NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/28/12)- Biotechnology stocks have been on an impressive run this year as favorable legislation out of Washington is allowing biotech companies of all sizes to more easily navigate regulations. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology industry and provides equity research on Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: IDIX - News) and Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.fivestarequities.com/IDIX http://www.fivestarequities.com/DNDN

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) recently applauded the House Energy and Commerce Committee's passage of the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act, H.R. 452, which would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) established in the health care reform law. BIO also issued a press release applauding the Senate on the passage of H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act creates an "on-ramp" to the public market for emerging growth companies, allowing them five years to focus on conducting critical research that can lead to cures for debilitating diseases before having to divert funds to costly regulations, BIO reports.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the biotechnology industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.fivestarequities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases in the United States and Europe. Earlier this month the company announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) declared a patent interference between Idenix's U.S. Patent Application no. 12/131,868 and Pharmasset Inc.'s (acquired by Gilead Sciences) U.S. Patent no. 7,429,572, both related to certain nucleoside compounds useful in treating patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Dendreon Corporation, a biotechnology company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics to enhance cancer treatment options for patients.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: http://www.fivestarequities.com/disclaimer

Excerpt from:
Idenix Pharmaceuticals and Dendreon Benefit From Positive Decisions Out of Congress

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/30/12)- The Biotechnology Industry's future looks very promising with the passing of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act, which passed in the Senate by a vote of 73-26, contains several provisions which would make the pathway to capital formation more attainable for small biotechnology companies, clearing the way for American innovation and ingenuity by removing bureaucratic hurdles and red tape to speed cures and medical breakthroughs to patients. The Paragon Report examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN - News) and Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN - News).

Access to the full company reports can be found at: http://www.paragonreport.com/AMLN http://www.paragonreport.com/ILMN

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood recently made the following statement: "BIO applauds passage of the JOBS Act and all efforts to incentivize and encourage capital formation for growing companies. This legislation would make capital formation easier for small, emerging biotechnology companies, speeding the development of new cures and treatments for patients living with debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, and HIV/AIDS. Bringing such groundbreaking cures and treatments from bench to bedside is a long and arduous road, and biotechnology companies are at the forefront of the effort."

"These reforms are especially important to innovative biotechnology companies that do not yet have product revenue and must spend investor dollars on compliance rather than the search for cures and breakthrough medicines," Greenwood explained.

The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the Biotechnology Industry register with us free at http://www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares rose as much as 51 percent on Wednesday after Bloomberg News reported the company rejected a $3.5 billion unsolicited takeover bid from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Illumina, Inc. announced that it has recommended that its stockholders take no action at this time in response to Roche's announcement that it is now offering to acquire Illumina for $51.00 per share in cash. Consistent with its fiduciary duties and responsibilities, and in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, Illumina's Board of Directors will thoroughly review Roche's revised proposal and make a recommendation to stockholders regarding the proposal in due course.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Read more:
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Illumina, Inc. Benefit From JOBS Act

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/28/12)- Biotechnology stocks have been on an impressive run this year as favorable legislation out of Washington is allowing biotech companies of all sizes to more easily navigate regulations. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology industry and provides equity research on Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (OTC.BB: ACTC.OB - News) and PharmAthene Inc. (AMEX: PIP - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.fivestarequities.com/ACTC http://www.fivestarequities.com/PIP

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) recently applauded the House Energy and Commerce Committee's passage of the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act, H.R. 452, which would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) established in the health care reform law. BIO also issued a press release applauding the Senate on the passage of H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act creates an "on-ramp" to the public market for emerging growth companies, allowing them five years to focus on conducting critical research that can lead to cures for debilitating diseases before having to divert funds to costly regulations, BIO reports.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the biotechnology industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.fivestarequities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a biotechnology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of human embryonic and adult stem cell technology in the field of regenerative medicine. Earlier this month the company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a proxy statement containing a shareholder proposal for a reverse split of its common stock. "This reverse stock split, which should better align the company's capital structure with its stage of development, and an accompanying Nasdaq listing application, will represent a significant step toward creating long-term shareholder value and building ACT into a world-class player in the regenerative medicine space," said Gary Rabin, chairman and CEO of ACT.

PharmAthene, Inc., a biodefense company, engages in the development and commercialization of medical countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons in the United States. For the year ended December 31, 2011, PharmAthene recognized revenue of $24.3 million, compared to $21.0 million in 2010.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: http://www.fivestarequities.com/disclaimer

Excerpt from:
Advanced Cell Technology and PharmAthene Poised to Benefit From Positive Legislation

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire -03/28/12)- Planda Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC.BB: PLPL.OB - News), a producer of highly bioavailable plant extracts, today provided details on the use of its proprietary green tea gallate catechin extract for preventing malaria symptoms. Three separate studies have demonstrated the antimalarial potential of the green tea catechins, EGCG and ECG, on blood stages of the malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum. The studies unequivocally demonstrate that EGCG and ECG, and, accordingly, green tea crude extracts, strongly inhibit P. falciparum growth in vitro.

The studies have, however, confirmed that the effects of green tea gallate catechins in preventing malaria have been hindered by the low oral bioavailability of its polyphenolic catechins. Moreover, absorbed green tea catechins are known to undergo rapid and extensive metabolic transformations. These drawbacks are most probably the reasons why no association has been reported so far between green tea consumption and its antimalarial effects despite the large use of this beverage in several Asian countries where malaria is endemic. These studies conclude that appropriate pharmaceutical strategies must be devised to increase the low bioavailability of green tea gallate catechins in such a way to make them more amenable as antimalarial agents. Indeed, eight fold higher concentrations of green tea gallate catechin (EGCG) were found necessary in one of these studies to show induced lethal effects on sporozoites.

Planda Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Roger Duffield commented, "The proprietary process employed by Planda to process green tea catechins results in a product with six to eight time greater bioavailability than traditional extracts, with the opportunity to be engineered specifically as an antimalarial agent. This suggests that, for the first time, a viable, affordable malaria treatment is within our reach."

Each year, approximately 500 million people worldwide become infected with malaria. Of those infected, roughly two million will die from the disease. The development of vaccine options has so far proved challenging due to the complexity of the parasite. Many researchers consider plant-derived bioactive compounds attractive candidates for drug development since they represent lead structures for new or existing drug targets. Currently, most medications including antibiotics, anticancer drugs and drugs directed against parasites are based on natural compounds.

About Plandai Biotechnology, Inc.

Planda Biotechnology, Inc., through its recent acquisition of Global Energy Solutions, Ltd. and its subsidiaries, focuses on the farming of whole fruits, vegetables and live plant material and the production of proprietary functional foods and botanical extracts for the health and wellness industry. Its principal holdings consist of land, farms and infrastructure in South Africa.

Safe Harbor Statement

The information provided may contain forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties. Results, events and performances could vary from those contemplated. These statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, expressed or implied, to differ from predicted outcomes. Risks and uncertainties include product demand, market competition, and Planda's ability to meet current or future plans. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Planda is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, to reflect events or circumstances afterward, or to disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.

More here:
Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. Announces Studies Show Green Tea Gallate Catechin Extract Effective in Preventing Malaria

By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff

CAMBRIDGE -- Despite strides in medical technology, the biotechnology industry faces mounting challenges ranging from reduced research funding to uncertainty over reimbursements to a shift in pharmaceutical companies focus from drug discovery to mergers and marketing.

That was the unsettling prognosis delivered Monday at the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council by Dr. Francis Collins, who heads the National Institutes of Health, and speakers on a panel taking the temperature of a business in transition.

Estimating that 83 percent of the $30.9 billion NIH budget in fiscal 2012 will bankroll outside research at academic medical centers and elsewhere, Collins told about 500 state biotechnology executives that a rather large chunk of that comes to Massachusetts. When measured by per-capita spending, he said, Massachusetts blows away California and every other state that receives research money from the NIH.

Collins said the NIH directly supports 432,000 medical research jobs across the country. But he warned that the inflation-adjusted purchasing power of that funding has fallen 20 percent since 2003 even as China, India, and Europe have boosted their research outlays.

If America wants to see its economy continuing to grow, this is a very important area to be pushing forward, Collins told the audience at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Along with his warnings, Collins did offer some reasons to be optimistic about the biotechnology industrys future. He cited the importance of groundbreaking new drugs such as Kalydeco, the recently approved cystic fibrosis treatment made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., based in Cambridge. He also noted that advances in technology have dropped the cost of sequencing a human genome from $100 million in 2001 to under $10,000 today. And he said the NIH is working with the Food and Drug Administration and the Pentagons research arm to load cell types on microchips to screen for safe and effective drugs.

But other speakers cautioned that the biotechnology industrys drive for innovation is being increasingly threatened by the shrinking federal budget, a growing reluctance of big drug companies and private investors to finance early-stage research, and the slow pace of US regulatory approvals as profitable blockbuster drugs lose patent protection.

Juan Enriquez, managing director of Boston venture capital firm Excel Venture Management, said theres a price to pay for regulators failing to act swiftly -- or at all -- on new drug applications. The pipeline is eroding, he said. There are less biotechs able to get an initial public offering that is successful at the same time that the costs are going up and up.

Another problem for industry is that, with insurance payers reluctant to reimburse for new medicines, only about three in 10 approved drugs generate enough money to recoup the cost of their development, said Steven C. Gilman, chief scientific officer at Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Lexington. Pricing reimbursements have become a relatively big deal that you cant wait until after approval to start thinking about, he said.

See the original post:
NIH director to Cambridge biotechnology executives: Coming years won’t be easy

Biotechnology as the name implies is the combination of Bio and Technology. It is an area of biology which includes use of live organism and bio processes in engineering, technology. In short Biotechnology is technical application which can use live organism and biological system techniques to manufacture or change any product or process it for any specified type of use. Any Biotechnology Company or organization is a firm which uses biotechnology for manufacturing or designing any product or service.

List of Biotechnology Companies:

A. Companies in US

Abraxis Bioscience, Acorda Therapeutics, Alkermes, Amgen, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Arena Pharmaceuticals, ArrayBioPharma, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, Carrington Laboratories, Celgene, Cephalon, Cerus, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, CuraGen, CV Therapeutics, Cytogen, Enzo Biochem, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Genentech,GenVec, Genzyme, Gilead Sciences, Human Genome Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Indevus Pharmaceuticals, InterMune, Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Imclone Systems, ImmunoGen, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, LifeCell, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Maxygen, Medarex, Medivir Group, MedImmune, MGI Pharma, Micromet, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Monogram Biosciences, Myriad Genetics, Nabi Bio pharmaceuticals, Nektar Therapeutics, Neurocrine Biosciences, NPSPharmaceuticals, Omrix Bio pharmaceuticals, Oscient Pharmaceuticals, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Palatin Technologies, PDLBioPharma, Pharmion, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Replidyne, Tanox, Targacept, Trimeris, United Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, ViaCell, ViroPharma, Xoma, ZymoGenetics.

B. Companies in India

Alembic Ltd, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Asia-Pacific Ltd, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd, Biocon, Biotech Consortium India Ltd, Brain Wave Bioinformatics Ltd, Catalyst Pharma Consulting, Chemitech Foundation, Colour-Chem Ltd, Dr Reddy’s Labs, Excel Industries Ltd, Haitanya Healthcare Ecom Ltd, Hi Tech Bio Labs, Landpower Biotech Ltd, Life Science Technology Lupin Ltd, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd, Ocimum Biosolutions Ltd, Serum Institute of India, Shantha Biotechnics Private Ltd.

C. Other companies

There are many other companies like Ambrilia Biopharma, AEterna Zentaris, Cangene, QLT, Bioniche Life Sciences (Canada),Protherics, Acambis, Vernalis (UK), Genmab, Bavarian Nordic (Denmark), Vitrolife (Sweden), MediGene, MorphoSys, GPC Biotech (Germany), Peptech, Life Therapeutics (Australia), IsoTis (Switzerland), Crucell (Netherlands), Sinovac Biotech (China),Innogenetics (Belgium) too in biotechnology.

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http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml

26 March 2012

Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc

("Angel" or "the Company")

Company update

Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM:ABH), the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, is pleased to announce that commissioning of the Cramlington facility is now complete as anticipated and that the plant is now available for development, technical transfer and other non-GMP (KOSDAQ: 018290.KQ - news) activities.

Completion of recommissioning reflects a period of concerted effort by all staff from across the business and our contractor WHP. Angel intends to utilise this facility to provide additional GMP manufacturing capabilities for the production of cell therapies, antibody purification and production of recombinant proteins.

By investing the additional capital, raised in the recent placing, into the infrastructure of the facility; such as environmental monitoring systems, utilities and superstructure, Cramlington has been upgraded to a state of the art manufacturing site offering three GMP cleanrooms, two Quality Control laboratories, a fermentation pilot plant and additional flexible development laboratory space.

Central to this progress has been the on-going recruitment of local staff into positions in Quality, Validation and Operations functions. This initial phase of recruitment has provided a core of five full time key individuals who, along with staff from the Pentlands site, will ensure the facility is fully prepared for the Medicines (Xetra: 938858 - news) and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) audit in May. We will continue to focus on recruiting a further five high calibre individuals during Q2 and Q3 this year.

Work is underway to transfer pilot processes from the Pentlands facility as a necessary first step in securing our MHRA licences. Data from activities is required to complete the dossier that will be reviewed by MHRA inspectors and will ensure that the facility is licenced in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Following grant of a licence the facility can be used for GMP manufacturing activities.

A first draft of the legal documents required to implement the joint venture with Materia Medica Holdings (MMH) has completed review. MMH have asked for changes to be made to the layout of their dedicated GMP facility to provide greater flexibility to introduce new programmes and new drawings have been submitted for approval.

See the article here:
Angel Biotechnology - Update on Cramlington

Biotechnology is undoubtedly the technology of the future for it not only presents exceptional opportunities, but also gives hope for a better future with better diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In terms of potential and growth, it is not much different from the mystical dragon, and since 2012 is the year of the dragon, it is expected that it would bring in loads of good news and prosperity for this new branch of science.
The good news
For biotechnology, the last year has been strong and monumental with Tax Incentive Legislation being passed in Australia and a very strong and consistent growth in the sector which was recently followed by good news, the Senate Inquiry of the gene patents bill. Since the last year, the Australian Biotechnology has been included amongst the fifth most innovative biotech nations in the world (according to the Scientific American World View). This trend is continuing in the current year, as Australia has shown great potential in developing biotech related agricultural, medical and even environmental research.
The companies of Australian Biotech are confident that the New Year would definitely be the best and until now with tremendous growth in the sector it has proved this. Even the new startup biotech companies in Australia now stand a better chance with the Tax Incentive’s 45% refundable component, even the large corporations would now be able to reduce their R&D expenses by as much as 10%. Such a healthy growth favoring environment has allowed the Australian Biotech companies to make a mark globally and have a steadily rising status even in the competitive markets of US and Europe.
Conclusion
The Australian Biotech industry now needs to revamp itself and embrace a more authentic and transparent management. There should be better communication between the management and the stakeholders. The opportunities are in plenty and the industry environment very supportive, hence the companies should make the most of it and truly let the biotech dragon rise in this year of the dragon.

Source:
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Early stages of the year 2012 have resulted into a great beginning for the entire biotechnology industry. This has led to a whooping increase in the NASDAQ Biotechnology index, which is currently 80% higher than before. The industry is recovering really fast from the previous economic crisis. An increase in the funding for the biotech industry has been recently reported by the GIA (Global Industry Analysts). Various investing opportunities in the field of biotechnology, equity researches in the field of Elite Pharmaceuticals and Aeterna Zentaris Inc., have been put forth by the Paragon report.
GIA has come up with a wonderful prediction of a whooping US$320 billion increase in funding for research and development by the year 2015. This includes expansion of this industry in medical sciences as well as agriculture. There are various government initiatives in the pipeline which would help in driving growth in this industry. GIA further explains that various developing industry markets like China and India can emerge as useful industrial and agricultural biotechnology markets, as they have witnessed increase in income levels and population. These countries are developing into a great hub for biotech drugs as they come with a great and rich talent pool and reduced cost of investments. This was recently stated by GIA in a press release. Various oral sustained and controlled drugs and products have already been developed by Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc. The strategy of Elite focuses on bringing in various partner companies in the product management life cycle. This has led to a vast improvement of various off-patent products of drugs. It was only during the last week that Elite announced its initial shipment of the drug methadone hydrochloride (10mg tabs) to one of its wholly owned subsidiary,The Pharma Network, LLC, as well as Ascend Laboratories, LLC. This was done in regards with the commercial manufacturing and supply agreement. Aeterna Zentaris has developed various drugs for oncology researches. It has also proven quite beneficial for investigating treatments for different cancers like multiple myeloma, ovarian, colorectal, bladder and prostrate cancers.

The paragon report for such investigations and upswings in biotechnology has been compensated by various third party organizations for advertising requirements.

Source:
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Commerce is understood as any activity that creates wealth. For the past few decades, Biotechnology has been seen as an industrial means to generate wealth, most likely by adopting a ‘buying-selling’ model. Well!Biotechnology , in purest understanding, intends to tap a living process, most likely through gene manipulation, for contributing, directly or indirectly, towards improving the quality of human life. In the spate of economic struggle, states and corporations have started seeing Biotechnology as a core idea, systematized in a larger commercial cum industrial procedure for producing goods, to be sold for profit.

The Biotechnology products

Insulin has long been used by medics to control Diabetes. The recombinant protein is obtained from insulin secreting cultures, transformed through microbial bio techniques. As a matter of fact, some other approved products including antibiotics, fermented beverages, enzymes, bio degradable plastic etc. Are popularly used and now socially accepted. A longer list of newly researched products, still under development as a product line, is much waited for being introduced in the fast growing markets of developing nations. Moreover, the goods in this case are just not limited to be lifeless. The latest version of advancement through Biotechnology is to produce, in large-scale, germ plasm that grows into plant and live stock which is disease resistant and better yielding.

The sociopolitical resistance

People still have hunger pangs while food security bills are lingering in the Parliament. About a situation, when new concepts face allegations and non acceptance, there is nothing new. Genetically Modified food is often dismissed for harboring polluted DNA, once out for cultivation, would have no control from becoming promiscuous with the ‘natural’ variety. But why do we not resist the chemicals we have used for decades to voraciously grow crops and often ripen them artificially, with the same zest.

Well, the answer lies with us i.e. We dare to use the modern technology or bow before the conservative and orthodox methods. This is a fascinating field that has grown by leaps and bounds. Hence, we should look forward and seeing the advantages adopt Biotechnology with open hands.

Source:
http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml

Technology that makes use of any kind of living organism, for example, micro organisms, is known as biotechnology. Modern medical science, especially biotechnology, has emerged as a booming profitable business in the last few decades. Perceiving further growth in the sector, venture capitalists have increased their investments in this field. However promising the sector looks, venture capitalists are wary of investing their money in the startup firms owing to the risks involved and doubts about their sustainability.
What the report says?
The national venture capitalist Association and Pricewaterhouse Cooper Ltd. reported that $4.73 billion was spent by venture firms on 446 biotechnology companies in 2011 while only 153 pharmaceutical companies and equipment companies were able to receive their first funding from the venture capitalists, thus making it the lowest since 1996.
The number of new firms that have been registered with Food and Drug Administration has also gone up. The rise is calculated of about 43%. Out of these registered companies, only 13% some of them owe their success to venture capital funds.
This decline in the funding for startup biotech companies would affect the future innovation in this sector because of which we would see less number of innovations in the biotechnology field.
Summary
Venture capitalists are profit driven people. They decide their own rules before investing in a biotech company while entrepreneurs in this field are idea driven. The idea that they might have hit upon during their academic years might take a little longer to translate into commercial success. The perspective with venture capitalists is generally for 10 years or less than that. Therefore, they are averse to funding projects that may require more than 10 years to be a success, which is generally the case with most of these companies. Hence, we see a decline in funding at the outset. But, the need is to be more patient and have faith in the entrepreneur and his idea so that future innovation is not affected.

Source:
http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml

Biotechnology industry expected to grow unceasingly

Source:
http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml

€3m to support skills development in biotechnology sector

Source:
http://www.biotechblog.org/rss.xml

Background:
Enzymatic hydrolysis, the rate limiting step in the process development for biofuel, is always hampered by its low sugar concentration. High solid enzymatic saccharification could solve this problem but has several other drawbacks such as low rate of reaction. In the present study we have attempted to enhance the concentration of sugars in enzymatic hydrolysate of delignified Prosopis juliflora, using a fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis approach.
Results:
The enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out at elevated solid loading up to 20% (w/v) and a comparison between kinetics of batch and fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out using kinetic regimes. Under batch mode, the actual sugar concentration values at 20% initial substrate consistency were found deviated from the predicted values and the maximum sugar concentration obtained was 80.78 g/L, which on using fed-batch strategy was enhanced to the final sugar concentration of 127 g/L. The batch and fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysates were fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and ethanol production of 34.78 g/L and 52.83 g/L, respectively, were achieved. Furthermore, model simulations showed that higher insoluble solids in the feed resulted in both smaller reactor volume and shorter residence time.
Conclusion:
Fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis is an efficient procedure for enhancing the sugar concentration in the hydrolysate. Restricting the process to suitable kinetic regimes could result in higher conversion rates.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

Background:
Direct conversion of solar energy and carbon dioxide to drop in fuel molecules in a single biological system can be achieved from fatty acid-based biofuels such as fatty alcohols and alkanes. These molecules have similar properties to fossil fuels but can be producedby photosynthetic cyanobacteria.
Results:
Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 mutant strains containing either overexpression or deletion of the slr1609 gene, which encods an acyl-ACP synthetase (AAS), have been constructed. The complete segregation and deletion in all mutant strains was confirmed by PCR analysis. Blocking fatty acid activation by deleting slr1609 gene in wild-type Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 leds to a doubling of the amount of free fatty acids and a decrease of alkane production by up to 90 percent. Overexpression of slr1609 gene in the wild-type Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 had no effect on the production of either free fatty acids or alkanes. Overexpression or deletion of slr1609 gene in the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 mutant strain with the capability of making fatty alcohols by genetically introducing fatty acyl-CoA reductase respectively enhanced or reduced fatty alcohol production by 60 percent.
Conclusions:
Fatty acid activation functionalized by the slr1609 gene is metabolically crucial for biosynthesis of fatty acid derivatives in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. It is necessary but not sufficient for efficient production of alkanes. Fatty alcohol production can be significantly improved by the overexpression of slr1609 gene.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

Background:
Use of crude ligninase of bacterial origin is one of the most promising ways to improve the practical biodegradation of lignocellulosic biomass. However, lignin is composed of diverse monolignols with different abundance levels in different plant biomass and requires different proportions of ligninase to realize efficient degradation. To improve activity and reduce cost, the simultaneous submerged fermentation of laccase and lignin peroxidase (LiP) from a new bacterial strain, Streptomyces cinnamomensis, was studied by adopting formulation design, principal component analysis, regression analysis and unconstrained mathematical programming.
Results:
The activities of laccase and LiP from S. cinnamomensis cultured with the optimal medium formulations were improved to be five to eight times of their initial activities, and the measured laccase:LiP activity ratios reached 0.1, 0.4 and 1.7 when cultured on medium with formulations designed to produce laccase:LiP complexes with theoretical laccase:LiP activity ratios of 0.05 to 0.1, 0.5 to 1 and 1.1 to 2.
Conclusion:
Both the laccase and LiP activities and also the activity ratio of laccase to LiP could be controlled by the medium formulation as designed. Using a crude laccase-LiP complex with a specially designed laccase:LiP activity ratio has the potential to improve the degradation of various plant lignins composed of diverse monolignols with different abundance levels.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/23/12)- Biotechnology stocks continue to be some of the strongest performers in the markets as favorable legislation out of Washington boosts the sector's reach. The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) is currently up more than 16 percent year to date, reflecting an uptick in investor sentiment. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Galena Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: GALE - News) & CytRX Corporation (NASDAQ: CYTR - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.paragonreport.com/GALE http://www.paragonreport.com/CYTR

Earlier this month the Biotechnology Industry Organization applauded the Faster Access to Specialized Treatments (FAST) Act. According to BIO the legislation will modernize the Accelerated Approval pathway to expedite the development of modern, targeted, and personalized therapies for patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases.

BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood says the FAST act will speed access to innovative new therapies and cures to patients living with debilitating and life-threatening diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes and numerous rare diseases for which there is currently no treatment or cure.

The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the biotechnology industry register with us free at http://www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Galena Biopharma, Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative therapies addressing unmet medical needs using targeted bio therapeutics. Earlier this week Galena announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office agreed to award it another patent on NeuVax as a treatment for breast cancer. The patent covers the use of NeuVax in women with HER-2 positive breast cancer.

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical research and development company, engages in the development of human therapeutics, specializing in oncology. The company's net loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $14.4 million, or $0.11 per share, which included a recognized gain of $7.9 million on the valuation of warrant derivative liability.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Go here to read the rest:
Galena Biopharma and CytRx Corp Look to Benefit From Accelerated Approval Pathways

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/23/12)- Biotechnology stocks continue to be some of the strongest performers in the markets as favorable legislation out of Washington boosts the sector's reach. The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) is currently up more than 16 percent year to date, reflecting an uptick in investor sentiment. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Targacept Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT - News) & Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ: INCY - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.paragonreport.com/TRGT http://www.paragonreport.com/INCY

Earlier this month the Biotechnology Industry Organization applauded the Faster Access to Specialized Treatments (FAST) Act. According to BIO the legislation will modernize the Accelerated Approval pathway to expedite the development of modern, targeted, and personalized therapies for patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases.

BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood says the FAST act will speed access to innovative new therapies and cures to patients living with debilitating and life-threatening diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes and numerous rare diseases for which there is currently no treatment or cure.

The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the biotechnology industry register with us free at http://www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Targacept, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, design, and development of neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNR) therapeutics for the treatment of diseases and disorders of the nervous system. Targacept reported a net loss of $9.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to a net loss of $2.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2010.

Incyte Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary small molecule drugs for oncology and inflammation. Total revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, were $28.9 million as compared to $85.9 million for the same period in 2010.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

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Targacept and Incyte Corporation -- Strong Performers in Strengthening Biotechnology Industry

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today that it is accepting nominations for the fourth annual Biotech Humanitarian Award. As in years past, the Award will be given to an individual who has harnessed the potential of biotechnology to heal, fuel or feed the planet.

The individuals behind the biggest ideas in biotechnology are discovering ground-breaking technologies to address some of the most complex health, environmental and sustainability challenges facing our world today, said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. The Biotech Humanitarian Award is our way of saying thank you to the biotech innovators who are working on the frontlines to find cures for diseases and make peoples lives and the life of our planet better every day.

The Humanitarian Award honors work that aims to reduce human suffering significantly, enhance the human experience in a way that has a clear and direct benefit to society or improves the health of our planet Additional consideration will be given to approaches that are at a turning point and may potentially have immeasurable influence.

Last years Honoree was Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine advocate who serves as the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Offit was presented the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his 25 years spent dedicated to developing RotaTeq, one of the main vaccines currently used to fight rotavirus, a disease that is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children.

The Award and a prize of $10,000 will be presented at the 2012 BIO International Convention, in Boston, MA on June 18-21, 2012. Nominations are open to all individuals and can be accessed here. Nominees will be evaluated and judged on the following criteria: Impact on future generations; Impact on contemporary society; Contribution to the field of biotechnology; and Level of innovation exhibited.

Qualified nominees for the Biotech Humanitarian Award will be professionals in the biotechnology field including scientists, researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, financiers, philanthropists, educators, advocates and others who have added value to society through their pursuit of biotechnology processes.

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.

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BIO Opens Nominations for 2012 Biotech Humanitarian Award

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/22/12)- In recent years, smaller biotechnology companies have received less funding from venture capitalists than in years past. According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), roughly 61 percent of venture capitalists cite the FDA's challenging approval process as having the largest impact on their investment decisions. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology industry and provides equity research on Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CTIC - News) and Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: KERX - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at: http://www.fivestarequities.com/CTIC http://www.fivestarequities.com/KERX

A recent legislation, dubbed the TREAT Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., accelerates the review and approval process for medicines that treat an unmet medical need or significantly advance the standard of care for people suffering from deadly diseases. The bill could bring a boost to smaller biotech firms that often struggle to bring drugs to market. But the legislation, which is now in committee, will likely meet resistance from the Food and Drug Administration.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the biotechnology industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.fivestarequities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), 61 percent of venture capitalists cite FDA regulatory challenges as having the highest impact on their investment decisions. Venture capitalists invested a total of $3.92 billion last year in biotechs of all stages. This figure was well below the $6.17 billion peak in 2007, according to VentureSource. And shares in biotechs that went public last year averaged 29% less than their expected midpoint offering price, according to investment bank Needham & Co.

Last year, 98 biotechs received venture funding for the first time, down from 141 in 2007, a MoneyTree report from PricewaterhouseCoopers said. The start-ups raised a total of $842 million in initial financings in 2011, down 19% from the 2007 total.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: http://www.fivestarequities.com/disclaimer

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Cell Therapeutics and Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Hope for Help From the TREAT Act