Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. Highlights Health Benefits, Advantages of Green Tea Extract Process Cited in Murphy …

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SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire -02/17/12)- Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC.BB: PLPL.OB - News) today commented on the Murphy Analytics, LLC research report issued February 8, 2012 that initiated a buy recommendation with a twelve-month price potential of $2.20 per share.

Roger Duffield, Chief Executive Officer of Plandaí, stated, "The Murphy report touches many of the highlights about the market for green tea extract and the unique position of Plandaí within that market. Our proprietary and superior extraction method sets us apart as a leader in the growing field of phytonutrient-rich extracts."

The report states, in part, the following:

The Company's Phytofare™ Green Tea Gallate Catechin Extract is processed to deliver highly bioavailable, phytonutrient-rich extracts to a level many times that of other green tea extracts. In pharmaceutical usage, a higher degree of bioavailability means the requisite quantity of phytonutrients may be delivered in dosages that are feasible for human consumptions without the risk of chemical reaction possible from synthetic analogs. If achieved, this higher bioavailability may make some of the possible uses of green tea extract practically realistic.

The report cited a Coca-Cola-supported research report on the use of polyphenols, stating, "A report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry highlights that a polyphenol rich juice can effectively deliver the intended blend of bioavailable polyphenols which would normally require consumption of several different plant-derived foods and drinks."

The report also cited The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), explaining, "green tea extracts, such as its component EGCG, have been used to prevent and treat a variety of cancers, including breast, stomach, and skin cancers and have also been used for improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels, and protecting skin from sun damage."

The report concludes by citing a study on the processing technology utilized by Plandaí that found that, "Extractable lycopene and other carotenoids increased significantly... Extraction using this proprietary method increased extracted cis-lycopene to as high as 43% of the total lycopene, indicating increased isomerisation. This method could therefore contribute significantly to the delivery of health benefits of biologically available lycopene from tomato products for metabolic functions."

Mr. Duffield added, "The Murphy report illustrates the position of green tea extract as a valuable resource in the fields of nutritional supplements and biomedicine. Plandaí's proprietary technology releases phytonutrients from live plant material in a more absorbable form, thereby increasing the efficacy and lowering the overall cost of an end user product. Plandaí is ideally positioned within the market as a raw material producer and a proprietary developer of consumable product that has proven health benefits in a rapidly expanding market."

For a detailed review of the Murphy research report and valuation methodology, investors are directed to http://www.murphyanalytics.com/uploads/PLPL_Initiation.pdf.

About Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc.

Plandaí 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
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events and performances could vary materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results, expressed or implied, to differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, product demand and market competition. You should independently investigate and fully understand all risks before making an investment decision.

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Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. Highlights Health Benefits, Advantages of Green Tea Extract Process Cited in Murphy ...

Biotechnology sector to have more M&A activity due to fund crunch: Report

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HYDERABAD: Paucity of funding for the Indian biotechnology sector for expanding its operations forces it to look towards mergers and acquisitions, according to Yes Bank.

The Indian biotechnology sector is not just finding it difficult to raise funds from the public, but also from the private equity sector as well, Yes Bank said in its report on biotech industry, titled 'Indian Biotechnology Ecosystem- an Investment Perspective'.

"Further, the investments, which are made, will be in several tranches tied to milestone payments and not in lump-sum, as was wont to be the case earlier. However, Yes Bank expects the M & A activity in the sector to see a significant rise, as small niche companies exhaust their cash surpluses and start exploring new models for restructuring their business, the report said.

Most investors are unwilling to invest in Life Science companies' R & D activities, as they prefer funding companies, whose product and market are clearly identified, forcing Life Science entrepreneurs to be unable to raise sufficient funds for basic R & D through equity investments, it says.

"The current conservative investor mindset is resulting in Indian investors looking to fund matured companies. Most of the deals done over the last few years have been for manufacturers of generic drugs or contract manufacturers, as these are perceived as fairly low-risk businesses," it further said.

The Bank opined that a majority of the IPOs will be from the pharmaceutical sector, as most companies in the biotech and medical devices sectors in India are still at a nascent stage as the recent years have not been successful for Life sciences IPOs owing to the current weak market conditions and global economic cues.

The situation has led to a huge gap between the companies' expected valuations and those arrived at by the investor community.

Within the Life Sciences Industry, Biotechnology has been identified as a key area of growth with the Global biotechnology market predicted to surpass $ 320 billion by 2015.

The global Biotech industry is lead by US, followed by advanced European countries. Developing countries such as India and China are soon emerging as major Biotechnology markets, according to the report.

Indian Biotech market has tripled over the last five years, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 20 per cent to achieve a market size of $ 8 billion by 2015.

The global biotech market for 2010 is around $ 85 billion and is expected to reach $ 320 billion by 2015. There has been a large gap between the funding available for this sector and the funding required by the players to achieve their full potential, it said.

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Biotechnology sector to have more M&A activity due to fund crunch: Report

Administration's 2013 Budget Could Discourage Development of Cures and Breakthrough Medicines, Limit Patient Choice …

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s FY 2013 budget proposal released yesterday:

“While BIO supports the broad goals of the President Obama’s FY2013 budget, many of the provisions included in the proposal jeopardize continued biotech research and development that will lead to cures and breakthrough medicines for patients worldwide living with debilitating diseases. These provisions also threaten to undermine job growth here in the United States and run counter to the President’s expressed desire to ‘create an economy that is built to last.’

“The Administration’s proposal to reduce the period of data exclusivity for innovative biologics manufacturers, for example, will discourage biotech innovation. The 12-year term of data protection for biologics included in the Affordable Care Act received widespread bipartisan support in the Congress during the consideration of the biosimilar pathway and is now settled U.S. law. The 12-year period continues to maintain strong bipartisan support in the Congress. A reduction in the exclusivity period will jeopardize the careful balance established to reduce costs, expand access, ensure patient safety and encourage continued biotechnology innovation that will create jobs and lead to breakthrough therapies and cures for deadly diseases.

“We continue to have strong concerns about strengthening the powers of the unelected Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), as called for in the President’s budget proposal. IPAB could enact broad changes to Medicare without Congressional oversight. Repealing IPAB is essential to protecting American access to quality medical care and is particularly important to populations such as seniors and the uninsured who rely on Medicare.

“We also oppose proposals to institute a Medicare Part D rebate for dual-eligibles. Medicare Part D is working well. Consumers are overwhelmingly pleased with this benefit, and the private competition between various drug plans keeps costs down. We should not disrupt this properly working benefit by adding unnecessary reforms.

“The provisions described above undermine the hope of cures and breakthrough new medicines for patients living with debilitating diseases including cancer, HIV/AIDS and MS. They jeopardize much needed job growth in our nation. And they threaten to end our nation’s global leadership in biotech innovation.

“The biotechnology industry has long been an engine for economic development and job creation across the country and our sector is working to add more high-wage high-skilled jobs to our workforce. Currently the biotech sector supports a total of 8 million jobs nationwide, directly employing 1.42 million workers while sustaining an additional 6.6 million jobs across the country.

“We will continue to work with President Obama, members of his Administration and the Congress in pursuit of public policies that encourage investment in biotechnology innovation. Well constructed policies can help lead to cures and breakthrough new medicines, create jobs, propel continued innovation, and position our nation for continued leadership in the global marketplace.”

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 world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtech Now, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtech Now.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 13-14, 2012
New York, NY

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
April 29-May 2, 2012
Orlando, FL

2012 BIO International Convention
June 18-21, 2012
Boston, MA

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Administration's 2013 Budget Could Discourage Development of Cures and Breakthrough Medicines, Limit Patient Choice ...

TREAT Act Offers Renewed Hope for Patients

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) praised Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) for introducing the Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments (TREAT) Act. The following statement can be attributed to BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood:

“The Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments (TREAT) Act will help unleash the promise of biotechnology to speed life-saving cures, novel medicines and scientific breakthroughs to patients living with debilitating diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s and diabetes.

“The TREAT Act will help break the institutional barriers to a faster idea-to-market pathway and speed new cures to patients most desperately in need. Through this bill, Senator Hagan has offered renewed hope to patients desperately in need of cures and breakthrough new medicines as well as a boost to our nation’s economy. The legislation will help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) retain its leadership position as the global ‘gold standard’ for regulatory science and consumer protection.

“This bill will modernize the FDA and allow the agency to keep up with the fast pace of American scientific breakthroughs. Further, it will ensure a transparent and more predictable pathway for the development of safe and effective next generation medicines and cures while maintaining U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation. A more streamlined and forward-thinking regulatory review process will ensure that innovative biotech firms can focus their resources where they belong – in research and development that leads to breakthrough medicines and cures, and job creation – rather than navigating an overly complicated regulatory process that discourages the innovation that leads to cures.

“This new legislation includes a provision to modernize the Accelerated Approval pathway to expedite the development of modern, targeted, and personalized therapies for patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases, while preserving robust standards for safety and effectiveness. The pathway would apply only to treatments for diseases or conditions that are serious or life-threatening.

“The TREAT Act also includes key elements to improve the operational excellence of the FDA and help the agency integrate the most modern tools and methodologies to ensure a science-based, patient-focused review process.

“It is simply unacceptable that in the United States, as patients suffer and die, the time to take a new drug from discovery to patient is 10 to 15 years. More, regulatory uncertainty is having a major negative impact on the private funding of biomedical innovation, deteriorating the ability of our member companies to deliver cures and new medicines. Sixty-one percent of venture capitalists now cite FDA regulatory challenges as having the highest impact on their investment decisions, and 40% expect to decrease investment in the development of new therapies.

“The need to reform the investment and regulatory environment for biotechnology innovation has never been more urgent. Only by transforming the policy environment can we develop new cures and medicines, grow a robust 21st century innovation economy, maintain our nation’s global leadership in biotechnology, continue to create high-paying jobs in the U.S. and prevent the tsunami of additional health care costs that will be associated with the aging baby-boomer population.

“We look forward to supporting efforts to pass the TREAT Act and ultimately tap into the enormous scientific potential that resides in the thousands of small, medium and large American biotech companies to develop products that save, extend and improve the quality of life for patients worldwide.”

Biotech companies hold the greatest promise for finding cures to life-threatening diseases. There are currently 800 new treatments being developed for cancer by biotech companies, 300 for heart disease, 200 for diabetes, and 100 for Alzheimer’s.

When biotech finds cures it saves lives and dollars. Reducing cancer death rates by just 10 percent would have a $4 trillion economic impact. Delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s by just five years could save up to $50 billion per year. (Source: Murphy, K.M. and R.H. Topel, 2003. “Measuring the Gains from Medical Research.” University of Chicago Press; Alzheimer’s Association.)

To learn more about how biotechnology is transforming our world, please visit http://www.biotech-now.org.

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 world’s 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.

For more information:
Visit http://www.bio.org
Follow us on Twitter @IAmBiotech
Join us on LinkedIn/MyBio
Become a fan at facebook.com/IAmBiotech

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO IP Counsels Committee Conference
April 16-18, 2012
Austin, TX

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
April 29-May 2, 2012
Orlando, FL

2012 BIO International Convention
June 18-21, 2012
Boston, MA

BIO Business Forum
June 18-21, 2012
Boston, MA

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TREAT Act Offers Renewed Hope for Patients

BIO's 9th Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Orlando to …

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February 13, 2012 - Scheduled for April 29 to May 2, World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing will feature 6 breakout session tracks, and investor sessions that will allow executives to make 25-min presentations on their technology development and business models. Breakout tracks will include Advanced Biofuel Technologies, Algae and Feedstock Crops, Renewable Chemical Platforms and Biobased Materials, Specialty Chemicals, Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering, and Technical Presentations.

Biotechnology Industry Organization
1201 Maryland Ave., SW, Ste. 900
Washington, DC, 20024
USA

Press release date: February 9, 2012

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing

WASHINGTON--Biofuel and renewable chemical company executives, scientists and government officials from around the globe will speak in breakout sessions at BIO's 9th annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. BIO today announced online availability of a searchable schedule of the breakout session programming.

BIO's World Congress will feature six breakout session tracks over three days. More than 35 sessions will cover the latest progress in commercializing advanced biofuels, consumer benefits from renewable chemicals, company partnerships and more in industrial biotechnology. The full program of breakout panel sessions and speakers is now available.

The six tracks designed to keep you on the cutting edge of industrial biotech are:

Advanced Biofuel Technologies
Algae and Feedstock Crops
Renewable Chemical Platforms and Biobased Materials
Specialty Chemicals
Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering
Technical Presentations
Technical Presentations is a new track for 2012 that will feature research papers with presentations by academics, private sector scientists and researchers.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO's Industrial & Environmental Section, said, "We are excited to bring this conference to Orlando 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. The Congress features discussions of high profile topics and will provide company executives an unparalleled opportunity to network with their colleagues and learn about the latest developments in the field of industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing."

BIO's World Congress will also feature investor sessions and business partnering opportunities. The investor sessions will allow executives from companies seeking to raise investment capital to make formal 25-minute presentations on their technology development and business models to an elite audience of investors and analysts. The partnering sessions utilize a computer system that assists companies and investors alike in arranging confidential one-on-one meetings with other attendees. Last year BIO's One-on-One Partnering led to more than 500 business partnering meetings.

The world's 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 Orlando, Fla., April 29 - May 2 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Online registration for the conference is now open. Early bird registration ends Feb. 29, 2012. Please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/ for additional information, or email worldcongress@bio.org.

Online pre-registration for reporters and editors is now open. All breakout and plenary sessions at the BIO 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 with valid press credentials working full time for print, broadcast or web publications.

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 world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtech NOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling "innovations transforming our world." Subscribe to BIOtech NOW.

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JumpStart Invests $250,000 in Milo Biotechnology

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CLEVELAND, Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Milo Biotechnology will receive $250,000 from JumpStart Inc., a nonprofit investing intensive business assistance and some capital into early stage Northeast Ohio-based tech companies.  A clinical stage startup developing a therapy to increase muscle strength and improve the quality of life of muscular dystrophy patients, Milo is the 61st company in JumpStart's portfolio.  "There are limited treatment options for muscular dystrophy and approved therapies are inadequate or can cause significant side effects," says JumpStart's Mike Lang. "Since most muscular dystrophy patients are children, the medical community is interested in a safer and more targeted therapy."

Milo Biotechnology's lead product is an adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivered follistatin protein.  Follistatin inhibits the activity of myostatin, a protein that impedes muscle differentiation and growth.  That makes follistatin a very potent stimulator of muscle growth and prevention of muscle scarring after injury.  "The translational research team at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital has harnessed the power of follistatin and increased its specificity for muscle," explains Al Hawkins, CEO of Milo Biotechnology and CEO-in-Residence at BioEnterprise in Cleveland. "The efficacy and safety results thus far have been remarkable." Pre-clinical studies in mice and non-human primates demonstrated considerable increases in muscle size and strength.  FDA approved the investigators' IND in October 2011 and a clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Milo's follistatin therapy began last month at Columbus-based Nationwide Children's Hospital, where the technology was developed.  The Phase I/II trial, funded by a grant from Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, is enrolling patients with Becker muscular dystrophy and inclusion body myositis.

Milo Biotechnology was founded by Hawkins and one of the lead inventors of the follistatin technology, Brian Kaspar, PhD. 

MILO BIOTECHNOLOGY  Milo Biotechnology is a Cleveland-based company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with neuromuscular diseases.  Milo's early clinical stage follistatin program, exclusively licensed from Nationwide Children's Hospital, is designed to increase muscle size and strength.

JUMPSTART INC  JumpStart Inc. accelerates the successes of entrepreneurs, their companies, and the ecosystems supporting them. JumpStart has given intensive business assistance to more than 400 entrepreneurial clients and invested in 61 early stage Northeast Ohio companies. For more information, visit http://www.jumpstartinc.org and follow @JumpStartInc on Twitter.

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JumpStart Invests $250,000 in Milo Biotechnology

Biological conversion assay using Clostridium phytofermentans to estimate plant feedstock quality

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Background:
There is currently considerable interest in developing renewable sources ofenergy. One strategy is the biological conversion of plant biomass to liquidtransportation fuel. Several technical hurdles impinge upon the economicfeasibility of this strategy, including the development of energy cropsamenable to facile deconstruction. Reliable assays to characterize feedstockquality are needed to measure the effects of pre-treatment and processingand of the plant and microbial genetic diversity that influence bioconversionefficiency.
Results:
We used the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium phytofermentans to develop arobust assay for biomass digestibility and conversion to biofuels. The assayutilizes the ability of the microbe to convert biomass directly into ethanol withlittle or no pre-treatment. Plant samples were added to an anaerobic minimalmedium and inoculated with C. phytofermentans, incubated for 3 days, afterwhich the culture supernatant was analyzed for ethanol concentration. Theassay detected significant differences in the supernatant ethanol from wildtypesorghum compared with brown midrib sorghum mutants previouslyshown to be highly digestible. Compositional analysis of the biomass beforeand after inoculation suggested that differences in xylan metabolism werepartly responsible for the differences in ethanol yields. Additionally, wecharacterized the natural genetic variation for conversion efficiency inBrachypodium distachyon and shrub willow (Salix spp.).
Conclusion:
Our results agree with those from previous studies of lignin mutants usingenzymatic saccharification-based approaches. However, the use of C.phytofermentans takes into consideration specific organismal interactions,which will be crucial for simultaneous saccharification fermentation orconsolidated bioprocessing. The ability to detect such phenotypic variationfacilitates the genetic analysis of mechanisms underlying plant feedstockquality.Source:
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Feed 8 Billion – a Panel Discussion on Biotechnology in Agriculture part 2 – Video

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03-02-2012 23:42 Within the next two decades the population of the world is expected to climb to 8 billion people. Feed 8 Billion is a panel discussion where internationally recognized scientists address the possibility of biotechnology feeding the future population of the world. The event was co-sponsored by the Arizona State University Biotechnology Club and Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives. Moderator - Dr Jason Robert Panelists: Dr Charles Arntzen Dr Roberto Gaxiola Dr Ben Hurlbut Marci Baranski Dr Rolf Halden 7 PM, February 2nd 2012, ASU room BAC 116

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Bdelloid rotifers evolving over the past forty million years without sex

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We were up till now aware of the fact that sexual reproduction was the only means of bringing life into this world but a group of microscopic organisms seems to have broken this fact. A recent study has found out that since the past forty million years Bdelloid rotifers were evolving without sex. These aquatic animals thrive in wet areas and are asexual. In this case the Bdelloid rotifers produce eggs which are genetic clones of the mother and above all there is no male species, just females out there doing their job. That sounds amazing!! We are all aware of the fact that asexual animals cannot evolve and mutate over a period of time but study of the fossil records of bdelloid rotifers has stated that their existence can be traced back to forty million years. Up till now it was thought that sexual reproduction was important for spitting into divergent species but this has shocked everybody and also left a question to be answered as to how these species have been able to diverge without the addition of any genetic material. Via cbc

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Secrecy surrounding genetically engineered grapes field tests can have serious repercussions

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UC Davis and Cornell University have the approval for testing genetically engineered grapes in California. In this case no application or environmental assessments were undertaken for the permits and there were just notifications given by the institutes. As far as the field tests are concerned there seems to be a veil of secrecy surrounding them therefore grape growers are not aware regarding the measures which need to be taken for protecting their vineyards from genetic contamination which could dent their image and even cause huge losses if the customers shun genetically engineered products. USDA was even criticized for not paying attention towards the field trials being undertaken and the U.S. Inspector General report said: USDA lacks basic information about the field test sites it approves and is responsible for monitoring, including where and how the crops are being grown, and what becomes of them at the end of the field test. It was only last month when a federal judge ruling stated that USDA cannot give approval for new GE field trials without environmental assessments but this wont be applicable to the grape field tests which have been already given permission. Such secrecy is expected to cause huge problems in the future for GE foods and if proper study and transparency is not ensured then genetically modified food will have a tough time ahead. Via napavalleyregister

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Snapshot for iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (IBB)

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Fund Profile & Information for IBB

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The Fund's objective seeks investment results that correspond to the performance of the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index. The Fund will concentrate its investments in companies primarily engaged in using biomedical research for the discovery or development of new treatments or cures for human disease.

Inception Date: 2001-02-09 Telephone: 1-415-597-2000 Managers: GREG SAVAGE Web Site: http://www.ishares.com Fundamentals for IBB NAV (on 2012-02-06) 121.9103 Assets (M) (on 2012-01-31) 1,683.8850 Shares out (M) 14.15 Market Cap (M) 1,724.74 % Premium -0.02 Average 52-Week % Premium -0.0079 Fund Leveraged N Dividends for IBB Dividend Type Income Dividend Frequency Quarter Last Dividend Net - Dividend Yield (ttm) 0.0119 Performance for IBB 1-Month +13.69% 1-Year +29.48% 3-Month +27.00% 3-Year +18.07% Year To Date +16.81% 5-Year +9.08% Expense Ratio 0.48 Top Fund Holdings for IBB Filing Date: 02/03/2012 Amgen Inc 2,016,922 139,732,356 8.256% Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc 1,415,274 111,629,737 6.596% Gilead Sciences Inc 1,906,869 104,296,200 6.163% Celgene Corp 1,418,932 103,880,012 6.138% Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc 975,578 944,944,858 5.583% Biogen Idec Inc 685,802 83,585,548 4.939% Teva Pharmaceutical Industries 1,771,061 80,955,198 4.783% Perrigo Co 668,139 62,577,899 3.698% Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc 1,460,207 53,706,413 3.173% Mylan Inc/PA 2,187,785 49,093,895 2.901%

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Snapshot for iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (IBB)

Feed 8 Billion – a Panel Discussion on Biotechnology in Agriculture part 1 – Video

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03-02-2012 22:01 Within the next two decades the population of the world is expected to climb to 8 billion people. Feed 8 Billion is a panel discussion where internationally recognized scientists address the possibility of biotechnology feeding the future population of the world. The event was co-sponsored by the Arizona State University Biotechnology Club and Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives. Moderator - Dr Jason Robert Panelists: Dr Charles Arntzen Dr Roberto Gaxiola Dr Ben Hurlbut Marci Baranski Dr Rolf Halden 7 PM, February 2nd 2012, ASU room BAC 116

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Feed 8 Billion - a Panel Discussion on Biotechnology in Agriculture part 1 - Video

South Korea again gives a go ahead to use of human eggs in cloning research

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South Korea is playing a risky game as it has given the permission for using human eggs in cloning research despite a high level scandal in their country which involved one of their top scientists admitting to his involvement in doctored research work. Hwang Woo-suk was the scientist who had claimed that he had cloned human embryos and extracted stem cells from them but it was found out that all his claims were false. What raised eyes were when eggs required for research were donated by a female scientist in his team and this questioned the ethics of such practice. This shameful incident caused Hwang Woo-suk to resign from his post at the Seoul National University and is now facing trial for misappropriation of government funds. In order to get over the shameful act the government has again given a go ahead to use of human eggs in cloning but this time with an act of caution and under a new set of guidelines has asked that researchers should only use eggs which are to be destroyed after fertility treatments or from other legal ways and a prior license would have to be obtained from the government for undertaking research. It seems this time South Korea wants to take no chances. Via theage

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Ruckus over FDA’s approval to food from cloned animals

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The Food and Drug Administration is facing criticism over its recent preliminary approval to food from cloned animals as a consumer group has charged the agency for using flawed analysis. According to the Center for Food Safety, the FDA could not find studies on milk or meat from clones and whether they’re safe and the agency relied on studies done on cloned animals and whether they appeared healthy. Claiming that the conclusions drawn by the FDA was based on ‘scant data from few peer-reviewed studies’, Charles Margulis, a spokesman for Center for Food Safety, said: There isn’t the science to show that these foods are safe. I think the agency was heavily influenced by the biotechnology industry. Though FDA was tight lipped, Val Giddings, a scientist who consults with biotechnology companies, has come forward in FDA’s defence. According to Giddings an exhaustive amount of peer-reviewed data was the base of the conclusion. Giddings said: There’s not a single shred of data to suggest that food derived from clones or their offspring is in any way unsafe. All of what FDA has done here has been completely transparent. The FDA found that food from clones and food from conventional livestock has no virtual difference between and therefore special labels for cloned food would be necessary. Center for Food Safety might be in the process of waging a war against the FDA but Dean Foods Co. of Dallas has already decided to go against the idea of cloned food. Nations biggest milk company has decided it would not sell milk from cloned cows. The company’s decision was influenced by various surveys suggesting the dislike for dairy products from clones by Americans. Source.

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