Biotechnology news

• DNA Motors in Living Cells Start with MicroRNA Keys

  07-03-2017 16:23
  It’s hard enough to get a synthetic DNA motor to run in a living cell—and not just in a test tube—but it’s even harder to get the DNA motor to start only when it might be needed. Yet DNA motors built by scientists at the University of Alberta have been running smoothly inside cancer cells. Also, each of these molecular engines didn’t turn over until its specially designed ignition mechanism received the right key, in this case a cancer-associated microRNA.This resul
  
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• FDA Lifts Clinical Hold on Seattle Genetics Trials

  07-03-2017 15:08
  The FDA has lifted the clinical hold it placed on early- to mid-stage trials of Seattle Genetics’ cancer candidate vadastuximab talirine (SGN-CD33A) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following the deaths of four patients.Seattle Genetics said yesterday it will resume two Phase I trials affected by the clinical hold. One is a study of vadastuximab talirine monotherapy and combination treatment with hypomethylating agents in both newly diagnosed and relapsed AML patients. The other trial is de
  
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• BeiGene, Guangzhou GET Pledge $300M for Joint Venture to Build Commercial-Scale Biologics Plant

  07-03-2017 14:33
  BeiGene (Hong Kong) and Guangzhou GET Technology Development are setting up a joint venture (j-v), BeiGene Biologics, to build a commercial-scale biologics manufacturing facility in Guangzhou, Guandong Province, China, with $330 million in direct investments. The j-v will use some of the funding to support the development of biologic drugs in China. The project is expected to break ground this year.Under terms of the agreement, BeiGene HK will contribute $30 million to the BeiGene Biologics j-v.
  
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• Hollywood And The Anti-Biotechnology Food Movement

  07-03-2017 14:30
  
  “From movie stars to television chefs, a cadre of self-promoting yet often ill-informed celebrities are influencing the public discussion about topics way beyond their expertise, particularly consequential issues like vaccines and biotechnology.”
  Julie Kelly is a cooking instructor, food writer, blogger and mom. Since 2015, she has vocally supported GMOs through her contributions to the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Huffington Post, The Hill and other media out
  
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• Red Blood Cells and Antigenic Peptides Used to Reduce Autoimmune Disease Symptoms

  07-03-2017 14:07
  Researchers in the laboratories of Hidde Ploegh, Ph.D., Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvey Lodish, Ph.D., Whitehead Founding Member, have prevented and alleviated two autoimmune diseases —multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes—in early-stage mouse models. They did so by using red blood cells modified to carry disease-specific antigens."This is a very promising step in the development of therapies for autoimmune diseases," says Dr. Lodish, who is also a professor of biology a
  
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• BioVersys and Aptuit Partner on MDR Targets and Compounds

  07-03-2017 12:55
  Swiss biopharma BioVersys is collaborating with drug discovery and development CRO Aptuit on the discovery and development of new targets and drug candidates against Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant strains. An existing BioVersys target will be included in the partnership.BioVersys is exploiting its transcriptional regulatory inhibitory compounds (TRIC) platform to identify and develop drugs that inactivate bacterial resistance mechanisms. The firm is developing a series of leads
  
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• EC Approves Actelion's Topical Chlormethine Gel for MF-type CTCL

  07-03-2017 11:37
  The European Commission approved Actelion’ Ledaga® (chlormethine gel) for the topical treatment of mycosis fungoides type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (MF-CTCL)in adults. The firm said it now has to fulfil a list of post-approval measures that have been agreed with the EC’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), and doesn’t anticipate launching Ledaga in Europe before 2018.European marketing authorization was based on data from the pivotal, 12-month 201 study,
  
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