antibodies

Under terms of the deal, Novartis will give Epistem a $4 million upfront payment and provide funding to study the stem cell shop's drug targets. Epistem could also get up to $45 million in milestone payments for each product developed from targets licensed under the agreement.

NHLBI in late January put out an RFP for the program, which calls for researchers to develop proteomics technologies and apply them to solve clinical puzzles. It is set to begin early next year, shortly after its current two major proteomics initiatives expire.

The study is the first to look at a clinical biomarker to assess potential ecological risk assessment. Eventually, they hope to develop an assay that hydropower operators can use to evaluate how their facilities may be affecting the survival of fish populations, especially those that may be endangered.

Called Proactive, the consortium will use the funds to build out Olink Bioscience's proximity ligation assays to improve the detection of biomarkers for colorectal cancer in plasma.

Eksigent, ForteBio, AnaSpec, Premier Biosoft

If MedImmune can develop and market a drug based on the discovery, it could be a financial boost to the institute, which hopes to diversify its revenue sources once cash from sole corporate sponsor Kirin Pharma USA dries up in 2010.

The FDA has confirmed to DxS that its TheraScreen KRAS test is a Class III device. The company is in the process of submitting its premarket approval application to the agency.

Microarray-Related Papers of Note, February 2009

DiscoveryBioMed, ArtusLabs, Heptares Therapeutics, Gentronix, GlaxoSmithKline, BioFocus DPI, Eli Lilly, Millipore, Epitome, ChanTest, Applied Cell Sciences, BioTime, Embryome Sciences, Reproductive Genetics Institute of Chicago, Arizona State University Biodesign Institute, VisionGate

BioGenes will supply antibodies for the project, called cNeupro. The deal will enable it to share ownership of the antibodies and pocket royalties on the ones that lead to commercial products.