BERLIN and BOSTON, September 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The new round of funding by Germany's Ministry of Education and Research will provide EUR 40 million for biotechnology research. At the same time, the Health-Made in Germany initiative has been set up to turn Germany into a business hub for the international healthcare industry. With these new initiatives, Germany is consolidating its position as Europe's top medical biotechnology location.

"We are hosting a breakfast seminar on September 18 in Boston to bring together important players from the German and American biotechnology sectors. One of Germany's top clusters, BioM Munich and Massachusetts association MassBio will have a chance to highlight bilateral ties. This meeting will be a great start to this year's BioPharm America 2012, happening from September 19-21 in Boston," stated Sandra Buetow, pharmaceutical industry expert for Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

Germany features over 500 dedicated biotechnology companies. Nearly half of these companies develop new drugs or diagnostic methods in the areas of human and animal medicine, making this one of the most important applications of biotechnology. The United States is the top investor in Germany, according to Germany Trade & Invest statistics. At the same time, the USA is an essential market for German exports.

Health-Made in Germany is an initiative to create win-win situations for global partners and German healthcare companies. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and carried out by Germany Trade & Invest, the initiative allows companies, federal clusters, and professional associations to benefit from business opportunities in the healthcare field.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Germany Trade & Invest Andreas Bilfinger Email: andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com T: +49(0)30-200099-173 http://www.gtai.com/press-subscription http://twitter.com/gtai_com http://youtube.com/gtai

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Germany Prioritizes Medical Biotechnology with New Initiatives

67 WALL STREET, New York - September 14, 2012 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This special feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs, Equity Analysts and Money Managers. The full issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.

Topics covered: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Valuations - Oncology Drug Development - Orphan Drugs - FDA Approval Process - Reimbursement Trends

Companies include: Amgen Inc. (AMGN), Celgene Corporation (CELG), Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (CLDX), Immunogen Inc. (IMGN), Curis Inc. (CRIS), Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. (PSTI) and many others.

In the following excerpt from the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Report, an expert analyst discusses the outlook for the sector:

TWST: What are some of the most exciting or promising new drugs, treatments or technologies coming out of your companies right now that investors should be aware of?

Mr. Peaker: The oncology space is actually very rapidly evolving, so let's start with oncology first - I think that will be interesting. So oncology, and sometimes I guess in the same field people include immunology, is certainly a rapidly evolving space, where new data is presented quite frequently, and studies often don't take a very long period of time compared to some other indications, like figuring cholesterol and things like that.

So in the oncology space, some of the interesting new developments are Celldex (CLDX) as a new drug in breast cancer, which is targeting a completely novel target, which is certainly exciting with some of the early stages of development, but the initial data is very encouraging. Speaking of breast cancer, ImmunoGen (IMGN) with their partner Roche (ROG.VX) - I don't cover Roche, I cover ImmunoGen, but I follow certainly this space. Also, it's a very interesting breast cancer drug that shows very, very promising data. Furthermore, in cancer, Curis (CRIS) with its partner Genentech, recently launched a basal cell carcinoma drug, which is very exciting, and while it still needs a little time to figure out how to best use it, the efficacy is very, very encouraging.

On the cell therapy space, which is another area that I cover, there is a company, Pluristem (PSTI), a small company out there. It's an Israeli-based company that has shown very interesting, certainly initial data, cell therapy treatments that may have broad applications. Let's say Coronado Biosciences (CNDO) is another one that's developing potentially breakthrough treatments, which is more in the immunology space, but it's in Crohn's, which is a broad indication where there are a lot of drugs that are being tested and are certainly approved. But their approach is very novel, and potentially could change the paradigm of treatment if successful. I don't know if you want me to bring up more examples, but this is kind of a good start.

Prolor Biotech (PBTH) is another one that I might want to include there. It is a company that I initiated on just today, so I can speak about it already as developing. This is, as I mentioned, I have oncology and some orphan diseases, but a few companies out there that are, don't fit into any particular category, and so what they're developing, Prolor is developing a delayed-release growth hormone. So as you may know, growth hormone is used in a wide range of indications, some labeled and some are not labeled. And typically, every growth hormone that's available out there requires daily injection. Prolor's technology shows that their version of growth hormone is effective and may be given once a week, maybe every two weeks, but for now at least once a week. And we think it could be a game changer for the growth hormone market, which is well established at this point.

For more from this interview and many others visit the Wall Street Transcript - a unique service for investors and industry researchers - providing fresh commentary and insight through verbatim interviews with CEOs, portfolio managers and research analysts. This special issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.

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Top Biotechnology Stock Picks from Oppenheimer & Company Research Analyst

Background:
Our companion paper discussed the yield benefits achieved by integrating deacetylation, mechanical refining, and washing with low acid and low temperature pretreatment. To evaluate the impact of the modified process on the economic feasibility, a techno-economic analysis (TEA) was performed based on the experimental data presented in the companion paper.
Results:
The cost benefits of dilute acid pretreatment technology combined with the process alternatives of deacetylation, mechanical refining, and pretreated solids washing were evaluated using cost benefit analysis within a conceptual modeling framework. Control cases were pretreated at much lower acid loadings and temperatures than used those in the NREL 2011 design case, resulting in much lower annual ethanol production. Therefore, the minimum ethanol selling prices (MESP) of the control cases were $0.41-$0.77 higher than the $2.15/gallon MESP of the design case. This increment is highly dependent on the carbohydrate content in the corn stover. However, if pretreatment was employed with either deacetylation or mechanical refining, the MESPs were reduced by $0.23-$0.30/gallon. Combing both steps could lower the MESP further by $0.44 ~ $0.54. Washing of the pretreated solids could also greatly improve the final ethanol yields. However, the large capital cost of the solid--liquid separation unit negatively influences the process economics. Finally, sensitivity analysis was performed to study the effect of the cost of the pretreatment reactor and the energy input for mechanical refining. A 50% cost reduction in the pretreatment reactor cost reduced the MESP of the entire conversion process by $0.11-$0.14/gallon, while a 10-fold increase in energy input for mechanical refining will increase the MESP by $0.07/gallon.
Conclusion:
Deacetylation and mechanical refining process options combined with low acid, low severity pretreatments show improvements in ethanol yields and calculated MESP for cellulosic ethanol production.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

WORCESTER, Mass.and TORONTO, Sept.13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (GNBT) (www.generex.com), announced today presentation of early results from an efficacy study of an immunotherapeutic in triple negative breast cancer patients. The immunotherapeutic is being developed by Antigen Express, Inc. (www.antigenexpress.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex. The results will be presented on Friday, September 14, 2012 at the 2012 Breast Cancer Symposium organized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) being held in San Francisco September 13 - 15.

The presentation, entitled Early Efficacy Analysis of the AE37 Vaccine in Patients with HER2 Low-Expressing and Triple Negative Breast Cancer, will be made by Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf, who is the Principal Investigator of the ongoing Phase II trial of the immunotherapeutic AE37. While the study showed an overall reduction of 42% in the risk of relapse in all patients of the study who received the vaccine, the reduction in the risk of relapse was 66% in patients with low expression of the HER2 oncoprotein who were classified as having triple negative breast cancer.

The immunotherapeutic being developed by Antigen Express is designed to generate an immune response specifically targeting tumor cells expressing the HER2 oncoprotein. While this is the same target as that of the widely used drug Herceptin, the immune response elicited by AE37 is capable destroying cells expressing lower levels of HER2 that are required for sensitivity to Herceptin. "The suggestion of the ability of AE37 to prevent recurrence in breast cancer patients is very encouraging," said Dr. Mittendorf. "This is particularly so in patients with triple negative disease, for whom treatment options are extremely limited," she added.

Antigen Express is currently in late stage Phase II clinical development of AE37. Based upon positive data obtained to date, the company is proceeding with plans for a pivotal Phase III trial.

About Generex Biotechnology Corporation

Generex is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of drug delivery systems and technologies. Generex has developed a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of drugs into the human body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs). The Company's proprietary liquid formulations allow drugs typically administered by injection to be absorbed into the body by the lining of the inner mouth using the Company's proprietary RapidMist device. Antigen Express, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex. The core platform technologies of Antigen Express comprise immunotherapeutic vaccines for the treatment of malignant, infectious, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. Antigen Express has pioneered the use of specific CD4+ T-helper stimulation in immunotherapy. One of its platform technologies relies on inhibition of expression of the Ii protein. Antigen Express scientists, and others, have shown clearly that suppression of expression of the Ii protein in cancer cells allows for potent stimulation of T-helper cells and prevents the further growth of cancer cells. For more information, visit the Generex website at http://www.generex.comor the Antigen Express website at http://www.antigenexpress.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release and oral statements made from time to time by Generex representatives in respect of the same subject matter may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by introductory words such as "expects," "plan," "believes," "will," "achieve," "anticipate," "would," "should," "subject to" or words of similar meaning, and by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements frequently are used in discussing potential product applications, potential collaborations, product development activities, clinical studies, regulatory submissions and approvals, and similar operating matters. Many factors may cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties, some of which are known and others of which are not. Known risks and uncertainties include those identified from time to time in the reports filed by Generex with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which should be considered together with any forward-looking statement. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements. Generex undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Generex cannot be sure when or if it will be permitted by regulatory agencies to undertake additional clinical trials or to commence any particular phase of clinical trials. Because of this, statements regarding the expected timing of clinical trials or ultimate regulatory approval cannot be regarded as actual predictions of when Generex will obtain regulatory approval for any "phase" of clinical trials or when it will obtain ultimate regulatory approval by a particular regulatory agency. Generex claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements that is contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

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Generex Biotechnology Announces Presentation of Early Results Showing Activity of Cancer Vaccine in Patients with ...

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

This week in the journal Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group), scientists from Allele Biotechnology describe an important advance in the generation of stem cells capable of producing all the different tissues of the human body. In an article entitled Feeder-Free Derivation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Messenger RNA, Alleles scientists present the fastest and safest method yet for converting ordinary human skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

The scientific efforts were led by Dr. Luigi Warren, whose pioneering work on footprint-free reprogramming using messenger RNA was the foundation for Alleles breakthrough. Through the united efforts of Dr. Warren and the scientists at Allele Biotechnology, his technique was re-engineered to increase cell conversion efficiency and eliminate any use of potentially unsafe reagents, while substantially reducing the time and effort needed to make stem cells. Dr. Warren believes that because of its advantages this technology should become the method of choice for iPSC cell banking.

According to Dr. Jiwu Wang, corresponding author on the paper and CEO of Allele Biotechnology, This advance in stem cell derivation will enable both fundamental scientific research and clinical applications which has been the mission of Allele Biotechnology from its inception.

Allele Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a San Diego-based biotechnology company that was established in 1999 by Dr. Jiwu Wang and colleagues. A research based company specializing in the fields of RNAi, stem cells, viral expression, camelid antibodies and fluorescent proteins; Allele Biotechnology has always striven to offer products and services at the cutting edge of research.

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Allele Biotechnology Announces New Advance in Production of Human Stem Cells

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) invites leaders from the biotechnology, chemical and agricultural industries to submit proposals and abstracts for panels, individual papers, and posters for the 2013 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. This unique conference will be held June 16-19, 2013 in Montreal, Canada.

Now in its tenth year, the worlds largest industrial biotechnology conference for business leaders, investors, academics and policymakers in biofuels, biobased products, renewable chemicals, synthetic biology, food ingredients and biomass comes to Montreal, Canada at the Palais des congrs de Montral. It is the only conference dedicated solely to industrial biotechnology and the most recent advancements in the field.

We are excited to bring this conference to Montreal to highlight the industry's growth, the importance of this industrial and environmental biotechnology for generating green jobs, making greener products and cleaner processes all aimed at building a biobased economy, said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIOs Industrial & Environmental Section.

Participants may submit proposals for panels in any of six program tracks. Individuals may also submit a single proposal for a 15-minute presentation in any of the program tracks. Poster presentations will be displayed at the Poster Session on June 18, 2013. Poster presenters must attend the reception and be available to discuss their research. Only one presenter will be allowed per application.

The call for papers and panels opens today, Sept. 12, 2012, and the deadline is Nov. 22, 2012. Thought leaders from the biotechnology industry, academia, and science community are invited to submit proposals for the following six program tracks:

Proposed papers and panels should address any in a range of topics, including biotechnology for climate change, advanced biofuels, energy from algae, microbial fuel cells, biopolymers, renewable chemical platforms, fine chemicals from biomass, health and personal nutrition, food ingredients and flavorings, fragrances and cosmetics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, biomass pre-treatment, use of agricultural and forestry residues, new energy crops, feedstock collection, cell wall modification, enzyme development, synthetic biology, or new business models. For more information on the conference or to submit a proposal, please visithttp://www.bio.org/worldcongress. For assistance, please contact worldcongress@bio.org.

Registration for the 2013 World Congress will open in December. All programs at the 2013 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working full time for print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling innovations transforming our world. Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.

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BIO Issues Call for Paper and Panel Submissions for 2013 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Sep 12, 2012) - Prana Biotechnology ( NASDAQ : PRAN ) ( ASX : PBT ) today reported that it had received a recommendation from the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) that the IMAGINE trial for Alzheimer's disease should continue as planned based on the initial review of clinical data.The DSMB is an independent group of experts who review the accumulated safety data in ongoing clinical trials, in order to safeguard the interests and safety of participating and future patients. The DSMB considers study-specific data as well as relevant background knowledge about the disease, test agent, or patient population under study.

The IMAGINE trial is a double-blind placebo controlled trial enrolling 40 patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease at five sites in Melbourne, Australia. Brain Imaging is being used to measure PBT2's effect on amyloid deposits in the brain (using PiB-PET scanning) and effects on increasing brain activity (FDG PET). Cognition effects are being measured by the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB).

In the current IMAGINE trial:

In an earlier 12 week trial PBT2 both significantly changed amyloid levels in spinal fluid and improved the cognition of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The IMAGINE trial, with 12 months of treatment, aims to establish PBT2 as a safe and effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. PBT2 has a unique therapeutic action that can benefit people suffering neurodegenerative disease because of its specialized ability to prevent the toxic relationship between disease proteins and the metals, zinc and copper, in the brain.

Prana is also conducting a 6 month trial in 100 patients with early to mid-stage Huntington disease and the company believes that PBT2 has the potential to bring real benefit to Huntington Disease patients who suffer from a range of motor, behavioural and cognitive symptoms. The trial objective is to demonstrate safety, motor and behavioural benefits and the same cognitive benefits for Huntington's patients that it has already demonstrated in Alzheimer's patients treated with PBT2.

About Prana Biotechnology Limited Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September 2002.Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute (Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of Prana's technology.

For further information please visit the Company's web site at http://www.pranabio.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects," "intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts.Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to PBT2, and otherrisks detailed from time to time in the filings the Company makes with Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K.Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release.Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.

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Prana Receives Recommendation to Proceed With Alzheimer's Clinical Trial From Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organizations (BIO) 2012 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy will feature two breakout sessions focusing on commercial applications for algae and advances in algal biomass production and processing. The Summit will bring together industry leaders, university researchers and venture capitalists to facilitate networking and business partnerships this October 9-12 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, Canada.

Algae-produced oils hold the potential for replacing fossil fuel resources in many products. Algae derived starches, oils and proteins can be used in food, animal feed or nutrition supplements, and fatty acids from algae can be used in diesel biofuels as well.

Volatile pricing for fossil fuels, political instability in petroleum producing regions, and the environmental impacts of fossil fuels are some of the key reasons that producers of chemicals and plastics are searching for alternative, renewable resources like algae, said Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIOs Industrial & Environmental Section. The continued progress in advancing algae, among other feedstocks, toward commercial applications is a vital step in building a growing biobased economy that can strengthen economic security and enhance energy security.

Featured breakout sessions include:

Microalgae: Advancing to Commercial Applications Thursday, October 11, 4 - 5:30pm

Advances in Algal Biomass Production and Processing Friday, October 12, 8:30-10am

Registration is now open.

Media registration is now open and available. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters with valid press credentials working full time for print, broadcast or web publications.

Now in its seventh year, the Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy will address the latest issues in industrial biotechnology, including algae, advanced biofuels, biopolymers and bioplastics, dedicated energy crops, green chemistry, and synthetic biology. The annual Pacific Rim Summit is the original conference dedicated solely to growth of the industrial biotechnology sector in Asia and the Americas. Visit http://bio.org/pacrim.

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BIO Pacific Rim Summit to Address Algae’s Role in Replacing Fossil Fuels

Background:
Recent studies have demonstrated that photosynthetic cyanobacteria could be an excellent cell factory to produce renewable biofuels and chemicals due to their capability to utilize solar energy and CO2 as the sole energy and carbon sources. Biosynthesis of carbon-neutral biofuel alkanes with good chemical and physical properties has been proposed. However, to make the process economically feasible, one major hurdle to improve the low cell tolerance to alkanes needed to be overcome.
Results:
Towards the goal to develop robust and high-alkane-tolerant hosts, in this study, the responses of model cyanobacterial Synechocystis PCC 6803 to hexane, a representative of alkane, were investigated using a quantitative proteomics approach with iTRAQ - LC-MS/MS technologies. In total, 1,492 unique proteins were identified, representing about 42% of all predicted protein in the Synechocystis genome. Among all proteins identified, a total of 164 and 77 proteins were found up- and down-regulated, respectively. Functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that common stress responses were induced by hexane in Synechocystis. Notably, a large number of transporters and membrane-bound proteins, proteins against oxidative stress and proteins related to sulfur relay system and photosynthesis were induced, suggesting that they are possibly the major protection mechanisms against hexane toxicity.
Conclusion:
The study provided the first comprehensive view of the complicated molecular mechanism employed by cyanobacterial model species, Synechocystis to defend against hexane stress. The study also provided a list of potential targets to engineer Synechocystis against hexane stress.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Sep 10, 2012) - Prana Biotechnology ( NASDAQ : PRAN ) ( ASX : PBT ) today provided highlights and excerpts from the panel discussion, entitled 'Alzheimer's and Other Issues of Aging,' which took place on Sunday, September 9th at the Celebration of Science Conference in Washington, D.C.Freda Lewis-Hall, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Pfizer, moderated the panel.The Celebration of Science gathered over 1,000 leaders from the scientific, government, industry, philanthropic and academic communities to honor the tremendous accomplishments of science and to discuss promising possibilities for future breakthroughs.

Professor Jeffrey Cummings, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, and Chairman of Prana's Scientific Advisory Board, discussed the rising Alzheimer's epidemic among the aging US population and the need to find drugs that can reverse the disease.According to Dr. Cummings, "Patients with Alzheimer's Disease urgently need new therapies.While recent late stage clinical drug failures are disappointing, there is a promising pipeline of emerging therapies including PBT2, Prana's metal-protein attenuating compound."

Dr. Rudy Tanzi, Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Prana's Chief Scientific Advisor, reviewed why he felt that the late-stage therapeutic candidates had failed and said that there is mounting evidence that compounds like PBT2 that can simultaneously prevent amyloid beta protein from accumulating, neutralize its toxicity, and restore metal homeostasis in the neuron can stop and perhaps even reverse the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's Disease.According to Professor Tanzi, "Prana's PBT2 may prove to be the winning technology, based on not only a large and growing literature of scientific research but also on Phase II trial data.PBT2 has a unique therapeutic action that can benefit people suffering neurodegenerative disease because of its specialized ability to prevent the toxic relationship between disease proteins and the metals, zinc and copper, in the brain. In a 12 week trial PBT2 both significantly lowered beta-amyloid levels in spinal fluid and improved the cognition of patients with Alzheimer's Disease."

The currently ongoing IMAGINE trial, with 12 months of treatment, aims to establish PBT2 as a safe and effective treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.The double blind placebo controlled trial is enrolling 40 patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's Disease in five sites in Melbourne, Australia. Brain Imaging is being used to measure PBT2's effect on amyloid deposits in the brain (using PiB-PET scanning) and effects on increasing brain activity (FDG PET). Cognition effects are being measured by the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB).

Prana is also conducting a 6 month trial in 100 patients with early to mid-stage Huntington's Disease and the company believes that PBT2 has the potential to bring real benefit to Huntington's Disease patients who suffer from a range of motor, behavioural and cognitive symptoms. The trial objective is to demonstrate safety, motor and behavioural benefits and the same cognitive benefits for Huntington's patients that it has already demonstrated in Alzheimer's patients treated with PBT2.

The Celebration of Science gathered over 1,000 leaders from the scientific, government, industry, philanthropic and academic communities to honor the tremendous accomplishments of science so far and to imagine what's possible for the future.

About Prana Biotechnology Limited Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September 2002.Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute (Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of Prana's technology.

For further information please visit the Company's web site at http://www.pranabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects," "intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts.Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to PBT2, and otherrisks detailed from time to time in the filings the Company makes with Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K.Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release.Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.

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Prana Shows Significant Promise in the Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease, According to Experts at Celebration of ...

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Retrophin, LLC, a privately held biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases, today announced that it has named Stephen Aselage as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 16. Aselage was named to the Board on September 6. The company also announced that it is moving its headquarters from New York City to San Diego, CA, where it already has an office.

Aselage brings more than 30 years of pharmaceutical/biotechnology expertise to Retrophin. He joins the company from BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. During his seven years with BioMarin, he built the commercial and medical affairs functions that launched three commercial products and developed commercial business in more than 45 countries.

We welcome Steves global pharmaceutical experience across multiple disciplines, expertise in rare diseases, and leadership acumen to Retrophin, said Martin Shkreli, President and Founder of Retrophin. Steve shares my vision and passion for finding treatments to help people with rare, life-threatening diseases, which make him an ideal candidate for CEO. His experience in enabling patients access to critical medications around the globe is particularly useful, as we want to ensure that every patient who might benefit from our treatments has the opportunity to do so.

Im excited to be leading the Retrophin team at a time when the company has so many opportunities for growth and promising treatments for rare diseases in the pipeline, said Aselage. I look forward to drawing from my experience in rare diseases as I work to contribute to Retrophins bright future.

Aselage also held leadership roles with Cell Therapeutics, Sangstat Medical Corporation, Advanced Tissue Sciences and Genentech. He worked briefly for Genzyme, as well, assisting in the transition following its acquisition of Sangstat. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of sales and sales management positions at companies including Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals (now Sanofi-Aventis) and Bristol Laboratories. Aselage received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame.

About Retrophin, LLC

Retrophin, LLC is a privately held biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases. Retrophin is currently developing treatments for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other catastrophic diseases. The companys lead compound, RE-021, formerly known as DARA, is scheduled to begin enrollment in a Phase II clinical trial for FSGS in the near future. Retrophin's Series A financing was led by MSMB Capital and several current and former senior executives at global pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

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Retrophin Names Stephen Aselage as Chief Executive Officer

Background:
The branched chain alcohol isobutanol exhibits superior physicochemical properties as an alternative biofuel. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae naturally produces low amounts of isobutanol as a by-product during fermentations, resulting from the catabolism of valine. As S. cerevisiae is widely used in industrial applications and can easily be modified by genetic engineering, this microorganism is a promising host for the fermentative production of higher amounts of isobutanol.
Results:
Isobutanol production could be improved by re-locating the valine biosynthesis enzymes Ilv2, Ilv5 and Ilv3 from the mitochondrial matrix into the cytosol. To prevent the import of the three enzymes into yeast mitochondria, N-terminally shortened Ilv2, Ilv5 and Ilv3 versions were constructed lacking their mitochondrial targeting sequences. SDS-PAGE and immunofluorescence analyses confirmed expression and re-localization of the truncated enzymes. Growth tests or enzyme assays confirmed enzymatic activities. Isobutanol production was only increased in the absence of valine and the simultaneous blockage of the mitochondrial valine synthesis pathway. Isobutanol production could be even more enhanced after adapting the codon usage of the truncated valine biosynthesis genes to the codon usage of highly expressed glycolytic genes. Finally, a suitable ketoisovalerate decarboxylase, Aro10, and alcohol dehydrogenase, Adh2, were selected and overexpressed. The highest isobutanol titer was 0.63 g/L at a yield of nearly 15 mg per g glucose.
Conclusion:
A cytosolic isobutanol production pathway was successfully established in yeast by re-localization and optimization of mitochondrial valine synthesis enzymes together with overexpression of Aro10 decarboxylase and Adh2 alcohol dehydrogenase. Driving forces were generated by blocking competition with the mitochondrial valine pathway and by omitting valine from the fermentation medium. Additional deletion of pyruvate decarboxylase genes and engineering of co-factor imbalances should lead to even higher isobutanol production.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

Background:
In the present study, three ionic liquids, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]OAc), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate ([EMIM]DEP), were used to partially dissolve rice husk, after which the cellulose were regenerated by the addition of water. The aim of the investigation is to examine the implications of the ionic liquid pretreatments on rice husk composition and structure.
Results:
From the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, the regenerated cellulose were more amorphous, less crystalline, and possessed higher structural disruption compared with untreated rice husk. The major component of regenerated cellulose from [BMIM]Cl and [EMIM]DEP pretreatments was cellulose-rich material, while cellulose regenerated from [EMIM]OAc was a matrix of cellulose and lignin. Cellulose regenerated from ionic pretreatments could be saccharified via enzymatic hydrolysis, and resulted in relatively high reducing sugars yields, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis of untreated rice husk did not yield reducing sugars. Rice husk residues generated from the ionic liquid pretreatments had similar chemical composition and amorphousity to that of untreated rice husk, but with varying extent of surface disruption and swelling.
Conclusions:
The structural architecture of the regenerated cellulose and rice husk residues showed that they could be used for subsequent fermentation or derivation of cellulosic compounds. Therefore, ionic liquid pretreatment is an alternative in the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass in addition to the conventional chemical pretreatments.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Sep 7, 2012) - Prana Biotechnology ( NASDAQ : PRAN ) ( ASX : PBT ) today announced thatChief Scientific Advisor, Rudy Tanzi, Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; and Prana Chairman, R&D Board, Jeffrey Cummings, Director, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, will take part in a panel discussion entitled, 'Alzheimer's and Other Issues of Aging' on Sunday, September 9th at the Celebration of Science Conference in Washington, D.C.Freda Lewis-Hall, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer Inc. will moderate the panel and George Vradenburg, Chairman and co-founder, USAgainstAlzheimer's will also participate as a panelist.

The session will consider what are the most promising new technologies for fighting Alzheimer's which currently affects more than five million Americans.They will address innovative technologies and what is the best way forward for combating Alzheimer's and other age related diseases.The panel will also discuss what scientific advances will help us realize the potential of longevity.

The Celebration of Science will gather over 1,000 leaders from the scientific, government, industry, philanthropic and academic communities to honor the tremendous accomplishments of science so far and to reaffirm the commitmentto imagine what's possible for the future.

About Prana Biotechnology Limited Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September 2002.Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute (Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of Prana's technology.

For further information please visit the Company's web site at http://www.pranabio.com.

Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects," "intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts.Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to PBT2, and otherrisks detailed from time to time in the filings the Company makes with Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K.Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release.Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.

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Prana Scientists to Participate in Panel on Alzheimer's and Other Issues of Aging at Celebration of Science Conference

NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0958100/Agricultural-Biotechnology-Emerging-Technologies-and-Global-Markets.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Genomics

INTRODUCTION

Agricultural biotechnology markets reviewed in this report include biotechnology tools, synthetic biology-enabled products and transgenic seeds.

Our key objective is to present a comprehensive analysis of the agricultural biotechnology industry, with an emphasis on products and technologies that are commercially important in the 2012 to 2017 time period. Market segments with rapid growth rates are highlighted, as well as those segments with large market potential. This analysis provides a quantitative basis and market context for companies to make strategic choices about participation in the agricultural biotechnology industry.

The study will be particularly useful to companies supplying agricultural seeds, synthetic genes, oligonucleotides, DNA sequencing instruments, cell culture media; biofuels, specialty chemicals, microfluidics and life sciences tools.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

Agricultural biotechnology contains a wide range of products, and is of interest to a wide audience. There are a significant number of near-term opportunities, as well as longer-term potential. Applications include agriculture-themed microarrays and lab-on-chip devices, RNA interference assays, agriculture-derived biofuels and chemicals, and transgenic seeds.

This report examines these product applications and markets, helping companies to prioritize product opportunities and strategic opportunities. Agricultural technologies are an important part of the global economy, and biotechnology is enabling science in this industry. Therefore, it is important for both technology providers and traditional agricultural companies to understand the changes occurring in the industry.

Rapid changes in highly technical fields such as DNA sequencing and synthetic biology are driving new products in agriculture. These developments create unique market opportunities. This report analyzes these trends and their impact on future markets for agricultural products.

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Agricultural Biotechnology: Emerging Technologies and Global Markets

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces the initial list of presenting companies for the 11th Annual BIO Investor Forum, an international investor forum which explores investment trends and opportunities in life sciences, with a focus on venture-stage growth and emerging public companies as well as those poised to join the growth watch list in 2013. The event will take place October 9-10, 2012 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, Calif.

The aim of the BIO Investor Forum is to bring together a select group of private and early stage biotech companies along with leading investors in an effort to establish relationships and foster the development of new partnerships and, ultimately, new medicines. This year, we already have an exciting line-up of companies who will present their innovative products and technologies, from emerging public companies working on late-stage clinical trials, to newly-established Discovery companies developing novel biologics platforms, said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president, Emerging Companies & Business Developmentat BIO.

Companies were chosen through a competitive screening process with input from BIO and the events advisory committee. The committee is comprised of members from top-tier firms focused on investing and banking in the life sciences industry in addition to executives from emerging and leading biotech companies.

The following companies will present at the 11th Annual BIO Investor Forum:

Private:

Public:

Now a staple at the Investor Forum, the event will once again feature a series of Discovery Track presentations. The presentations will focus on Seed and A-round companies incorporated after 2007 that have raised less than $25M total through October 2012. Companies in this track are also first-time presenters and use biotechnology or related technologies for research and development of drug products or diagnostics. The following companies are scheduled to present in the Private Discovery Track:

Check back often as new presenters are continuously being added. If you are interested in becoming a presenter, please submit an application here.

The BIO Investor Forum is a must attend event forpublic and private market investors, research analysts, investment bankers, and industry executives focused on investment and business development opportunities in the life sciences. BIO One-on-One Partnering will also provide an opportunity to arrange meetings between investors; companies; and industry business development, licensing and therapeutic franchise heads.

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BIO Announces Presenting Companies for 11th Annual BIO Investor Forum

This section displays the last 50 news articles that were published.

Updated09/04/2012 08:43 PM

The first phase of the Biotechnology Research Center will be done soon. But the opening of the facility in Syracuse will not happen for at least a few months. This is not the first time the project has been delayed. Our Iris St. Meran tells us when we can expect it to be occupied.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- This time last year, this building was just a foundation of beams. But construction crews have been working on the first phase of the Biotechnology Research Center.

Upstate Medical University Facilities and Planning Vice President Tom Pelis said, "Phase one of the project was to construct the building shell, to finish one-and-a-half floors, which includes seven laboratories, as well as administrative offices."

That is expected to be completed in a few weeks. It's a $22 million undertaking in a partnership between Upstate Medical University and SUNY ESF. After breaking ground in 2009, construction was stalled waiting for state funding.

Work resumed last spring with a projected opening of this past June. The delay is for good reason: Additional funding was received for phase two, which will have eight smaller incubator labs.

"We thought about the time people would start moving in for phase one, we would start construction for phase two, Pelis added. That made really no sense so we don't expect occupancy to occur much before the end of the year."

This has been a labor of love and Pelis says he's proud of the progress.

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Biotechnology Center opening pushed back

Rensselaer Appoints Biotechnology, Administrative, and Education Leader Jonathan S. Dordick as Vice President for Research

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson Announces the Appointment of Dordick, Who Currently Leads the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Institute

Newswise Troy, N.Y. Jonathan S. Dordick, the current director of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) and Howard P. Isermann Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been appointed vice president for research, effective today.

Dr. Dordick brings a wealth of research experience, academic administrative talent, pedagogical leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit to the position as we seek to raise the level and impact of our research programs through the next stages of The Rensselaer Plan, President Jackson said.

His leadership as director of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies is indicative of his ability as a researcher and administrator, Jackson added. Under his guidance since 2008, CBIS has matured significantly, both operationally and intellectually, serving as a model organization within the university community by providing a vibrant research program while maximizing the societal impact of Rensselaer's investment in infrastructure and people, and by developing a broad array of functional core facilities that serve the Rensselaer biotechnology faculty and related research community.

As the vice president for research at Rensselaer, Dordick will be responsible for advancing the research enterprise across the full range of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary activities. He will work closely with the president and provost in the development and implementation of policies and practices relating to all aspects of the universitys research mission.

As a leading researcher, Dordick has established a large, longstanding, and internationally recognized program, in which he has published 300 peer-reviewed papers and nearly 40 patents and patent applications. He has delivered over 200 invited lectures worldwide, including seminars at more than 70 universities.

In support of his research program, he has received nearly $30 million in research support, the vast majority from peer-reviewed federal sources. He is the principal investigator of Rensselaers National Institutes of Health Biotechnology Predoctoral Training Grant, which provides a bridge between education and research at the graduate level.

As an entrepreneur, Dordick has founded three companies providing products and services that impact industries as diverse as healthcare and energy, and has served on the scientific advisory boards of five others.

His knowledge of the needs of both industry and the university environment will serve the Institute well in identifying new research directions and in working collaboratively with faculty and industry colleagues, Jackson said.

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Rensselaer Appoints Biotechnology, Administrative, and Education Leader Jonathan S. Dordick as Vice President for ...

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces panel sessions for the 2nd annual BIO Convention in China to be held October 24-25, 2012 in Shanghai, China. The event will highlight the latest issues and trends related to doing business in China, including globalizing Traditional Chinese Medicines, trends in cancer research and presenting new models of R&D structures.

The program will feature biopharma executives from East and West sharing their insights and perspectives on issues critical for encouraging and supporting cross border deal-making," said Alan Eisenberg, Executive Vice President of Emerging Companies and Business Development.

Three cant miss panels include:

Other BIO China sessions include:

In addition to panel sessions, BIO China will host keynote sessions, company presentations, partnering meetings and networking opportunities.

Dr. Michael Rosenblatt, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer for Merck, will provide one of two keynote addresses on October 25th. Directly following Dr. Rosenblatts keynote, Peng Wang, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Simcere will deliver his remarks. Governor Jon Huntsman, former U.S. Ambassador to China and Governor of Utah, will provide the third keynote address. Additional keynote speakers will be announced at a later date.

BIO brings to China more than 15 years of experience in organizing international conferences for the biotech industry, including the BIO International Convention the global event for biotechnology. BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations.

For more information on the BIO Convention in China, please visit here.

About BIO

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BIO Announces Preliminary Program for the 2012 BIO Convention in China

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

THERAVECTYS, a biotechnology company that is developing a new generation of vaccines based on lentiviral vector technology (*), announced today that it has secured 7.48million euros as of the end of H1 2012. These funds, raised exclusively from private investors, will enable THERAVECTYS to pursue the development of a new generation of vaccines, with an anti-HIV therapeutic vaccine as first priority.

For this third funding round, Guy PAILLAUD, former executive manager of PROMODES, and John PIETERS, former CEO of AMGEN Francesome of the company's historical investorshave been joined by 10 new private investors, which include BETTENCOURT family, Philippe ODDO and Richard HENNESSY.

Development of new vaccine candidates

In particular, this new amount of funds raised will enable the company to fund:

"We thank our investorsboth old and newfor the trust that they have placed in us. Thanks to their support, within the next two years we hope to be able to demonstrate in humans not only the safety but also the potential effectiveness of our anti-HIV vaccine candidate," says RenaudVAILLANT, CEO at THERAVECTYS, who adds that "this funding should also allow us to continue and even strengthen our efforts in research and development on new indications alone or in collaboration with other large pharmaceutical laboratories."

(*)Lentiviral vectors: THERAVECTYS uses lentiviral vector technology to develop a new generation of vaccines. Unlike other gene transfer vectors, lentiviral vectors have the unique ability to induce a strong, sustainable and diversified cellular immune response by endogenously stimulating dendritic cells. This breakthrough technology is expected to make it possible to prevent or effectively treat numerous diseases against which the induction of an effective cellular immune response is required: viral diseases (HIV), bacterial or parasitic infections, cancers, etc.

About THERAVECTYS (www.theravectys.com)

THERAVECTYS, a biotechnology company, has developed a new generation of vaccines based on lentiviral vector technology. Built on the results of fundamental research conducted at the Pasteur Institute, this breakthrough technology is expected to enable preventing or effectively treating many diseases in which the induction of effective cellular immune response is required. Benefitting from an exclusive worldwide license with the Pasteur Institute and from financial support from public institutions, THERAVECTYS is continuing its research and development efforts to combat other diseases. It plans to soon be developing new vaccine candidates, either alone or in collaboration with other pharmaceutical laboratories. contact@theravectys.com

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THERAVECTYS Raises 7.48 Million Euros, One of the Largest Funding in Private Equity in 2012