Invitrogen

Invitrogen gets breast cancer test approval

Maureen Martino — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:19:31 -0400

Invitrogen has won FDA approval of a test that can determine whether a woman with breast cancer will benefit from Genentech's Herceptin. The SPOT-Light test, as it is known, uses a DNA probe for the HER2 gene, which is amplified in 18 to 30 percent of breast cancers and can predict whether a patient will benefit from Herceptin. While a test is already available for Herceptin, many smaller hospitals don't have the resources to process the tests. Invitrogen's SPOT-Light doesn't require specialized equipment and can be processed in most hospital labs.

"Given the emerging potential use of trastuzumab (Herceptin) in the adjuvant setting, the need to accurately determine the front-line HER2 status in breast cancer has never been more critical," said Jeffrey Ross, M.D., of Albany Medical College. Invitrogen's test is yet another step in the direciton of personalized medicine. Such tests allow physicians to choose the right treatment for patients and save money by not giving the expensive drug to patients who won't benefit from it.

- check out Invitrogen's release
- read the Sign on San Diego article for more

Invitrogen, Applera agree on $6.7B merger

John Carroll — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:54:14 -0400

Two big suppliers to the drug development business are merging. Invitrogen has agreed to acquire all of the shares of Applera's Applied Biosystems in a $6.7 billion cash and stock deal. The Invitrogen/Applera combo--to be called Applied Biosystems--will have $3.5 billion in annual sales and will be based in Carlsbad, CA. The companies say they'll be able to shave $125 million in costs following the merger. In a release, the company said it would hold a major presence in key areas like genetic analysis, proteomics, cell biology and cell systems.

"This transaction combines the industry's premier consumables provider with the industry's premier systems provider to create a world-class biotechnology tools company," said Invitrogen CEO Gregory Lucier. "With this acquisition, we are nearly doubling our consumables business as almost half of Applied Biosystems's revenues are consumable in nature. It also provides significant value creating opportunities for customers, shareholders and employees alike."

- check out the merger release
- read the report from SoCalTech

Novartis established nonprofit vaccine institute

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Novartis has established the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, a nonprofit venture that will take aim at diseases in the developing world. The NVGH, which will be separate from Novartis' commercial vaccine operations, will use the company's vaccine tech to make products that address unmet needs. These vaccines will be tailored for developing country needs and will be introduced first in those countries. The NVGH is a public private partnership and will also collaborate with other groups to build strength in resources.

- here's Novartis' release

ALSO: Carlsbad, CA-based Invitrogen has launched the Invitrogen Foundation, a nonprofit outfit designed to raise understanding of biotechnology, and encourage students to pursue careers in science. Report

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Novartis injects $816.5M in vaccine plant. Report
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Novartis wins $220M flu vaccine contract. Report
Has the Gates Foundation created a malaria 'cartel'? Report

Invitrogen puts up $57M for CellzDirect buyout

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

Invitrogen is buying out CellzDirect in a $57 million cash deal. CellzDirect provides R&D operations hepatocyte-based cell products and other services used to test new drugs. Primary human hepatocytes can be used to predict a compound's effects on enzymatic metabolism in the liver, helping to avoid trial failures. CellzDirect was set up seven years ago and has facilities in North Carolina and Austin.

- check out the release for more info

Related Articles:
Invitrogen sells BioReliance unit at a deep discount. Report
Invitrogen buys Quantum Dot, Biopixels. Report
Invitrogen to buy BioSource for $130M. Report

ALSO NOTED: VaxGen gains extension; Merck wins latest Vioxx suit;and much more...

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:01:30 -0500

> Officials at HHS have granted VaxGen a one-month extension of its deadline to resolve a clinical hold on its troubled development program for an anthrax vaccine. The agency has threatened to cancel its contract with VaxGen unless it resolves the hold. Report

> Biotech drugs take longer and cost more than the traditional medicines fielded by the FDA, according to a new survey from Tufts University's Center for the Study of Drug Development. On average, a complex biologic costs $1.2 billion to approval over a period of 97.7 months. Report

> A federal jury has cleared Merck of any wrongdoing in the latest federal trial over Vioxx. Report

> Daryl Faulkner has been named president and CEO of Digene. Faulkner recently retired from Invitrogen. Report

> CollaGenex has sold $45.5 million in stock. Report

> Migenix has raised $10 million through a bought-deal financing package. Release

> AtheroGenics CEO Russell Medford says the company is on track to deliver late-stage data on the heart drug AGI-1067 in March of next year. Report

> Scientists at the University of Zurich have used stem cells obtained from fetal fluid to grow new heart valves for repairing damaged hearts. Report

> A host of experimental stem cell therapies are poised to make the switch from animal studies to clinical development. But as human studies begin, experts have been quick to warn against giving into the hype that life-saving treatments are just around the corner. Report

And Finally... Researchers have found two genetic mutations in H5N1 necessary to trigger a human pandemic. Their work may help signal a coming outbreak. Article

C&L: Drakeman resigns from Medarex

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:01:32 -0500

Medarex CEO Donald Drakeman (photo) resigned his post as the company issued new findings in its investigation of how stock options were granted over the past 10 years.

Bradford A. Zakes was named president and CEO of ImaRx Therapeutics.

ARCA Discovery has named Richard B. Brewer president and CEO.

Meiken Krebs has been appointed president and CEO of EMD Chemicals has.

Excel Life Sciences has hired Dr. Vijai Kumar as the company's president and chief medical officer.

Acumen Pharmaceuticals has promoted Dr. William F. Goure to the post of COO.

Scott McCallister, M.D. has joined Panacos Pharmaceuticals as chief medical officer.

Invitrogen Corporation promoted Bernd Brust to the newly-created position of senior vice president of sales for Europe and the Americas.

Ciphergen Biosystems named Debra A. Young vice president and CFO.

Symphogen has named Christian Meyer, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of clinical development.

Daniel B. Soland has joined the Viropharma as its vice president and COO.

Mark Longer, Ph.D., has joined Napo Pharmaceuticals as its vice president, program planning and management.

Dynavax Technologies named Michael Ostrach as VP, chief business officer and general counsel.

Pharmacopeia has appointed Rene Belder, M.D., as vice president, clinical and regulatory affairs.

KAI Pharmaceuticals has named Dirk B. Mendel, Ph.D. as vice president of pharmacology & preclinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Compugen has appointed Eli Zangvil, MD, as vice president, business development.

AtheroGenics named J. Christopher Prue, RPh to the position of vice president, regulatory affairs.

Inimex Pharmaceuticals has named Dr. K. Jeffry Wilson as vice president of product development.

BioInformatics has appointed Rowena Roberts, Ph.D. as director of marketing and sales.

Aradigm Corporation has appointed John M. Siebert, Ph.D. to the board of directors.

King Pharmaceuticals named Philip A. Incarnati to the company's board of directors.

MacuSight has named Brian C. Cunningham to its board of directors.

SpeciGen has named David Goldsteen, MD, to its board of directors.

BioXell announced that Thomas Szucs, member of its board of directors, has been appointed chairman of the board, replacing Michael Steinmetz who will remain on the board.

Ikonisys has appointed J. Timothy Corcoran to its board of directors.

National Stem Cell Holding announced that Michael J. Shamblott, Ph.D., a founding member of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Institute for Cell Engineering, has been named the company's chief scientific advisor.

ALSO NOTED: Curis discontinues partnership; Invitrogen buying Sentigen; and much more...

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:01:30 -0400

> Curis announced that it is discontinuing a partnership with Genentech to co-develop a basal cell carcinoma candidate. They had already stopped a Phase I trial involved in the deal and had announced that they would not pursue a clinical evaluation of the therapy in that formulation. Report

> Invitrogen announced it is buying Sentigen in a $25.9 million deal. Sentigen said that its Tango Assay System and division arrested Assay Ready Cells will provide a boost to Invitrogen's work in assay development. Report

> The International Trade Commission has ruled that Roche did not violate any of Amgen's patents when it imported its anti-anemia drug CERA into the United States. Report

> Sunnyvale, CA-based Cepheid has won a $3.3 million grant to develop a test for the early detection of tuberculosis. Report

And Finally... The FDA is negotiating for higher user fees from the drug industry. Article

C&L: DeBone steps down from Mylan post

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:01:32 -0400

Louis J. DeBone, president and CEO for Mylan Laboratories, has announced plans to retire.

Glades Pharmaceuticals has announced the appointment of Darren Alkins to the position of president.

CoTherix has named Abhay Joshi, Ph.D. executive vice president and chief technical officer.

Pharsight Corporation has named Will Frederick as senior vice president and CFO.

Neuro-Hitech Pharmaceuticals has appointed David Barrett as its CFO.

The Avicena Group has named Michael Sullivan as the company's vice president of finance and acting CFO.

PRA International named Bruce Teplitzky executive vice president, business development.

New River Pharmaceuticals has hired John Thottathil, Ph.D., as chief scientific officer.

SeraCare Life Sciences has named Cathryn Low interim CFO.

ViaCell has named James Corbett president of ViaCell Reproductive Health.

RESPIRONICS has named David P. White, M.D., as chief medical officer.

Perceptive Informatics has hired Dr. James Paskavitz as medical director.

Invitrogen has named former NIH stem cell section chief Mahendra Rao, MD, Ph.D. vice president, research, stem cells and regenerative medicine.

Neuromed Pharmaceuticals has appointed Dr. Stephen Arneric vice president of research and preclinical development.

NanoInk has appointed JoAnne Smith Joyce as a member of the company's senior management team.

Exagen Diagnostics announced that Thomas O'Connor has joined the company as vice president, sales.

CMEA Ventures announced that Rodney D. Altman, MD will join its firm as senior partner.

MedPharm has appointed Dr. Geoffrey Vernon as chairman.

Vitae Pharmaceuticals has named Donald Hayden chairman of its board of directors.

Oxxon Therapeutics named Craig R. Smith, M.D. as chairman and John Berriman as executive deputy chairman of the company's board of directors.

Bayhill Therapeutics has named David E. Thompson to the Bayhill board as an independent director.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals has named Andrew J. Ferrara, founder and president of Boston Healthcare Associates, to its board.

Genomic Health has named Woodrow A. Myers, M.D., M.B.A. to its board of directors.

Anadys Pharmaceuticals has appointed Robert "Chip" Schooley, M.D., to its clinical and scientific advisory board.

Pro-Pharmaceuticals has nominated Dr. Henry Esber to its board of directors.

Savient Pharmaceuticals announced that Dr. Lee S. Simon, Mr. Alan L. Heller, and Mr. Joseph "Skip" Klein III, will stand for election as independent directors.

Phytomedics has named G. Steven Burrill to its board of directors.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals has elected Paul D. Goldenheim, M.D. to its board.

Xenomics has appointed Colin J. Foster to its board.

George Conrades has joined Microbia's board of directors.

ALSO NOTED: MicroIslet warns of cash shortage; Invitrogen, Signalomics in pact; and much more...

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> San Diego-based MicroIslet is warning investors it only has enough money to fund operations through June. Report

> Invitrogen and Germany's Signalomics have inked a pact to collaborate on nanotech-based approaches to diagnosing cancer. Report

> The FDA has granted final approval for Mayne Pharma's abbreviated New Drug Application for Mitoxantrone Injection, USP packaged in 20mg, 25mg and 30mg multiple-dose presentations. Release

And Finally… A small study suggests that tanning can be physically addictive. Article

Cyclacel to go public in reverse merger with Xcyte

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 19:01:36 -0500

In a reverse merger, Seattle-based Xcyte Therapies is taking over Scotland's Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals in a deal that will allow Cyclacel to emerge as a public company in the US. Xcyte shareholders will wind up with 20 percent of the new company, which will be based in Short Hills, NJ. Xcyte was reduced to a mere shell company earlier this year after the FDA raised objections to its design of a major clinical trial of technology designed to arouse the immune system to ward off disease. Facing a major delay, Xcyte reduced its workforce from 100 to 5 and began to look for someone to come in and take over. The remaining employees will be dismissed and Xcyte's Seattle operations will be closed. Cyclacel will focus on two trials for experimental oncology therapies.

- read this article from The Seattle Times for more information

ALSO: Xcyte sold its T-cell expansion technology to Invitrogen for $5 million. Report

ALSO NOTED: FDA panel recommends Zostavax; Serono pleads guilty; Wistar Institute sells royalties;and much more...

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 19:00:50 -0500

> An expert FDA panel has recommended Merck's Zostavax for people 60 or over. The vaccine is designed to prevent shingles. Report

> Switzerland's Serono has pled guilty to criminal charges that it paid kickbacks to doctors in order to boost falling sales of its drugs and formally agreed to pay $704 million to settle criminal fines and civil claims. Prosecutors said that Serono made illegal payments to doctors and provided trips to France in exchange for their prescribing Serostim. Report

> The Wistar Institute has sold some of its anticipated royalties in the experimental drug Rotateq to Paul Capital Partners for $45 million. Report

> CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals has struck a deal to pay up to $6.75 million for SansRosa Pharmaceutical Development. Report

> Ortec International will buy the privately held Hapto Biotech. Release

> Halozyme has initiated a clinical trial of Hylenex. Release

> OSI Pharmaceuticals has priced a private placement of $100 million in senior notes. Release

> ImaRx has completed a private placement of $15 million in shares. Release

> MGI Pharma and SuperGen say that the FDA has accepted their resubmission in response to the agency's approvable letter for Dacogen. Release

> Invitrogen and genOway have inked a co-marketing agreement around RNAi-related services. Release

> Corgentech and AlgoRx have formally completed their merger. Release

And Finally… New research published in The Lancet predicts that the number of dementia cases will double every 20 years. Currently, 24.3 million people are believed to suffer from dementia. Report

ALSO NOTED: Invitrogen realigns; Genentech adds more space; Feds study avian flu response;and much more...

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:00:50 -0500

> Invitrogen has realigned the company around three new divisions. Release

> Genentech is adding on to the millions of square feet of space it already occupies in South San Francisco. Report

> Federal officials are studying how they would respond to an avian flu pandemic that would infect 92 million Americans in four months. Report

> CombiMatrix Molecular Diagnostics has begun offering influenza testing services that will enable genetic identification of H5N1 bird flu and other types of influenza. Release

> BioTrove has expanded its collaboration with the Schering-Plough Research Institute. Release

And Finally… Industry insiders say a number of political and regulatory barriers are delaying the development of personalized medicines. Report

ALSO NOTED: FDA wants more time to review Exubera; Regulators approve new version of Kaletra; Erbitux to get priority review; a

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 19:00:50 -0500

> On Friday the FDA told Pfizer and Sanofi-Aventis that it would need an additional three months to study its inhaled insulin Exubera. An FDA advisory panel recommended approval last month. Report

> The FDA has approved a new version of the HIV drug Kaletra from Abbott Laboratories. Report

> Bristol-Myers Squibb and ImClone Systems have won a priority review for Erbitux as a treatment for head and neck cancer. Erbitux is approved as a therapy for colon cancer. Article

> A late-stage trial of Cimzia shows that a single injection was effective in controlling the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease. Release

> AstraZeneca's Zactima has won orphan drug status for certain types of thyroid cancer. Report

> Sanofi-Pasteur has licensed a vaccine booster from Eisai. Article

> The FDA has accepted the supplemental BLA from Biogen and Elan for Rituxan for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who inadequately respond to anti-TNF therapy. Release

> CytoKinetics has lined up $75 million in equity financing. Release

> The FDA has approved GlaxoSmithKline's Arranon for patients with particular types of leukemia and lymphoma. Release

> Invitrogen has struck a research partnership with China's drug screening center. Report

> PharmaFrontiers has received a green light from the FDA for a Phase IIb study of Tovaxin for MS. Release

> Am-Pharma of The Netherlands has lined up new financing. Release

And Finally… Mars is rolling out a new line of chocolate bars that it says are good for your health. Article

ALSO NOTED: Invitroggen buys Quantum Dot, Biopixels; Aromasin wins broader approval; pSivida secures $15M in new funding; Chiro

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> Invitrogen of Carlsbad, California, has acquired Quantum Dot and Biopixels for an undisclosed amount. The acquisitions are intended to bolster Invitrogen's molecular probes business. Release

> Pfizer's breast cancer drug Aromasin has been given expanded approval as a therapy following surgery for early breast cancer. Article

> The bio-nanotech company pSivida of Perth, Australia, has secured $15 million in new funding. Release

> Chiron and Nektar Therapeutics have begun a Phase III trial evaluating tobramycin inhalation powder, an investigational inhaled antibiotic. Report

> Canada's Trillium Therapeutics has acquired all of the assets of Arthron, a subsidiary of Prima Biomed. Release

> Chutes & Ladders: Jay M. Short, Ph.D., has resigned as CEO and a member of Diversa's board of directors by mutual agreement with the board. Release

> Siga Technologies said that an animal study of its smallpox compound produced promising results. Release

And Finally... Toll-like receptors have become a hot commodity in new research as companies explore the therapeutic potential of an immune response. Article

Invitrogen to buy BioSource for $130M

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:01:38 -0400

Invitrogen, a maker of tools used to develop biotechnology drugs, agreed to buy life sciences company BioSource International for $130 million in cash, the companies said on Tuesday. Invitrogen said the deal bolsters its research capabilities and allows it to enter new markets in immunology, oncology and neurodegenerative disease.

"The acquisition of BioSource enables our company to continue its growth in the vital area of proteomics," said Gregory T. Lucier, chairman and CEO of Invitrogen. "Moreover, the potential combination of BioSource's strength in technology development and our leading brand positions us to achieve an important goal of developing a collection of disease specific tools."

- read this AP report for more

C&L: MDS speeds transition plan

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 20:01:32 -0400

MDS has sped up its transition plan, with Stephen DeFalco stepping in sooner than expected to take over the top executive spot from John Rogers. DeFalco has been acting COO for two weeks.

Pharming has made two appointments: John Pieters was named COO and Sabine Hoekstra was hired as legal counsel.

NeoRx has appointed David A. Karlin, MD, as senior vice president of clinical development and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining NeoRx, Dr. Karlin served as vice president of clinical research at Cellegy Pharmaceuticals.

Wyeth announced the election of Ulf Wiinberg to the position of senior vice president. Wiinberg was previously president, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare.

SFBC International has appointed Joyce Lea Frey-Vasconcells, PhD, as executive director, PharmaNet, consulting division. Prior to joining PharmaNet, she was the director, Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies with the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

Peter Leddy, PhD, is joining Invitrogen as senior vice president of human resources. Dr. Leddy most recently served as vice president of human resources for the Americas Operations of Dell.

Neurocrine Biosciences has hired Richard Ranieri to the position of senior vice president-human resources. Ranieri most recently held similar management positions at Genencor International.

HistoRx has appointed Paul Stroobant, PhD, vice president and head of research. Dr. Stroobant most recently served as vice president, Biochemistry and Protein Discovery at BG Medicine.

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has hired Constance C. Bienfait as vice president of investor relations. Most recently, she served as executive director of corporate communications for Kos Pharmaceuticals.

Oxxon Therapeutics has appointed Craig R. Smith, MD, co-founder and former president and CEO of Guilford Pharmaceuticals, to the company's board of directors.

IsoTis OrthoBiologics has named James Hart to its board of directors.

Jean-Paul Valles, PhD, has resigned from Pfizer's board of directors.

Celsion is expanding its board and filling the resulting vacancy by electing Gregory Weaver to the board.

NeoGenomics has added three new board members: Dr. Thomas D. Conrad, George O'Leary and Peter M. Peterson.

Phase Forward has named Eve E. Slater, MD, to its board of directors.

Pharmos has named Abraham Sartani, MD, to a newly created seat on the company's board of directors.

DEALS: Actavis buys Amide Pharmaceuticals

Wed, 25 May 2005 20:01:32 -0400

Actavis buys Amide Pharmaceuticals

DEALS
WHO	WITH	WHAT	SCOOP
Bionomics	Iliad Chemicals	$9M buyout	The deal is intended to help beef up Bionomics' pipeline toward its goal of having two Phase II products and five preclinical programs by 2008.
Actavis	Amide Pharmaceuticals	$500M buyout	The buyout gives Actavis a much bigger beachhead in the American generics market, making it easier to sell generic drugs and introduce new pharmaceuticals.
Cephalon	Salmedix	$160M buyout	Researchers at Salmedix have been testing Treanda as both a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for patients who have not responded to Rituxan and a complement to Rituxan.
Invitrogen	Caltag Laboratories	$20M buyout	The deal adds Caltag's library of antibodies to Invitrogen's rapidly expanding stockpile.
BioXell	Merck	$150M drug development pact	Merck has agreed to pay up to that amount to develop the company's lead product, TREM-1, which targets a receptor on specific immune cells.
Lexicon Genetics	Organon Labs	Drug collaboration	The research work will concentrate on 300 genes that encode therapeutic antibodies and proteins.