Top 5 News 10/13 – 10/19

Congratulations Massachusetts Biomedical Research Day Honorees! Each year Massachusetts Society for Medical Research selects and recognizes several individuals who have made a special impact on biomedical research in Massachusetts … a researcher, an educator, a business leader and a legislator. See the honorees here.

1)Disaster for Medicare patients – By Linda Brantley and Robert Coughlin News Telegram  – 10/19/2012

“More than one million Bay State seniors rely on Medicare. And many could soon be fighting for their lives. Congress is considering lowering the rate at which the health insurance program for seniors reimburses physicians. The result could be higher medical bills or even a loss of access to care for many Massachusetts seniors.” Link

2) Merck, Vertex and Bristol-Myers win top Prix Galien honors Pharma Times – 10/18/12

Hepatitis C drugs from Merck & Co and Vertex, plus Bristol-Myers Squibb’s melanoma drug Yervoy have carried off the top prizes at the Prix Galien USA awards. The best biotechnology product was bestowed on Yervoy (ipilimumab) by a committee that includes several Nobel Laureates. Link

3) Good news for Mass biotechs despite drop in NIH grants Mass High Tech – 10/12/2012

“In fact, if you use constant dollars, we’ve seen a decrease … since 2004,” said Peter Abair, director of economic development and global affairs for MassBio. “It had been a 50-plus year rise until 2004.” Link

4) Biotech lab space west of Boston surged 50% since 2007 Boston.com  – 10/17/2012

While much of the economy has been stuck in low gear since the Great Recession, the life­sciences industry has kept on growing in Massachusetts, with the Route 128 corridor leading the way. Link

5) Drug firm to share raw trial data Nature.com  – 10/16/2012

The secrecy that has long surrounded drug-industry trials is crumbling. Scientists are applauding drug giant Glaxo­SmithKline for its announcement last week that it will make the trove of detailed raw data underlying its clinical trials systematically available to researchers. Link