Bionow Newsletter May

Companies

Intercytex plc receiving funding from US government
Manchester cell-based therapy company Intercytex plc will be the only non-US company in a group of companies receiving $85m funding from the US government to establish the United States' Armed Forces institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM). AFIRM will use regenerative medicine to develop new treatments for battlefield injuries coming in from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is intended that the therapies developed by AFIRM will also be used to treat trauma and burns in civilian hospitals.

HighRes Biosolutions expands into Europe
Fast growing US life science automation company, HighRes Biosolutions, is expanding into Europe and is opening an office in the Northwest. HighRes, which was only formed a few years ago is already the leading automation integrator for the pharmaceutical sector in the US and is busy developing a large suite of laboratory instruments. The new European headquarters is to be situated on the prestigious Bolesworth Estate in Cheshire.

DxS announces plans to expand its manufacturing capacity
Manchester based DxS, has experienced a marked increase in the demand for its groundbreaking companion diagnostics kits. The company has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facilities, and to significantly increase the number of staff. In addition the company has also been awarded the ISO 13485:2003 quality certification for the design, development and manufacture of molecular diagnostic products for human genetic analysis.

CDSS is to move to new prestigious offices in Macclesfield
Clinical Development & Support Services has acquired new offices for their expanding CRO operations. The new offices based in a conservation area of Macclesfield, more than doubles the space of their previous accommodation. John Illingworth, Managing Director said "The larger accommodation to house recent expansion, reflects well upon the business which has grown steadily since incorporation in 1999 and is a fitting upgrade in CDSS' 10^th year of business.

BioMed to open an office in the Northwest
A specialist publisher opened their new office in Liverpool on 22 May. BioMed Central is a world leader in open access scientific publishing and has published more than 30,000 peer-reviewed biomedical research articles that have been viewed globally more than 34 million times in 2007. BioMed chose Liverpool because of its impressive concentration of research teaching and scientific facilities. Publisher Matthre Cockerill said "After considering several locations we chose Liverpool because of its international reputation.

Tepnel Life Sciences secure extension to global licensing agreement
Tepnel Life Sciences, a Manchester based diagnostic and research business, has secured a two year extension to its global licensing agreement with Abcam, a supplier of antibody products. The agreement covers the worldwide distribution of Tepnel's Diaclone range and includes a guaranteed annual minimum in sales.

IS Pharma raise £8m for further acquisitions
Chester based IS Pharma has raised finance of £8m to fund further acquisitions for its pharmaceutical business, which was previously known as Maelor.

Assura Group to relocate
Assura Group, the chain of GP surgeries and pharmacies, is to relocate its headquarters from Chester to an 18,000 sq ft unit at Daresbury Park in July, and plans to increase the headcount from 130 to 220.

Two new tenants join UMIC
The University of Manchester Incubator Company (UMIC) welcomes two new tenant companies. Set up by former University of Manchester researchers, start-up bioscience companies Conformetrix and Imagen-Biotech plan to significantly impact the UK's pharmaceutical and drug discovery industries.

People & Jobs

Farfield announces NEW US Product manager
Crewe based Farfield, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Mark Gostock as US Product Manager for the AnaLight® range of Dual Polarisation Interferometry (DPI) systems. Dr Gostock brings with him over 5 years experience in Farfield's technology. He worked in the company as an Applications Scientist prior to moving to the US in 2006 to help set up Farfield's headquarters in Pittsburgh.

Applied Biosystems presents: Rapid Molecular Methods Workshop
Warrington based Applied Biosystems are hosting a free workshop on Rapid Molecular Methods for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Amsterdam on 18-19 June. A variety of speakers from recognised institutions will cover topics on Microbial identification and Process Control, featuring MicroSEQ® Identification and Detection Systems. To register visit click here or email Helena Murray at helena.murray@eur.appliedbiosystems.com. Please note that spaces for this event are limited.

16^th Annual Biopartnering Europe Conference, London, October 12-14 2008
The world comes to partner at BioPartnering Europe (BPE). Join leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and investors at BPE and maximize your partnering potential. The 16th annual BPE conference will be held in London, United Kingdom on October 12-14, 2008. BPE, produced by Technology Vision Group, is the longest continuously running life science partnering conference in Europe. Last year, more than 1200 attendees from over 650 pharmaceutical, biotech, and investment companies attended this event. Over 100 presenting companies were featured, as well as informative leadership sessions and industry workshops. This year's event promises to be even better, showcasing the brightest stars in the life sciences. Register by September 1st and save. Early registration provides early access to biopartnering.com, which provides critical opportunities for pre-conference planning and research.
Contact: Technology Vision Group LLC, 5200 Soquel Avenue, Suite 202, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA. Tel.: +1.831.464.4230. Fax: +1.831.464.4240. http://www.techvision.com/bpe/

Targeted Molecular Diagnostics and DxS announce a timely workshop on assessing solid tumor mutations
Targeted Molecular Diagnostics and Manchester based DxS will sponsor a symposium on the profiling of solid tumor mutations for the purpose of directing targeted therapy at the 44^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago on 1 June. The company will host presentations and comments from industry leaders.

Concept to clinic
Nowgen are hosting a workshop aiming to help researchers and early stage companies understand the process of product development and the issues which need to be solved to launch a product into the healthcare market. The event is free to attend and will give an overview of the processes involved, helping you to understand where to obtain support and at what stage it is needed. To book visit www.nowgen.org.uk/events or email bookings@nowgen.org.uk

Merseyside Biomedical Conference - Liverpool
Bionow, the NWDA's biomedical cluster, is pleased to announce that it is hosting a 2 day biomedical conference at the Crowne Plaza, Liverpool with an evening reception at the new Hard Day's Night Hotel on 9^th and 10^th June 2008. The event is aimed at showcasing the biomedical strengths of the Northwest of England with a particular focus on the Liverpool City Region. If you require any further information, please email bionow@nwda.co.uk or visitwww.bionow.co.uk

Bionow Event system updated
TheBionow website now has a fully integrated events registration page for all our forthcoming events including networking evenings and the Merseyside Biomedical Conference. For further information email bionow@nwda.co.uk or visit www.bionow.co.uk and click Bionow event.

Information

Pioneer test tube baby professor opens new laboratory
Professor Robert Edwards, the internationally renowned test tube baby pioneer, opened the new laboratories of the North West Embryonic Stem Cell Centre (NWESCC) based at St Mary's Hospital and the University of Manchester. Professor Edwards was in Manchester to address a conference on '30 years of IVF', organised by the Association of Clinical Embryologists to celebrate the birth of the first test tube baby Louise Brown in 1978 at Oldham General Hospital.

Research

Manchester's Biomedical Research Centre
Manchester's Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), has received an investment of £4.9m from the Northwest Regional Development Agency. The BRC, run by a partnership between the Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Manchester, is part of an influential group of hospital and university research centres throughout the UK developing innovative treatments and medicines. It will create over 150 jobs and new collaboration opportunities with similar knowledge-based industries.

The University of Liverpool launches a new £9.6m centre
The University of Liverpool is launching a £9.6m centre for the discovery of new materials for applications such as energy storage, medical equipment and consumer products. The centre, based at the department of chemistry, will be accessible to businesses across a range of sizes and sectors, giving them access to state-of-the-art research facilities supported by highly trained staff and a base of academic expertise.

Stem cells breakthrough offers diabetes hope
Scientists have discovered a new way to turn embryonic cells into insulin-producing pancreatic tissue; a discovery that could ultimately inform new treatments for diabetes. The University of Manchester, working with colleagues at the University of Sheffield, genetically manipulated the stem cells so that they produced a protein known as a 'transcription factor'. Stem cells may become any type of cell, so scientists believe they may hold the key to treating diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes.

Biochemist conquering chewing gum
Researchers at the University of Manchester and Belfast have found the answer to removing chewing gum from tarmac. A special solution of enzymes has been developed, which can break up and dissolve hardened gum - currently removed by using high pressure steam hoses or corrosive chemicals that can damage the environment. Dr Gill Stephens, a biochemist at the University of Manchester said "Enzymes were just what we needed, however as gum is essentially a form of synthetic rubber it repels water. We have now got a small selection of solutions and are testing these to find out their reactions to water and temperature and to determine what damage they may do to the environment, including possible damage to the soles of people's shoes.

Horse tranquilliser may stop depression
Researchers at the University of Manchester Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit have shown exactly where ketamine may help depression, with images that show the part of the brain that is overactive in depression being "switched off". Ketamine, an anaesthetic popular with doctors on the battlefield and with vets - because it allows a degree of awareness without pain - is a new hope for the treatment of depression. The drug immediately deactivated the orbitofrontal cortex - located above the eyes, in the centre - which is thought to give rise to highly emotional thoughts, and causes reaction in body parts such as churning stomach and racing heart.

Scientists uncover potential to control Adult Stem Cells
New University research represents a vital step towards the use of Adult Stem Cells (ASCs) to repair damaged tissue. Speaking at the UK National Stem Cell Network Annual Science meeting in April, Professor Cay Kielty, from the University of Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences described how her team have uncovered a messaging system that instructs ASCs to contribute to tissue repair in reponse to chemical signals in the body. Funded by the Medical Research Council, the work holds hope that techniques could be developed to instruct ASCs to repair damaged tissue.

Datamonitor

Datamonitor is pleased to support the work of Bionow. By reporting on the shape of the Biotech industry, Datamonitor aims to help Northwest firms stay one step ahead in the global marketplace.

British biotechnology company Antisoma has seen its shares climb after agreeing to acquire Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, a US oncology specialist. The deal will help boost Antisoma's portfolio of late stage cancer drugs and ensure that the company is less dependent on the success of lead product, a lung cancer drug currently named ASA404. Boston-based Xanthus holds three drug candidates of note: Xanafide, a Phase III treatment for leukemia; oral fludarabine, which has been submitted to the FDA for marketing approval for the second-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia; and an early-stage treatment for multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Antisoma to acquire Xanthus Pharma
Biotech firm Antisoma has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based oncology company Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, in an all-share deal valued at £26.8 million.
Read full article

Dor establishes new office in UK
Dor BioPharma, a research and development biopharmaceutical company, has opened a new corporate office in the United Kingdom.
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Galapagos and UCL sign drug discovery agreement
Galapagos has signed a drug discovery research agreement with University College London. Total contract value for Galapagos is expected to reach more than E1.8 million over the course of the two-year agreement.
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Drug safety: FDA pushes for manufacturers to take greater responsibility
The FDA has told the US Senate that drug manufacturers need to take responsibility for their products' safety. According to the regulator, Congress' willingness to increase funding for more inspections is not enough. Instead, the FDA says that it needs more power to punish irresponsible companies.
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Website of the Month

Scitizen "Bringing Science Closer to Society"
Scitizen aims to bring together a community of scientists and science writers who provide the public with an accurate, balanced and accessible description of developing stories in science. See www.scitizen.com

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