Top 5 News Stories 4/13-4/20

Don’t forget to check out MassBio’s Spring 2012 Newsletter!

1. Pharma gift ban isn’t squelching science, yet BBJ – 4/13/12

The Gift Ban succeeded in getting rid of pens and mugs with company names on them. It has embarrassed more than one local doctor who has been told he cannot take a yogurt or a bag of chips at a conference. Link

2. Head of BIO advocates FDA chief innovation officer Mass High Tech – 4/18/12

The head of the leading biotechnology trade group, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), was in Boston this week, ahead of the group’s annual meeting, taking place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from June 18 to June 21. Link

3. With Flat Budget Proposed, Clamor Builds in Congress for More NIH Spending GEN – 4/18/12

This election year wouldn’t appear to offer much hope for real year-over-year growth in the NIH budget, with both sides of the political spectrum attacking sky-high federal spending. President Barack Obama is proposing to keep NIH’s budget flat in FY 2013 at $30.702 billion in discretionary budget authority from Congress and $30.86 billion in overall program level funding. Link

4. Artificial DNA Can Replicate in Lab, Researchers Find Bloomberg Businessweek—4/19/12

Scientists moved a step closer to synthesizing new life forms in the laboratory after researchers showed that artificial genetic material called XNA can be replicated in the test tube much like real DNA. Link

5. AMAG to get $30M milestone payment Mass High Tech – 4/20/12

AMAG Pharmaceuticals of Lexington has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the approval for its intravenous iron therapy for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease. Link