Company & Industry Headlines

In the Spotlight

• C3 Jian's Cavity-Fighting Herbal Lollipop
  UCLA professor Wenyuan Shi (photo right) has developed a cavity fighting lollipop that he recommends eating twice daily. What's the secret formula? STAMPs: specifically targeted antimicrobial peptides. C3 Jian of Inglewood -- a member of SoCalBio -- is commercializing Dr. Shi's lollipops ... read more

• Xencor Partners with Human Genome Sciences
  Maryland-based Human Genome Sciences announced that it will team up with Xencor on drug development. Xencor uses its XmAb technologies to enhance the pharmacologic properties of monoclonal antibodies developed by HGS that specifically target antigens discovered by HGS. Xencor gains an upfront payment and could earn additional payments including development and commercial milestones, and royalties ... read more

• LA BioMed President and CEO Kenneth P. Trevett to Be Honored
  The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California is proud to honor two outstanding humanitarians, Kenneth P. Trevett, J.D., and Dr. David P. Richman, on March 15 at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air at its 44th Annual Founders Dinner and Dance: Finding a Cure for MG. .. read more

General Interest

• Rules Remain Murky for Medical Devices
  Medical devices and diagnostics should be subject to examination by independent review organizations in addition to any FDA evaluations, according to a new analysis. "Device manufacturers have been able to get away with a much lower level of evidence in getting their devices to market," said a professor from the University of California, San Francisco. ... read more

• Biotech Investing Evolves
  A global credit crunch tied to the sub-prime mortgage meltdown has made it more difficult -- and less lucrative -- for private-equity firms to finance biotech deals. The credit squeeze means the days of using inexpensive debt to pay big sums for a company then flip it for a high return are over ... read more

• Dems, Drugs And Dollars: The (Small) Cost Of Doing Business?
  In their stump speeches and debates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama often talk about pushing back against the Washington influence of the powerful pharmaceutical lobby and keeping drug company profits in check. So, given the campaign rhetoric, it may come as a surprise to some that Clinton and Obama are the top two recipients of pharma/health products industry money in this year's election cycle ... read more

SoCal Company News

• Allergan (Irvine):
  • Allergan Answers FDA
  • Allergan's Botox Under FDA Review
• Avanir Pharmaceuticals (Aliso Viejo)
  • Avanir files for $25 million shelf
• Beckman Coulter (Fullerton):
  • Beckman Names CEO As Chairman
• Endologix (Irvine):
  •  Endologix Launches the Powerlink System in Japan
• Medtronic Diabetes (Northridge):
  • Medtronic Announces FDA Approval of CGMS iPro Continuous Glucose Recorder
• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (Irvine):
  • Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Strengthens Management; Appoints Oncologist Richard A. Bender, MD as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
  • Spectrum Initiates Phase 1 Study of SPI-1620, a Novel Adjunct to Cancer Chemotherapy
• Xencor (Monrovia):
  • Xencor Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial with XmAb2513 in Lymphoma

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February 21, 2008
7:00 – 9:30 am
UCI University Club (Irvine, CA)
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SoCalBio Networking Forum

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Recommended Events

March 2, 2008
Hotel Crowne Plaza, Los Angeles International Airport

Canada-California Infectious Diseases Collaboration Workshop

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The Canada-California Infectious Diseases Collaboration Workshop is an initiative of the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) which aims to assemble the best of Research, Development and Delivery (transfer and commercialization) in selected technology areas that are strategic to Canada and California, and where there is world-level strength of research in both jurisdictions. Project partners come from Academia, Industry and Government.

March 4, 2008
California Institute of Technology (Pasadena)

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This Symposium will present cutting edge medical diagnostic research advances from Caltech labs; provide insights into future medical devices from an industry perspective; and share a new vision for patient care.

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