NEWS


Pfenex Inc and DNA2.0 collaborate on protein expression technology


Pfenex Inc, a protein expression specialist company based in San Diego, California, USA, has entered into a research collaboration with bioengineering solutions provider DNA2.0 in which the companies will work together to develop an optimised algorithm and process for the design and synthesis of genes to be expressed in Pseudomonas fluorescens, the microorganism used by Pfenex in its expression technology which can be used for the production of research proteins, reagent proteins, biosimilars and innovative biopharmaceuticals.


DNA2.0 was founded in 2003 and offers a range of technology solutions for biological research, including gene design, optimisation, synthesis and cloning, as well as platforms for protein and strain engineering. The company is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, USA.


QIAGEN and Bio-X Center collaborate on Chinese translational medicine lab


QIAGEN has signed an agreement with Bio-X Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University to open a joint translational medicine laboratory in Shanghai, China. The laboratory is the first of its kind established by QIAGEN and a major research institution in China and represents a key milestone in the company’s expansion in key emerging markets and in translational medicine. QIAGEN will provide the Center with Pyromark Q24MDx and QIAcube


instruments and related products. The Pyromark system is a state- of-the-art pyrosequencing instrument that allows researchers to, amongst other things, study gene mutations that play a role in various diseases. Bio-X Center will use the instruments and reagents in a variety of research fields including biomarker validation and analysis.


BioFocus and Argenta form research collaboration with AstraZeneca


Galapagos’ service companies, BioFocus and Argenta, have entered into a multi-year collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to find new compounds against key targets of interest for AstraZeneca’s research programmes in respiratory and inflammatory diseases. Under the terms of the collaboration, each AstraZeneca project will utilise the medicinal chemistry, biology and ADME/PK capabilities of either BioFocus or Argenta, and will also be able to access the full range of in vivo respiratory pharmacology models available from Argenta. BioFocus has particular experience in neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory


AstraZeneca: new research deal for new products.


diseases, and especially in delivering candidates against rare and neglected diseases. Argenta’s contract research includes expertise in medicinal


chemistry, computer-aided drug discovery, in vitro biology, analytics, in vivo


pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and respiratory models.


WHO joins EMA and FDA in facility inspections partnership


The World Health Organization (WHO), through its


Prequalification of Medicines Programme, has become a new partner in the international collaboration on GMP inspections of active substance


manufacturers. This initiative allows participants to share information on inspections,


including planning, policy and reports, for API manufacturers located outside the participating countries. It also allows joint inspections to take place. Prior to the recent expansion, the programme involved the EMA, EU Member States, the European Directorate of the Quality of Medicines and


Healthcare, the FDA, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia. The EU Member States had signed a


confidentiality agreement with the FDA before the programme. The collaboration is based on experience gained in a pilot scheme that ran from December 2008 to December 2010.


Evocatal and RohnerChem in enzymatic chemistry partnership


Germany-based Evocatal and Swiss company RohnerChem have combined their services to offer technology for the


development of high-performance biocatalytic processes and their rapid application in the synthesis of fine chemicals and APIs. The focus of the partnership is on development of innovative routes to enantiomerically pure products, as well as the development of highly cost-competitive processes with


reduced commercialisation timelines. The preferred but non-exclusive partnership is based on Evocatal’s services in development and supply of tailored enzymes and RohnerChem’s process development and scale-up capabilities.


Evocatal’s enzyme range consists of ketoreductases, C-C- coupling enzymes, esterases, transaminases, hydroxynitrilases and others, allowing access to


almost all functional groups with ee values close to 100%. For enantiomerically pure products for which a process is not yet available, Evocatal will develop and produce tailored enzymes that can be used in


RohnerChem’s pilot plant and production equipment.


Companies using the service will communicate with a single project manager to reduce complexity and maximise service levels, the companies said.


Elan raises $381 million through sale of Alkermes shares


Neuroscience-focused biotechnology company Elan Corporation, plc has raised about $381 million in net proceeds from the sale of 76 per cent (24.15 million ordinary shares) of its


shareholding in Alkermes plc, net of underwriter fees. The company said these proceeds further strengthen its cash balances and capital structure.


In September 2011, when Elan


combined its Elan Drug Technologies (EDT) business with Alkermes Inc, the company received $500 million in cash and 31.9 million ordinary shares in the newly created Alkermes plc.


March/April 2012 sp2 Inter-Active 9


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