BrainCells, Lundbeck Collaborate On CNS Drug Research
BrainCells announced this week the formation of a research collaboration with H. Lundbeck A/S.
The financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
In the collaboration, BCI will use its proprietary neurogenesis-based technology to screen central nervous system targets and compounds. The company will determine which targets or compounds promote neurogenesis.
If targets or compounds with neurogenic properties are identified, Lundbeck plans to advance the compounds through development for certain CNS indications.
Emiliem, Invitrogen Reach Multiyear Kinase Screening Agreement
Invitrogen this week announced a partnership with Emiliem to screen the company’s multikinase inhibitors that target cancer using Invitrogen’s SelectScreen platform.
Financial details of the multiyear agreement were not disclosed.
The first phase of the agreement will use the SelectScreen kinase profiling system to confirm specificity and potency of compounds in the Emiliem pipeline created through its proprietary K-STAR technology.
The second phase will use SelectScreen’s cell-based pathway profiling service to interrogate the effects of Emiliem’s compounds on biological pathways and the company’s cytochrome p450 profiling service to determine the inhibitory profiles of lead molecules against drug metabolizing hepatic enzymes.
MDS Closes $615M Molecular Devices Acquisition
MDS this week said it has closed its $615-million acquisition of Molecular Devices.
MDS is using the purchase to create a new segment, MDS Analytical Technologies, which is a hybrid of Molecular Devices and the MDS Sciex business. MDS Sciex President Andy Boorn will lead the new business unit.
With the deal, Molecular Devices’ stock was delisted this week from the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
The two businesses had combined revenues of $432 million last year, and MDS expects Molecular Devices to contribute $190 million in revenue over the coming year, the company said in January.
Harvard Bio and Nanoentek Sign Co-Distribution Pact for US, Asia Markets
Harvard Bioscience last week said it has formed a co-marketing and -development agreement with Nanoentek, under which Nanoentek’s Digital Bio and HBIO’s BTX units will distribute certain of each others products in the US and in Asia.
HBIO’s BTX Harvard Apparatus business will distribute a gene-delivery system in the US made by Digital Bio, a Nanoentek segment. Digital Bio in return will distribute BTX’s electroporation products in Asia.
The companies also will jointly develop a next-generation microfluidics and nanotech instrument at HBIO’s labs in Holliston, Mass.
ABI Announces $.0425 Quarterly Dividend
Applied Biosystems has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.0425 per share.
The dividend will be payable on July 2, ABI parent Applera said this week.