>

Dendreon releases death-eaters into biotech sector stocks

Wednesday's Dendreon nightmare turned into Thursday's biotech bloodbath. Sector stocks posted "particularly steep losses," said RTT News, dragging down the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index by 10.6% to an 8-month closing low. That matches the AMEX ^BTK drop.   >>

Court Upholds Right to Patent Genes

Across each human's 46 chromosomes lie some 25,000 genes. But are these bits of nature -- or removed variants of them -- patentable or suitable to claim ownership of?   >>

'Super antibody' fights off flu

The first antibody which can fight all types of the influenza A virus has been discovered, researchers claim.   >>

Putting biotech on the map

Where should you move to if you want to make it in biotechnology?   >>

Big pharma enjoys stock market recovery in first half of year

A look at the share price performance of the world’s biggest drug makers so far this year show that big pharma’s return to favour is continuing apace. The picture is helping to reverse 2010’s dismal performance, when only three companies managed to notch up notable gains over the year: Novo Nordisk, Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb   >>

The past decade was exciting, so what will the next decade bring?

The last decade has seen dramatic growth in revenues and earnings in Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry News.   >>

First implant of polymer-scaffold trachea is successful

A team at University College London has designed and fabricated the polymer scaffold that was recently used in the first fully engineered trachea transplant.   >>

Skin Cancer Surge Leads to New Therapies

The rising incidence of skin cancer worldwide has led to the development of a new wave of targeted drug therapies, with about 10 new medications expected to be launched between 2011 and 2017.   >>

Sanofi and Rib-X unite on R&D for superbug-fighting antibiotics

Sanofi has signed a research collaboration with Rib-X Pharmaceuticals to investigate new types of antibiotics.   >>

Talented girls preparing a vegan extract to clean playing halls for kids

Eleven Saudi girls from middle school developed a healthy and vegan antiseptic to be used as a cleaning agent for public playing halls for kids. a group of talented young girls conducted a scientific study application "the extent of contamination of kids playing halls with children aged one to 5 years", in the course of scientific research of The Talent Summer Program organized by the University of Princess Noura Abdulrahman , in collaboration with the Foundation of King Abdul Aziz and his   >>

Who are the nominees for the top healthcare innovations in 2012?

Cleveland Clinic is gathering nominees from its staff for the best healthcare innovations of 2012: the Top 10 list that’s the cornerstone of the health system’s annual innovations summit.   >>

2011 BIO International Convention Closes in Washington, D.C. with Record Number of Partnering Meetings and Increased International Attendance

More than 15,000 biotechnology industry leaders and public officials gathered for networking, deal-making and high-level sessions   >>

Dr Al-Zanbagi Becomes Associate Editor of International Journal of Health, Wellness & Society

Dr Najia Al-Zanbagi, Professor of Parasitology at the Biological Science Department, Faculty of Sciences, has joined the International Journal of Health, Wellness & Society, US, as an Associate Editor after refereeing a number of papers submitted to the Journal   >>

“Science & Technology” Links Universities with the Industrial Sector

King Abdul Aziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) announced Establishing (3) Technical innovation centers with a cost that exceeds (30) Million Riyal yearly.   >>

The Launch of The Saudi Business Incubation Network (SBIN)

Prince Dr. Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammad Al Saud, Vice- President of King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)for Research Institutes launched the Saudi Business Incubation Network (SBIN) in Badir’s headquarters for Technology Incubators’ today in the presence of Dr. Abdulaziz Alhargan, Director of Badir Program for Technology Incubators. directors and representatives of Business Incubators, organizations and institutions of supporting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) and o   >>

Science & Technology Continues its Efforts in Enriching “Wikipedia” Contest

Competition Glows & Ladies Excel Gentlemen   >>

Takeda Buys Nycomed for $14 Billion

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. said Thursday that it will buy privately held Swiss competitor Nycomed for €9.6 billion (around $14 billion), in its latest high-premium deal to beef up its presence outside a lackluster home market.   >>

Strathclyde student shines in international awards

Saudi Arabian student Hibah Aldawsari's inspirational story of student life in the UK has resulted in her being named a runner-up in the regional finals of the UK's biggest international student competition.   >>

India eyes $10 billion from biotech sector by 2015

India's sunrise biotechnology sector is set to reach $10-billion revenue by 2015 from $4 billion posted in fiscal 2010-11 through innovative products and services, a top state official said Wednesday.   >>

Biosimilars seen as a $3.7bln drug market by 2015

The worldwide market for copies of biotech medicines will grow to $3.7 billion by 2015, from just $243 million in 2010, as a raft of branded drugs lose patent cover, according to market analysis firm Datamonitor.   >>

Saudi physician gets the gold medal in Geneva for inventing a surgical stitch achieving by that a new world record on behalf of Saudi Arabia

Completion of a new world record on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Ghamdi - Consultant and Professor Dermatology and Dermatologic Laser Surgery, King Saud University participant and supervisor of the Research Chair of Vitiligo – Received a gold medal in a global competition for innovation held at the Geneva International Exhibition of Innovations 2011 in its thirty-ninth session, which was held in the city of Geneva, Switzerland, from the 6th to the 10th of A   >>

DOW Launches Innovation and Sustainability Agendas at KAUST

Dow R&D Center to increase ongoing academic and professional opportunities at KAUST   >>

Saudi female students ranked first in UAE medical conference

Six Saudi female students of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah are ranked first for their medical research in the 7th Emirates Critical Care Conference (ECCC) which was held in conjunction with the 3rd Asia Africa Conference of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine (WFSICCM) and the 7th International Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society (IPACCMS) congress in UAE.   >>

The Kingdom tops the Arabs on the "WIPO" patent map with 78 inventions over the past year

Saudi Arabia tops the Arab list with 78 patents, with Egypt ranking second with 46 patents, according to the annual report of the World Intellectual Property Organization "WIPO" that draws the map of the most important sectors and inventors who have registered and been approved in 2010.   >>

The Bioentrepreneur's Introduction to the Middle East

The Middle East occupies a culturally rich and versatile part of the world. The turbulent history marked by expansion and invasion by many cultures has culminated in enriching and diversifying this region's population and contributed significantly to genetic heterogeneity (genetic diversity).   >>

Riyadh to host international health insurance conference

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, where the medical insurance sector has emerged as one of the fastest growing insurance industries in relative global terms, will host the first international health insurance conference here on Monday.   >>

KACST researcher bags UN’s water award

Mashael bint Mohammed Saud Abdurrahman of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) won the United Nations' Water for Life, Best Practice Award, according to the Global Institute for Water Environment and Health (GIWEH).   >>

Saudi Arabian Medical Devices Market Poised for Double Digit Growth

The Saudi Arabian medical device market has observed strong growth on the back of strong investments in the healthcare infrastructure made by the government. High investments in healthcare infrastructure by both public and the private sectors will result in a stupendous growth of the market. Additionally, the affordability factor will manipulate the growth of the market.   >>

Mark Your Calendar BioConference Live is back this Spring March 21-22

Join thousands of researchers, thought leaders, executives and exhibitors worldwide who are focused on life sciences. This live interactive virtual event meets the collaborative needs of the life science community in a format that is not possible with physical events and webinars. Login for Free March 21st and 22nd between (9 AM to 6 PM EST - ((2 PM to 11 PM GMT).   >>

Saudi Arabia 6th Richest Economy By 2050

Saudi Arabia is expected to emerge as the sixth largest economy in the world, rising above Canada, United Kingdom and Switzerland and is also set to be the Middle East’s richest economy in terms of GDP per capita by 2050, Citibank said in its latest forecast.   >>

Customized Cancer Cell Lines Should Boost Development of Drugs for Personalized Medicine

A commercially available catalog of genetically modified cancer cell lines is expected to boost research efforts to develop drugs for personalized medicine.   >>

European Union Eliminates Taxes and Customs Duties on Saudi Arabian Exports

The Delegation of the European Union in Riyadh has issued a note to the Saudi Foreign Ministry on the new rules of origin for the Generalised System of Preferences GSP, applied by the European Union. Under this Memorandum, the Kingdom are now covered by the GSP, giving its exports to any country of the 27 EU preferential tariff treatment, including the removal taxes and customs duties on more than six thousand classes.   >>

Laser-based tool could help to diagnose melanoma

High-resolution images from a laser-based tool developed at Duke University could help doctors better diagnose melanoma, a form of skin cancer.   >>

Analysis of tissue textures could aid cancer treatment

A new imaging technique promises to reveal ‘hidden’ information in routine radiological scans that will help with the prognosis and treatment of cancer patients.   >>

Gilead Sciences to acquire Calistoga for $375M

Gilead Sciences Inc., a drug research company, said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire privately held biotechnology company Calistoga Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $375 million, expanding its research capabilities into cancer-fighting drugs.   >>

Biotechs saw fewer, but big-value acquisitions in 2010

Fewer merger and acquisition deals in the biotechnology industry in 2010 did not drag the total M&A dollar amounts down with it, according to Deal Search Online.   >>

Ebsar Foundation and Lighthouse International to launch first Online Program for the Gulf Region

Lighthouse International, a nonprofit pioneer in the field of low vision rehabilitation, professional education and research, and the Ebsar Foundation, a leading source for clinical care and professional training in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), are pleased to announce the Lighthouse Mult-E-Skills Vision Rehabilitation Training Program(C).   >>

Sanofi Takeover Bid of Genzyme finalised for more than $20 billion

French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA clinched its long-sought deal for Genzyme Corp with a sweetened $20.1 billion cash offer, plus payments tied to the success of the U.S. biotech group's drugs.   >>

Vast Growth in Pharmaceutical Market in Saudi Arabia Predicted

A new report from RNCOS is predicting Saudi Arabia's pharmaceutical market to grow around 10% at a CAGR from 2010-2012.   >>

NUPCO "Bridging technology" with BadirBio

2011 Riyadh, Badir for Biotechnology (Badir Bio) welcomed a group from Nupco headed by their CEO Mr. Emad Al Aoudah.   >>

Novartis buying U.S.-based Genoptix for $470 mln

Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG is strengthening its personalised medicine and cancer portfolio with the $470 million buy of U.S. cancer diagnostics company Genoptix.   >>

Firms set in motion for Biotech Generics.

The makers of biotechnology drugs are in a heating up battle over the meaning of a single word in the health overhaul that could mean billions of dollars.   >>

Federal Research Center assisting in Medicines development

Officials have decided to start a billion-dollar government drug development center to help create medicines as the Obama administration has become so concerned about the slowing pace of new drugs coming out of the pharmaceutical industry.   >>

BadirBio discuss Patent importance with KACST Patent office

February 5th 2011 Riyadh, Badir for Biotechnology (Badir Bio) hosted a visit from KACST Patent office.   >>

BadirBio visit by SAGIA endorses knowledge based economy

January 4th 2011 Riyadh, Badir for Biotechnology (Badir Bio) Welcomed deputy governor of The Saudi Arabian general investment (SAGIA) Prince Saud bin Khalid Al Faisal.   >>

Doctors of the Future Learn how KACST/Badir is supporting Biotech Business start-ups

January 2011 Riyadh, Badir for Biotechnology (Badir Bio) and the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, the College of Medicine officials (name) have arranged a program of visits to the BadirBio facilities every Wednesday for the medical students at the college.   >>

KSU Professors visit to BadirBio and salutes program

January1st 2011 Riyadh, Badir for Biotechnology (Badir Bio) Welcomed King Saud University (KSU) School of applied medical sciences professors lead by Dr. Hana Al Sobayel. The Departments includes the clinical laboratory sciences, speech and audiology department, health education and nutrition   >>

Quality Award for Saudi Biotech Incubation

January 2011 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s National Biotechnology Incubator has achieved an International Standard for its management - Badir for Biotechnology has gained ISO9001 accreditation for its management system. Very few Business incubators anywhere in the world have achieved this level and it is the first for the Kingdom.   >>

More drug makers are attracted to Copying biotech medicine

Producing copycat versions of expensive biotechnology drugs is becoming an appealing business for more drug makers as U.S. guidelines take shape. The topic was discussed by several executives at this week's JP Morgan healthcare conference in San Francisco.   >>

Saudi medical market to total over SR3.4 billion in 2013

The medical market in the Kingdom is expected to record an annual growth of 5.66 percent, achieving an increase from $ 2.65 billion in 2008 to $ 3.49 billion in 2013.   >>

Top 10 medical innovations of the year

The medical innovation of the year goes to a radioactive dye that can detect and highlight brain plaques that signal Alzheimer's disease, chosen from more than 90 candidates by physicians at the Cleveland Clinic.   >>

Top Ten Innovative Products 2010

Top Ten Innovations 2010 - Innovative products that have the life science community buzzing   >>

The Pharmaceutical Market: Saudi Arabia added to Piribo.com

Locally made pharmaceuticals supply only around 15% of the market   >>

Genzyme: MS drug could generate $3b in sales

Genzyme Corp. executives told investors and stock analysts today the treatment the Cambridge biotechnology company is developing for multiple sclerosis could become its best-selling product later this decade, generating $3 billion to $3.5 billion in annual sales.   >>

Sanofi extends an $18.5B cash offer for Genzyme by 6 weeks

Genzyme Corp. has again rejected Sanofi-Aventis’ $69-per-share offer.   >>

Gates Foundation pledges $10 billion to vaccine research

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $10 billion over the next decade to research vaccines and make them available to the world's poorest countries, the Microsoft co-founder and his wife said Friday.   >>

Five Yanbu primary health centers shifted to state of the art buildings

Five primary health centers in Yanbu have been shifted to new buildings constructed at the cost of SR3.5 million on Friday.   >>

BG Medicine plans IPO of up to $71.2M

BG Medicine Inc. is expected to announce an initial public offering of up to $71.2 million next week, according to IPO tracker Renaissance Capital.   >>

Biotechnology's news and trends in 2010

Although 2010 was a better year for the biopharmaceutical industry than 2009, many firms still faced an uphill climb.   >>

Morarka Foundation to Develop Organic Agriculture

India's biggest name Organic agriculture Morarka Foundation has signed up a deal with GTZ Saudi Arabia (The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit ) to develop organic Agriculture in Saudi Arab.   >>

J&J to go ahead with a $2.3 billion takeover bid for Crucell

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) said that it plans to proceed with its agreed EUR1.75 billion cash takeover offer for Crucell NV (CRXL.AE) but left open the option to change the terms if problems at the Dutch biotech's manufacturing plant in South Korea prove worse than thought.   >>

Amgen bone drug OK'd for use in cancer patients

In Washington this week, Biotech drug maker Amgen says federal health regulators approved its bone-strengthening drug for preventing fractures and skeletal-problems in patients with advanced cancer.   >>

AesRxgets NIH boost for sickle cell treatment

AesRx LLC, a sickle cell disease-focused biotech firm in Newton, is working with the National Institutes of Health to bring its treatment, Aes-103, to clinical trials.   >>

Pfizer and UCSF form a 5-year deal to develop biotech drugs

Pfizer Inc. have announced a collaboration with University of California, San Francisco, to spur the discovery of new medicines, in the latest instance of a drug maker tapping outside experts for research-and-development help.   >>

Biotech industry cautiously brings back Initial Public Offerings

By comparison, only three IPOs were filed by biotech companies in 2009 -- none of them in California -- and just one in 2008, by a company based in Florida. Some experts say the trend suggests the industry is gradually recovering from the recession. But others note that the main reason some of these businesses are entering the stock market, where the reception from many investors has been cool, is that venture financing remains elusive.   >>

Roche initiative could boost Swiss biotech sector

While Roche hasn’t given any details on the cost-cutting program, dubbed Operational Excellence, Chief Executive Officer Severin Schwan said on a conference call Oct. 14 that it “is also looking at a prioritization of our portfolio as we go forward.” Roche Holding AG’s plan to reduce costs may cast off drug discovery projects, providing a boost to Switzerland’s ailing biotechnology industry and venture capitalists seeking to create health-care companies.   >>

Genzyme MS Drug Effective After Five Years

Genzyme Corp. disclosed positive long-term data from a midstage trial of its lead pipeline product, a multiple-sclerosis drug whose sales potential is a key part of the company's defense against the $18.5 billion hostile takeover offer from Sanofi-Aventis SA. The data show that alemtuzumab, which is already sold as Campath to treat a type of blood cancer, continued to be highly effective four years after most patients last took the drug, according to five-year follow-up data. The drug is being   >>

Novartis plans to submit a "smart pill" for regulatory approval

Novartis AG plans to seek regulatory approval within 18 months for a pioneering tablet containing an embedded microchip, bringing the concept of "smart-pill" technology a step closer. The initial program will use one of the Swiss firm's established drugs taken by transplant patients to avoid organ rejection.   >>

Lilly to build molecular imaging agent portfolio with $800M Avid purchase

Eli Lilly has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, a privately held developer of molecular imaging compounds intended for the detection and monitoring of chronic human diseases, for up to $800 million.   >>

Skin cells converted into blood

A dramatic discovery could lead to patients being treated with blood made from their own skin in just two years. Scientists have shown that ordinary skin cells can effectively be converted into adult blood cells in the laboratory.   >>

Human Genome Sciences Inc Pins Blockbuster Hopes on Lupus Drug

Biotech company Human Genome Sciences Inc stands on the verge of blockbuster success with a new drug for a debilitating disease that has frustrated researchers for decades. Benlysta is expected to become the first medicine approved for fighting the autoimmune disease lupus in a half-century.   >>

BioCryst's Partner Shionogi Receives Approval for Pediatric Use Of Peramivir in Japan

Oct 27, 2010 - BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) today announced that its partner, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has received approval for an additional indication for use of intravenous (i.v.) peramivir to treat children and infants with influenza in Japan.   >>

Drug maker Pfizer Inc. (PFE) agreed to buy King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (KG) for $3.6 billion

Latest example of large pharmaceutical companies buying smaller biotechnology or specialty-drug makers, to offset patent expirations and improve drug-research productivity.   >>

Valeant and Kadmon sign deals on hepatitis C drugs

Canada's Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and U.S. company Kadmon Pharmaceuticals said on Monday they have signed two deals to partner on hepatitis C drugs   >>

Local Company will begin the manufacture of meningitis vaccine and seasonal influenza

Ministry of Health signs agreement with Saudi company for the manufacture of human vaccines   >>

Badirbio participates First Nano Core International Symposium

Symposium brought to you by Saudi Strategic Center for Diabetes Research   >>

New chemotherapy for cancer without side effects

Scientists have developed a new cancer treatment that can safely deliver extremely high chemotherapy doses with minimal side effects.   >>

Genzyme Rejects Sanofi’s Bid Again

Genzyme has again rejected an $18.5 billion hostile takeover offer   >>

Safety Information during Clinical Trials

FDA issues final rule on safety information during clinical trials   >>

GlaxoSmithKline and Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has purchased a minority stake in Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd   >>

2nd Annual Technology Incubation Forum in Riyadh

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia’s national research centre and laboratories is running its 2nd Annual Technology Incubation Forum in Riyadh.   >>

Vital Therapies Inc. Expands SILVER Trial to Saudi Arabia

Bioartificial Liver Trial Now at Halfway Point. First subject enrolled at National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, in the expansion of the clinical trial to the Middle East.   >>

Third Rock fund hits $426 million

Third Rock Ventures , closes on its oversubscribed Fund II   >>

Genzyme’s Genetics Unit Sold for $925 Million

Genzyme, while busily fending off advances from Sanofi-Aventis, announced on Monday that it was selling its genetics unit.   >>

The Outlook for Pharmaceuticals in The Middle East And North Africa To 2015

Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:   >>

Oxford University spin-out business licences its biotechnology for up to $21 million

Oxford BioMedica PLC, Oxford University spin-out biotechnology company based at the University’s Science Park, has licensed rights to technology used for the development of vaccines to Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (EBS) for up to $21.4 million.   >>

Scientists create liver cells from patients' skin

Scientists have created liver cells in a lab for the first time using reprogrammed cells from human skin   >>

BADIR Incubators.. The Origin of Creativity and Invention

An Interview With KhalidAl-Khaldi And Louay Al-Hazmi   >>

Workshop Program Launched

Badir for Biotechnology launches its Workshop Program for Bio-entrepreneurs   >>