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BioSeek, GSK, Peter MacCullum Cancer Center, Open Biosystems, Galapagos, DPI

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BioSeek to Evaluate Compounds for GSK

BioSeek this week said that it has entered into a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline under which it will use its BioMAP Systems to characterize certain GSK compounds.

BioSeek's BioMAP Systems are a series of human primary cell-based assays designed to replicate human disease biology.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Last week, BioSeek signed an agreement with Inflazyme to use BioMAP to characterize the molecular mechanisms of action of that company's leukocyte selective anti-inflammatory drugs (see CBA News, 6/30/2006).


Aussie Cancer Center Buys Whole-Genome Library from Open Biosystems

Australia's Peter MacCullum Cancer Center purchased a license to Open Biosystems' whole-genome human lentiviral shRNAmir library, the company said this week.

The transaction was made through the company's Open Access RNAi Program. The program gives the hospital access to RNAi technology, updates and upgrades, off-site backups, and a partner-specific technical support team.

The whole-genome resource enables the hospital's 265 investigators to target any gene in the human genome with what Open Biosystems calls improved knockdown efficiency and effectiveness.

Financial details were not disclosed.


Galapagos Completes $5.42M Acquisition of DPI's Drug Discovery Operations

Galapagos said this week that it has completed its €4.25 million ($5.42 million) acquisition of Discovery Partners International's drug discovery operations, which will now be part of Galapagos' service division, BioFocus DPI.

As a result of the acquisition, Mechelen, Belgium-based Galapagos has increased its 2006 revenue guidance to the range of €33 million to €38 million ($42 million to $48 million), from the range of €25 million to €30 million ($32 million to $ 38 million).

The operations acquired by Galapagos include DPI discovery services sites in San Diego; South San Francisco, Calif.; Basel, Switzerland; and Heidelberg, Germany.

Galapagos has also acquired DPI's Tokyo sales office.

Galapagos announced its intention to acquire the discovery group in mid-June.

The Scan

Positive Framing of Genetic Studies Can Spark Mistrust Among Underrepresented Groups

Researchers in Human Genetics and Genomics Advances report that how researchers describe genomic studies may alienate potential participants.

Small Study of Gene Editing to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

In a Novartis-sponsored study in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that a CRISPR-Cas9-based treatment targeting promoters of genes encoding fetal hemoglobin could reduce disease symptoms.

Gut Microbiome Changes Appear in Infants Before They Develop Eczema, Study Finds

Researchers report in mSystems that infants experienced an enrichment in Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Finegoldia and a depletion of Bacteroides before developing eczema.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Specificity Enhanced With Stem Cell Editing

A study in Nature suggests epitope editing in donor stem cells prior to bone marrow transplants can stave off toxicity when targeting acute myeloid leukemia with immunotherapy.