> AstraZeneca and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have announced a research collaboration that will focus on ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease. The major focus of the alliance will be biomarkers, characteristic changes in the brain and spinal fluid, that physicians can use to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and track its response to treatment. Report
> Researchers report that Apthera's NeuVax breast cancer vaccine significantly reduced the risk of reoccurrence in patients expressing the HER2-neu protein. Report
> Dynogen Pharmaceuticals has scrapped plans to go public via a reverse merger with a SPAC called Apex Bioventures Acquisition. The company is focused on gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders. Release
> More evidence that biologic drugs are where it's at: Experts are predicting tough times ahead for contract manufacturers that focus too closely on Big Pharma's bread-and-butter small-molecule products. Report
> Researchers at Johns Hopkins have come up with a synthetic vaccine for HPV that can be delivered as a nasal spray. The current vaccine, Gardasil, is delivered via three injections. Report
> San Diego-based Illumina is commercializing three new products aimed at a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that give rise to cancer. Report
> The nexus between academic researchers and investors is a prime breeding ground for biotech start-ups. The Wall Street Journal profiles one prime example: MIT scientist Robert Langer and Polaris Venture Partners' Terry McGuire, who have teamed up on 13 new companies in 15 years. Report
And Finally... Want to get a good forecast of the influenza strains Americans, Europeans and other people around the globe need to guard against? Then look to Asia. Report