Celera

Celera completes its corporate transformation

John Carroll — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:46:24 -0400

Celera has ended its run as a biotech drug developer, completing its switch to molecular diagnostic testing company and moving its HQ from Rockville, MD to Alameda California. The Baltimore Business Journal tracked the arc of the company from high-flying genomics player to drug developer to molecular diagnostic testing company as it officially splits from Applera. Once counting a staff of 550, the Rockville operations have declined steadily over the years and have now reportedly been reduced to about 25. Acquisitions and expansions in California, meanwhile, swelled that staff to 550.

"It's a new day for Celera as we emerge as an independent healthcare company focused on personalizing disease management," said CEO Kathy Ordonez. "Our employees and our newly formed board of directors are energized about working together to build a successful future for our growing business, with its promising pipeline of new products and strong balance sheet."

- check out Celera's release
- read the report from the Baltimore Business Journal

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> A federal patent office may appeal a court ruling that threw out a new cap limiting the number of times a company can resubmit patent applications. That change was aggressively contested by the biopharma industry. Story

> Shares of Crucell jumped after the developer announced that an early-stage trial of an experimental tuberculosis vaccine demonstrated a promising immune response in volunteers. Report

> Celera has granted Merck a two-year license covering access to up to 10 cancer therapies. Release

> Bausch & Lomb has forged a deal to license select Galapagos compounds as development candidates for therapeutic uses in ophthalmic diseases. Release

> Rep. Henry Waxman and 26 of his Congressional counterparts are wading into the compulsory licensing fray. Report

> Roche is appealing to a higher power on Mircera. Report

> What does Exubera's possible cancer link teach us about drug safety? Report

And Finally... Fuzzy-headed today? Then pop a pill. Professionals of all kinds are doing it these days, according to a survey taken by Nature. Report

ALSO NOTED: Novartis teams up with MIT; EMEA approves Galvus; and much more...

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Novartis is teaming up with MIT to develop new ways to manufacture drugs. The company will give the university $65 million over 10 years to create a new research program. Report

> Galvus, a once-daily oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, has been approved by the EMEA. Release

> Celera has earned a clinical milestone payment of $2 million from Merck. The payment was triggered by Merck's advancement of odanacatib into a Phase III clinical trial as a potential treatment for osteoporosis. Release

> Scientists at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders report that they have identified a drug that could potentially treat the cognitive disorders associated with schizophrenia. Report

> A new study concludes that two enzymes--SIRT3 and SIRT4--play a key role in mitochondria, regulating the aging process. Report

And Finally... Researchers at Texas A&M University are participating in developing a medicine that is worth sneezing about: a treatment for influenza that forms a jelly when sprayed into the nose. Release

Celera acquires Atria assets for $33M

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:59:54 -0400

Celera will acquire all of the assets of Atria for approximately $33 million in cash. Atria has a line of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) testing products that are used for identifying potential donors in the matching process for bone marrow transplantation. "This acquisition gives us direct access to this important niche market area of tissue typing in transplantation and the bone marrow registry markets," said Kathy Ordonez, president of Celera.

- see the release for more on the deal

Related Articles:
Schering licenses Celera autoimmune program. Report
Celera moves to cut staff. Report

ALSO NOTED: Teva invests in stem cell start-up; Anacor files for IPO; Merrion sets terms; and much more...

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Teva is investing $1 million in the stem cell start-up Cell Cure Neurosciences. Report

> Anacor Pharmaceuticals has filed documents for an IPO designed to raise $57.5 million. Report

> Ireland's Merrion Pharmaceuticals says it plans to offer four million shares in its IPO at $10 to $12 per share. Report

> Celera is buying Berkeley HeartLab for $195 million in cash. "Celera's genetic markers that are intended to identify people at risk for early heart attacks, stroke and blood clots and optimize therapy with cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, anti-coagulants and other cardiovascular drugs should augment Berkeley HeartLab's current disease management offerings to patients," said Kathy Ordonez, president of Celera. Report

> The FDA has approved a new vaccine--ACAM2000--for use against smallpox. Release

> Jerini announced the termination of the license agreement between its affiliate, Jerini US, and Kos Life Sciences, Inc. for the development, marketing, and distribution of Icatibant in the United States and Canada. Release

> More proof that India is the new headwaters of generic drug-making: Watson Pharmaceuticals got the FDA to sign off on its production facility in Goa, India. Report

And Finally… Craig Ventner's new work sequencing his own diploid genome has created a new "gold standard" in the field of genetics. FierceBioResearcher