Cannabis company is acquired; Plenty of activity in biomarker cancer research;

> Courtagen Life Sciences acquires Medicinal Genomics, the company that sequenced the genome of the cannabis plant. Press release

> There are limited approaches for treatment for bile duct cancer, but reports from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center of a new biomarker could mean the potential for a new approach to treatment. Press release

> A new antibody-based immunoassay could be useful for detecting pancreatic cancer, but has only been tested in a small group of patients so far. Article

> The U.K.-based charity Big C is funding prostate cancer biomarker research at Norwich Research Park. Article

> Amarantus BioSciences has licensed the experimental biomarker-based Parkinson's disease NuroPro Blood Test diagnostic from Power3 Medical Products for $500,000 and plans to begin Phase II trials this year. Press release

> A team of engineers, computer scientists, and biotechnologists at University of California Santa Barbara has created COMBINER, a pathway-based approach for selecting biomarkers. Paper (.pdf)

> Johns Hopkins' Biomarker Discovery Center will take part in a new National Cancer Institute Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium. Article

> A Welsh diagnostics company, Acuitas Medical, has secured additional funding to bring its biomarker-based imaging diagnostic closer to the market. Article

> Statistical modeling suggests that Kim-1 could be a biomarker in chronic kidney disease. Abstract

> TGA Sciences and Sanguine BioSciences have signed an agreement to co-market TGA's biomarker-based bioassay development services. Story

> DNA methylation could predict treatment response in gastric cancer. Abstract

> NextGen Sciences has launched an expanded CSF biomarker test for CNS disease. Press release

> Serum biomarker could predict survival in metastatic renal cell cancer. Abstract

> Pathwork Diagnostics' Tissue of Origin test results change diagnosis and treatment recommendations in difficult-to-diagnose cancers. Press release

And Finally... UC San Diego is looking for licensees for a biomarker for assessing the efficacy and utility of potential cancer therapeutics. Technology description