Brain cancer vaccine in mid-stage trail

Biotech company Celldex Therapeutics announced that their experimental vaccine to extend the lives of brain cancer patients is in midstage trial.

According to Reuters:
The trial, named ACT III, showed 66 percent of patients had no disease progression at 5.5 months from the start of vaccination, a statistically significant increase over a predetermined progression-free rate estimate of 53 percent, with standard of care.

Celldex has the only other FDA approved cancer vaccine on the market, a vaccine for advanced prostate cancer.

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Biorepositories Asia: Brochure Ready for Download!

The 2011 Biorepositories Asia event brochure is ready for download! Experience the only event designed to drive your sample management practices in Asia with strategic collaborations, regulatory insights, tools to optimize sample integrity and analysis and novel technology for biospecimen science. Join us April 11-13 in San Francisco, CA and learn from top Asia experts as they discuss establishing critical partnerships, overcoming logistical challenges and local regulatory and industry guidelines in this region.

Key Take-Aways:
- Drive Forward Drug Development Opportunities in Asia
- Ensure Compliance with regulatory guidelines
- Protect sample integrity to maximize biospecimen science
- Create strategic collaborations within the Asian industry
- Global leaders from around the world bring their insights to the U.S.

Hear from the U.S. and International Speaking Faculty:
• Laura Faron-Yowe, Senior Research Associate, Molecular Technologies, MILLENNIUM: THE TAKEDA ONCOLOGY COMPANY
• John MacNeela, Manager of Laboratory Operations, GILEAD SCIENCES
• Tracie DeHart, Senior Microbiologist, DOW AGROSCIENCES
• Donna Russell, MHA, Director, Research Development, SEATTLE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
• Lisa B Miranda, President/CEO, BIOBUSINESS CONSULTING

Click here to download the agenda:
http://bit.ly/aTygmS

Click here to visit the webpage to find out more information:
http://bit.ly/aLbtzd

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Biosimilars forcing Big Pharma to go generic

In a recent article at The Economist, they look at the ironic turn drug companies have taken. In an effort to join the trend of double digit growth, many major Pharma companies are extending their assets and partnering with companies in order to ride the wave of successful biosimilar sales.

Although biotech-based drugs account for only a fifth or so of global drugs sales they are projected to grow at double-digit rates as sales of many conventional drugs decline, especially with a large number of patent expirations coming. Add the fact that many biotech drugs produce enormous profits—some treatments cost $100,000 or more per year—and it is easy to see why the sector looks like a juicy target for generic assault.

Do you expect to see an increasing number of partnerships come about like Pfizer and Biocon? What will their importance be for the industry?

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Bavarian Nordic in talks for potential prostate cancer vaccine

Bavarian Nordic, whose main product is the Imvamune, a vaccine for small pox, is currently in talks with major Pharma companies about partnering to produce a vaccine for prostate cancer according to Reuters.

The company stated:
"Bavarian Nordic is actively pursuing its strategy for partnering with a global pharmaceutical company for the Phase III development and commercialisation of Prostvac, which has attracted significant interest. Bavarian Nordic is currently in advanced discussions with a number of companies, including some of the largest, with due diligence ongoing."

The company was granted fast track status, and could have patients in clinical trails as soon as 2011.

Bavarian Nordic will be speaking at Vaccines Business Congress this March 2-4, 2011, in Baltimore. They will be presenting with the National Cancer Institute. To find out more about their presentation, and the full Vaccines Business Congress agenda, download the brochure here.

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Pfizer and Biocon partnership may spark more partnerships

The Business Standard believes that the partnership to produce biosimilars between Pfizer and Biocon is just one that will start a landslide of partnerships for Big Pharma. They believe that many companies will turn to India for production for vaccines and biosimilars in particular. Biotech drugs resulting in close to $580 million in revenue in just India alone, and fast growth throughout the globe presents opportunities for Pharma companies and biotech producers to partner up and produce viable generics, vaccines and biosimilars. The Business Standard believes that Indian companies that have the potential to benefit the most from this are Panacea Biotec, Reliance Life Sciences, Bharat Biotech, BV Corp and Serum Institute of India, beside drug majors such as Wockhardt, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Intas Biopharmaceuticals and Lupin.

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