Watson completes acquisition of Eden Biodesign
Watson Pharmaceuticals announced on 29 January that it had completed the acquisition of Eden Biopharm Group Limited for approximately $15 million. Eden, which will be part of Watson’s Global Brands Division, will maintain its established contract services model, while providing the company with proven biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing capabilities. Watson’s President and Chief Executive Officer said ‘Completing the acquisition of Eden is the next strategic step in our commitment to establishing a major position in biologic products on a global basis.
AstraZeneca buys infection research company
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, has announced plans to buy French-based infection research company Novexel for up to $505m (£316m). The company, which employs nearly 7000 people in Alderley Park and Macclesfield, will work on a joint venture partnership with US-based Forest Laboratories to help develop and commercialise two antibiotic drugs developed by Novexel – ceftazidime/NXL-104 (CAZ104) and ceftaroline/NXL-104 (CEF104). The firm will pay $350m on completion of the deal, $80m for its cash balance and a further $75m to Novexel shareholders if certain milestones are met.
SpheriTech secures business angel cash
Research and synthetic DNA firm SpheriTech, based at the Heath Business Park in Runcorn, has secured an undisclosed six-figure investment from an anonymous business angel. The investor has taken a 20 per cent holding in the company, which will enable the business to employ a specialist member of staff and enhance the company’s efforts to secure further funding. Founder Don Wellings said ‘The investment will strengthen the team and allow the company to apply for government funding’.
IS Pharma granted exclusive licence
Chester-based IS Pharma, has been granted the exclusive licence and supply rights for Aequasyal in the UK. Aequasyal is an oral spray used to treat dry mouth xerostomia, a symptom common in cancer patients. Under the terms of the agreement IS Pharma plans to launch the spray in the UK in the second quarter of the year. It has also acquired the option for exclusive rights to the product in Germany.
AMS announces new US sales deal
Advanced Medical Solutions Group Plc, the Winsford-based wound care products maker, announced a distribution deal for its LiquiBand skin adhesive range in the USA on 28 January. Cardinal Health will market to hospitals, care centres, and surgeries as part of a strategy to form multiple partnerships to commercialise the product. AMS already has a partnership with Stryker Corporation for global marketing and distribution of some LiquiBand wound closure products for facial surgery.
Synexus acquires ClinPharm
Chorley-based Synexus, which runs clinical trials from its network of research centres, has extended it’s footprint in Europe with the acquisition of German business ClinPharm. The deal increases the number of facilities the company has to 26, adding eight centres in Germany and strengthening the companies portfolio in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2007, Synexus was taken private and is backed by equity from Lyceum Capital.
Vindon acquires US distributor
Rochdale-based Vindon Healthcare Plc has acquired the US distributor of its storage products. The company which provides low-temperature storage facilities for drug companies and also supplies blood banks, is buying Westech Intruments Inc from parent company Westech Instrument Services Ltd. Vindon said it plans to grow the US business substantially by setting up its own stability storage operation in Atlanta in June 2010.
SSL report confident sales
SSL International, which has its biggest UK operation in Manchester, has said the encouraging sales growth seen in the first half of its financial year has continued, driven by the strength of its Durex and Scholl brands. The business added that its balance sheet remains strong thanks to a new £410m banking facility to June 2013.
Ai2 receive UMIP Premier Fund
Manchester University spin-out company Ai2, who are developing an antibacterial coating substance for medical devices has received a £250,000 investment from the UMIP Premier Fund. The company will use the money to progress the development of its protein-like substances and to seek alliances with manufacturers of contact lenses and wound dressings.
Reaxa awarded NWDA grant funding
Reaxa based in Manchester, have been awarded a £146,191 grant for research and development from the Northwest Development Agency. The money will be used to carry out an 18-month research project to increase production of a catalyst used to recover metal residues from industrial processes.
Compliance wins tender process
Northwich-based Compliance Control Ltd were recently awarded a tender to support Galenika A.D. with compliance and validation of a business and manufacturing control system, as a result of identifying regulatory expectations within Seberia. Galenika A.D is an internationally recognised company and was the first pharmaceutical facility in Serbia.
Avecia Biologics is sold to Merck
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has acquired contract manufacturing organisation Avecia Biologics as part of its expansion strategy. Avecia, which is headquartered in Manchester with sites in the North East and US, develops medicines targeted at forms of cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Assura confirms takeover talks
Shares in Warrington healthcare provider Assura Group have hit a 12-month high after the company’s board confirmed it was in talks about a possible takeover. In a statement to the stock exchange, the business said discussions were at a ‘very early stage’ and there was no certainty that an offer will be forthcoming. However the share price has climbed 21 per cent to 46p following the announcement.
Cyprotex share price recovers
Cyprotex Plc, the Macclesfield-based company which tests drugs for big pharma groups, said on 29 January that its results for 2009 would be in line with market expectations. Chief Executive Anthony Baxter said that it had seen a ‘solid level of activity’ in November and December. The company issued a statement three weeks ago after its share price suddenly slipped by more than 15 per cent to 2.95p. The company knew of no reason for the fall and the shares have since recovered to 3.13p.
Intercytex gets go ahead for market exit
Shareholders in Manchester-based regenerative medicine company Intercytex Group Plc have approved the company’s plans to delist from the Alternative Investment Market and sell of its assets. Following a vote at a general meeting held in London on 23 December, the shares were cancelled on 8 January and the company will change its name to Regenerative Medicine Assets Ltd.
Duke Street sells Affinity
Affinity Healthcare, which owns Cheadle Royal Hospital, has been sold to the Priory Group by its private-equity owner Duke Street Capital. The deal, which is subject to clearance by the Office of Fair Trading, will see the Priory extend its footprint into the NHS.
AMS appoint Chief Operating Officer
Advanced Medical Solutions Group Plc, announced on 19 January that Chris Meredith, Group Commerical Director has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer ‘to better reflect the breadth of his existing role’.
Non-executive purchase Renovo shares
Susan Taylor, a non-executive Director at Renovo Group Plc, made her first purchase of shares in January, 14 months after joining the board. The Manchester-based biopharmaceutical company said on 13 January that she has bought 20,788 shares at 20p on 12 January, giving her a 0.01 per cent stake.
Manchester researcher appointed new UK ‘Dementia Tsar’
Professor Alistair Burns at The University of Manchester has been appointed as the new National Clinical Director for Dementia. Professor Burns will promote better care of people with dementia within the NHS and social care communities and provide leadership for the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.
Provexis Plc seek formulation scientist
MerseyBIO-based Provexis Plc, the life-science company that discovers, develops and licences scientifically-proven technologies for the global functional food, medical and dietary supplement sectors, are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Formulation Scientist to join their research and development facility in Liverpool. The candidate will have an interest in novel product development to take charge of formulation development, and the accompanying QC and safety testing. For further information, please email Steve Morrison, Chief Operating Officer at [email protected].
Office Manager required for Hydra Polymers Ltd
Hydra Polymers Ltd, is a young start-up company based at the MerseyBio Incubator in Liverpool. The business has innovative technology, and has grown since formation in 2007. Due to further expansion, they are now seeking an Office Manager to work in a lively and fast developing environment. Reporting to the CEO, the main responsibilities will be to provide office support to the team including the CEO, technical director, interim project manager, 5 lab based scientists and 2 non execs. For further information, please contact Nigel Seddon on 0151 795 4121 by 19 February.
Innovation Networking Event
The Health Tech Hub invites you to attend the next innovation network evening on Tuesday 9 February at The Innovation Centre, Blackburn. Matthew Theobald, Prinicipal, Three Circles Consulting Ltd will be speaking at the event entitled ‘Project Fractures – How can we minimise the occurrence of costly project over-runs, and reduce the risk of failure?’ For further information email [email protected]
Healthcare trade mission to Japan
UK Trade & Investment is organising the eighth healthcare trade mission to Japan in March 2010. All UK registered companies engaged in the supply of healthcare or medical devices and service are eligible to participate in the mission. For further information, please contact Bob Kipps at [email protected].
Innovations Technology Access Centre launch
Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), cordially invites you to the official launch of the Innovations Technology Access Centre (I-TAC) at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus on Thursday 4 February. At the launch you will have the opportunity to tour the I-TAC, meet the STFC innovations team and some of the tenant companies. For further information, please contact Anne Green on 01925 603432 or email [email protected].
Knowledge workshop for industry
The Liverpool Biomedical Research Centre is hosting a knowledge exchange workshop for industry on Friday 5 February. The Liverpool Biomedical Research Centre is part of the National Research Strategy and aims to be a pioneer in the translation of new diagnostic tools for the benefit of the public, focusing on Microbial diseases. The workshop themes include diagnostics, vaccines, drugs and material web-based tools. For further information please contact David Price on 0151 709 4002 or email [email protected].
Bio 2010 – Chicago
Bio 2010 is the largest gathering in the Global Biotech industry calendar and provides opportunity for extensive networking with potential investors, collaborators and partners with over 15,000 attendees in 2009. The Bioindustry Association (BIA) with UKTI is inviting BIA members to exhibit at the UK pavilion within the UK Innovation Zone for Bio 2010. Companies can use this event to showcase their services, products and technologies and use the area to hold meetings and give presentations. There are currently 10 trade show access grants available for interested companies subject to eligibility criteria. For further information, please contact Hamish Butler by email [email protected] or phone 020 7565 7167.
Bionow Networking Event 2010
Bionow are hosting a network evening in Manchester on Thursday 4 March at the Core Technology Facility .We are delighted that Tony Bradshaw and Sue Dunkerton from bioProcess UK will be the Key Speakers at the event giving an overview of the new Healthcare & Medicines KTN. If you wish to attend or require any further information please visit www.bionow.co.uk or contact Helen Williams at [email protected].
regeNer8 Industry Challenge Event
regeNer8 are launching the Industry Challenge 2010 at a meeting at the Core Technology Facility in Manchester on 23 February. This is a highly significant meeting, backed by the Technology Strategy Board, and aimed at scoping the major issues facing the regenerative medicine industry and approaching N8 members to create consortia to seek early solutions. The is an excellent programme based upon a successful platform developed by regeNer8 in 2009, which created two very strong funded consortias. For further information, please contact Rekah Palmer on [email protected].
Life Science Super Cluster announced
On 26 January, the Government announced plans for a new UK Life Sciences Super Cluster, supported by £1 million of Governent investment. Bringing together industry, academia and the NHS, it will help to deliver the next generation of medicines and technologies needed to support people suffering from chronic diseases. At the heart will be the creation of Therapeutic Capability Clusters, these will be made up of a small number of selected academic and NHS centres of excellence, which will work with industry to harness UK capabilities in specific therapeutic areas and work on early stage clinical development and experimental medicine. The new Super Cluster will be kick-started later this year with a pilot in immunology and inflammation focussing on diseases in areas such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
Lancaster University – Biomedical Consultation
Lancaster University is delivering a biomedical consultation project through the Higher Level Skills Partnership initiative, supported by the Northwest Development Agency and co-ordinated by the North West Universities’ Association. The project will be delivered by the Centre for Training and Development and the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences in the School of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University. The project is a consultation with the Biomedical Sector in order to develop courses to meet the needs of Graduate in their first year of employment, experiences graduates with specific development needs and non-graduates with the experience and ability to benefit from postgraduate level learning. For further information please email or to complete the course questionnaire, please click here.
Three shortlisted for Daresbury partnership
A shortlist of three has been drawn up in the bid to find a private sector joint venture partner for Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (SIC). British Land, Igloo Regeneration and Langtree have been selected by the existing public sector partners at the campus – the Northwest Development Agency, Science and Technology Facilities Council and Halton Borough Council – following a round of detailed proposal submissions. The creation of the Daresbury SIC joint venture will see around 1m sq ft of new space developed for science and innovation facilities, which will bring more than 6,000 new jobs to the area over the next 30 years.
Your old Autoclave is worth money
LTE Scientific has introduced it’s own scrappage scheme for customers looking to buy a new autoclave. Regardless of make, age or condition, LTE will take away customers old autoclaves and make an additional allowance against a new LTE autoclave. This offer applies across LTE Scientific’s entire autoclave range. When buying a new LTE cylindrical-chambered autoclave, the minimum scrappage allowance offered will be £500. When buying a new LTE square-chambered autoclave, the scrappage allowance increases to a minimum of £1000. This offer is open to all UK customers buying a new autoclave directly from LTE Scientific between now and the end of June 2010. For further information, please contact LTE Scientific on 01457 876221 or [email protected]
Pfizer on-line equipment auction
An Online Auction is being organised (with lots closing on 11 Feb 2010) by Order of Pfizer, UK. The sale offers Science Park tenant companies in particular the opportunity to acquire quality used equipment. The online auction is for over 400 lots of Laboratory Equipment from Pfizer’s, Sandwich (UK) Research and Development Facility Includes HPLCs, Liquid Handling, Chromatography Sytems, Microscopes, Ovens, Centrifuges and much more. Visit the Auction Site for more information.Register now for this sale and GoIndustry Dovebid’s European Biopharma Exchange on the 17 Feb. Lots in this sale include well maintained Shimadzu Axima-TOF 2TM and Waters Micromass Q-TOF-2TM Mass Spectrometers.
EPSRC Industrial CASE Awards 2010
In Collaboration with the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC), the Northwest Development Agency invites applications for one of 2 EPSRC PhD Industrial CASE studentships. For further information and to download an application form, please click here. These awards enable companies to take the lead in defining and setting up research projects with a research organisation of their choice. Projects must be in engineering or physical sciences and jointly supervised by the academic and industrial partners. Closing date for application is 30 April 2010.
bioProcessUK welcomes investment in bioprocessing research
bioProcessUK, part of the HealthTech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), has welcomed the announcement that the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will invest a further £9 million in funding in the Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC) in partnership with bioprocessing companies in the UK and the KTN. Bioprocess has worked with the bio pharmaceutical industry since 2005 to ensure strong engagement in the BRIC. The first phase of BRIC was endorsed by the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team Review and Refresh of Bioscience 2015 and received a highly positive response from the BBSRC’s review panel.
Scientists put psoriasis drugs to the test
Clinical trials to test the effectiveness of two prescription drugs for the debilitating skin condition psoriasis have revealed significant differences that should help inform physicians treating patients with the condition. Researchers at the University of Manchester compared drugs etanercept and ustekinumab – relatively new biological therapies that have proved effective in the management of moderate to severe psoriasis. The team, headed by world-renowned dermatologist and psoriasis expert Professor Chris Griffiths, found that there was at least a 75% improvement in the severity of psoriasis symptoms in 56.8% of patients who received twice-weekly 50mg sub-cutaneous injections of etanercept after 12 weeks.
Studies advise on fluoridated toothpaste use in children
Parents should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million to prevent tooth decay in their children, says a new report. Preventing tooth decay can help reduce the need for extensive and costly dental treatments, including extractions. Researchers for the Cochrane Oral Health Group, based at the School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester have previously shown that fluoride toothpastes reduce dental decay by 24% in average compared to non-fluoride products.
Scientists complete first rewire of genetic switches
Researchers in Manchester have successfully carried out the first rewire of genetic switches, creating what could be a vital tool for the development of new drugs and even future gene therapies. A team of scientists from the School of Chemistry and Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (MIB) at the University of Manchester have found a way of hijacking so-called ‘riboswitches’ and directing gene activity. Working within cells of bacteria, chemical biologist Professor Jason Micklefield and his team have rewired these genetic switches so they are no longer activated by small naturally pccurring molecules found in cells – but through the addition of a synthetic molecule.
Ethnicity and past pregnancies determine breastfeeding rates
A University of Manchester study published in the journal BMC Pediatrics has found that ethnicity and the number of previous births can predict the length of time a woman breastfeeds her child. The researchers say the findings are important since the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates worldwide. The UK Government recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life based on World Health Organization guidelines.
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.
The UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is among a host of investors providing £5m to create 30 new laboratories and offices at Norwich Research Park. The aim is to attract new science start-ups and, specifically, create 5,000 research jobs by 2021.
Other investors include the East of England Development Agency (providing £1.4m), the Greater Norwich Development Partnership (£1m) and the University of East Anglia (£500,000). The new facilities are due to open in summer 2010 and are currently being considering by a number of established UK biotech firms, as well as new ventures.
Elsewhere, Sheffield-based biotech Kirkstall has secured a £170,000 investment as part of its strategy to eliminate the need to test chemicals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics on animals. The announcement follows Kirkstall’s successful landing of a three-year toxicity testing contract for which it is currently developing new technologies.
In regulatory news, the FDA has approved Shire’s once-daily attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Intuniv in children aged six to 17. Clinical trials showed that the treatment is successful in addressing symptoms of ADHD, particularly sleep issues linked to the condition.
Intuniv is often used in combination with stimulant medication therapies to provide a significant improvement in symptoms, despite the drug only being FDA-approved as a monotherapy.
UK cost-effectiveness watchdog the National Institute for Clinical Health (NICE) has this month approved UCB’s new rheumatoid arthritis drug, Cimzia, but only in conjunction with a company-sponsored patient access scheme. Under the scheme, UCB will pay for the first 12 weeks of all patients’ therapy, regardless of patient response to treatment. The NHS will foot the bill after this time, at an estimated annual cost of £9,295. This is a shrewd method of ensuring Cimzia’s use on the NHS, considering NICE’s recent spate of cost-related rejections [Read more].
Finally, London-based Silence Therapeutics has completed its merger with Intradigm, raising £15m through institutional investors and the investment vehicles of major pharmaceutical firms. It is thought that the enlarged company, which retains the name Silence Therapeutics, will become a leader in the field of RNA interference [Read more].
To qualify for your Bionow discount on Datamonitor products, please register by email to: [email protected], quoting Bionow as your reference. Alternatively, sign-up for a free report at: dmfreereports.com.
The Information contained in the above email is taken from public domain sources. Whilst we endeavor to ensure that the information is factual, The Northwest Development Agency accepts no responsibility for any errors. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the Northwest Development Agency shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.
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