Blog Archives
Top 5 News Stories: 2/16-2/22
1) Facebook, Google Moguls Give $33M in Prizes to Biomedical Stars - Xconomy – 2/20/2013
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, along with Google’s Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki, announced today they have come together with Russian billionaire Yuri Milner to establish a prize for biomedical research that’s worth $3 million apiece. The new award, called the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, was given to 11 different biomedical superstars today. A new foundation administering the awards, chaired by former Genentech CEO Art Levinson, will plan to give five of these awards each year. Link
2) Mass. aims for more life sciences partnerships with Colombia - Mass High Tech – 2/20/2013
An agreement announced Wednesday is intended to foster parterships in the life sciences and other technology sectors between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Republic of Colombia.The memorandum of understanding signed by Gov. Deval Patrick and Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon is aimed at enhancing scientific and technological development between the residents of Colombia and Massachusetts through collaboration between public and private institutions, universities, research centers and other organizations. The MOU specifically calls for partnerships in health and life sciences industry sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and tropical disease research. Link
3) MassCONNECT names 2013 class of mentees - Mass High Tech – 2/19/2013
MassCONNECT, MassBio’s enterpreneur mentor program, has named its new class of mentees and it includes enterpeneurs who have developed therapies used to kill cancer, DNA sequencing software, personalized dosing technology and atrial fibrillation treatment products. Link
4) MassBio portal links with researchers, manufacturers - Boston Herald– 2/21/2013
MassBio will unveil an online portal Monday to help companies quickly connect with contract researchers and manufacturers in the Bay State. The “MA CRO CMO Gateway” is powered by OnDeckBiotech, a 2012 MassChallenge winner and online exchange for outsourced therapeutic research and development services. The technology makes outsourcing faster, more secure and more reliable. Link
5) Genentech, ImmunoGen Win FDA OK for Souped-Up Breast Cancer Drug - Xconomy– 2/22/2013
Genentech’s scientists have long wondered about what would happen if they could deliver a more powerful version of their original hit antibody drug for breast cancer. Now they’ll see. The South San Francisco-based company, a unit of Roche, said today that it won FDA clearance to start selling ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) as a new treatment for breast cancer patients whose tumors have spread, and which overexpress the HER2 protein. Link
Top 5 News Stories 6/8-6/15
1. Genentech Wins Approval for New Breast Cancer Drug New York Times – 6/8/12
Genentech won federal approval Friday for a new drug to treat advanced breast cancer. But the company said it was experiencing manufacturing problems that could lead to a shortage of the drug. Link
2. Quincy looks to open doors to biotechnical industries Boston.com – 6/13/12
With a new video expounding on the virtues of the city and with recently created marketing material, Quincy officials hope to usher in new industry to the city. Link
3. Biotech fest on cutting edge Boston Herald – 6/14/12
The Bay State will showcase its super-cluster of biotech companies next week at BIO 2012, but the annual global gathering will be scaled down compared to the blockbuster 2007 Hub convention when Gov. Deval Patrick announced his billion-dollar life sciences initiative. Link
