From the Lab Bench

• Study Identifies Precipitating Factors Contributing to the Hospitalization of Heart Failure Patients
  Based on data from 49,000 heart failure cases, this study -- led by Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow (photo right), UCLA's Eliot Corday Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine and Science and director of the Ahmanson/UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center -- contends that pneumonia, irregular heart beat and obstructed blood flow to the heart were among the most frequent factors leading to patient hospitalization. The study appears in the April 28 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Click to access abstract

Industry & Company Headlines

• U.S. Senate Passes Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
  Experts believe that GINA may encourage more Americans to undergo genetic tests to identify predisposition to diseases. The House of Representatives is expected to review the bill for final approval before President George W. Bush signs it into law ... read more
• A Task Force Assembled by the Association of American Medical Colleges Scolds Medical Schools for Close Ties to Industry
  The task force's report laments that "over recent decades, medical schools and teaching hospitals have become increasingly dependent on industry support of their core educational missions. This reliance raises concerns because such support, including gifts, can influence the objectivity and integrity of academic teaching, learning, and practice, thereby calling into question the commitment of academia and industry together to promote the public’s interest by fostering the most cost-effective, evidence-based medical care possible." Click here to access this report
• The Trials and Tribulations of Inhaled Insulin Product Developers
  At the time, it seemed like a great idea. Give diabetics an alternative to injected insulin and they'd rush to it. That alternative? Inhaled insulin. The product's very name -- Exubera -- was intended to evoke the thrill of liberation from the syringe. ... Continue reading article from Investor's Business Daily

• Amgen to Investors: 'Trust Us'
• Abraxis BioScience Reports Promising Clinical Data in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Using a Combination of nab-Paclitaxel (ABRAXANE(R)) and Gemcitabine (Gemzar(R))
• Aeolus Pharmaceuticals' AEOL 10150 Provides Significant Protection of Lungs and Skin in Animal Studies of Mustard Gas Exposure
• Arrowhead Nanobiotechnology Subsidiaries, Calando Pharmaceuticals and Insert Therapeutics, Complete Merger
• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Provides an Update on Ozarelix in BPH
• Cosmetic Dermatology Publishes Data Highlighting the Benefits of Obagi's CLENZIderm M.D. Systems for Acne
• Watson Files FDA Application for Generic FENTORA(R)

Jobs Available

• Abraxis BioScience (Los Angeles):
  Has openings in the following categories (send resume to careers@abraxisbio.com):
  • Administrative
  • Clinical Trials
  • Finance, Accounting, Tax
  • Information Technology
  • Medical Affairs
  • Operations
  • Process Engineering
  • Program/Project Management
  • R&D
  • Regulatory Affairs
  • Quality
  • Validation
• Altura Pharmaceuticals (Santa Fe Springs):
  • Packaging Operator 
  • Quality Assurance/Control  
  • Sales Representative  
• Source Scientific (Irvine):
  • Embedded hardware engineer
  • Test and development technician
  • Quality inspector
  • Manufacturing engineers
  • Mechanical engineer
• Teco Diagnostics (Anaheim):
  • Laboratory Technical Support Manager

For more job announcements, go to:
http://www.socalbio.org/career_center/jobs.htm

Join SoCalBio and Enjoy the Benefits of our Group Purchasing Program

• Lab supplies by VWR
• Office and technology solutions by Office Depot
• D&O insurance by Monitor Liability Insurance and Bolton
• Liability insurance by Chubb and Bolton
• Employee benefits by ABD Insurance
• PR and news distribution by Business Wire
• Pre-owned lab equipment by BioSurplus
• Employee screening by Choice Point
• Moving & storage by Humbold

For more information, contact SoCalBio
213-236-4890
scbc@socalbio.org

SoCalBio Networking Forum

SoCalBio Hosted Forum on April 24 in Irvine (CA) That Focused on the Promise and Challenges of Stem Cell Research Commercialization

Speakers representing Southern California stem-cell companies -- from left to right: Chris Airries, Ph.D., COO, California Stem Cell (Irvine); John Sundsmo, Ph.D., President, PrimeGen Biotech (Irvine); and Oliver Foellmer, President & CEO, Capricor (Los Angeles) -- provided the scoop on how their firms apply stem cell research in tackling problems, such as cardiac disease or neurodegenerative disorders. Panel pondered regulatory hurdles and fund-raising challenges, and explained why there was so much at stake for us all.

Upcoming SoCalBio Networking Forums:

• May 29, 4 to 7 pm in Los Angeles
• June 26, 7:00 - 9:30 am in Irvine

Coming This Fall

September 19, 2008

Apply for a Presentation Slot
Click Here to Register Online
Sponsorship & Display Opportunities Available

October 13, 2008

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Recommended

9th Annual UC System-wide 
Bioengineering Symposium

June 20 - 22, 2008
University of California, Riverside
http://www.bioeng.ucr.edu/2008UCBES

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• April 21, 2008
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