From the Lab Bench

• UCLA's Researchers Reprogram Skin Cells to Behave Like Embryonic Stem Cells 
  In their paper, published in the latest early online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences, Katherine Prath and William Lowery confirm the work of researchers Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University and James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin, who first reported such advance in November 2007 ... read abstract
• Mitochondrial DNA Mutations Can Cause Degenerative Heart and Muscle Disease
  A single change in the DNA of mitochondria – the cellular power plants that generate energy in all human cells – has been found to cause degenerative heart and muscle disease, according to University of California, Irvine research team led by by Douglas Wallace (photo right), director of the Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics at UC Irvine .. read more

Company & Industry Headlines

• Artificial Retinal Implant Project Grows
  University of Southern California and Second Sight Medical Products (Sylmar), the developer of retinal prostheses for treating blindness, are expanding the clinical trial of an advanced retinal prosthesis into Europe ...read more
• Amgen CEO: Bone Drug Started With a ‘Really Big Mouse’
  Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer touted the company's chances in developing denosumab (D-mab) into a badly needed blockbuster. The discovery program began in an Amgen lab when researchers observed that one of the knockout mice it had developed during gene disabling research work had grown huge. ... read more
• Two Southland Firms Fight Over Percutaneous Heart Valve Technology
  The Irvine-based Edwards Lifesciences, which dominates the market for replacement heart valves, filed a patent-infringement suit against CoreValve (also in Irvine) on Tuesday in Delaware. At issue is technology that both companies have developed for implanting replacement heart valves through catheters, without major surgery. CoreValve refutes alleged patent infringement action by Edwards.
• Edwards Lifesciences Realigns Business
  Company announced on February 18 that it plans to realign its company into a business unit organizational structure and said corporate officers -- Anita Bessler, Stuart Foster, and Alex Martin -- will be leaving the company in the middle of 2008 ... read press release
• ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Completes Acquisition of Molecular Antibody Technology
  The technology acquired by the Los Angeles-based company consists of (i) a platform technology for the potentially rapid discovery of monoclonal antibodies to detect and treat cancer and other chronic diseases and (ii) certain monoclonal antibody candidates for the potential detection and treatment of multiple myeloma, small cell lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancers ... read press release
• Mentor Announces an Alliance with Le Mystere and Launches an Online Resource on Breast Augmentation and Cosmetic Procedures
  The Santa Barbara-based breast implant maker unveiled a partnership with Le Mystčre on a variety of marketing and educational initiatives targeting women who are considering breast surgery. This move follows Mentor's launch of an online educational resource for women considering breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures at www.LoveYourLook.com.

Other News

• Advanced Medical Optics relocates the assembly of IntraLase disposable patient interfaces from the Irvine plant to AMO's facility in Puerto Rico
• Millennium Surgical Center Converts to Clearant Processed(R) Tissue as Their Primary Source
• Cougar Biotechnology Announces Presentation of Positive CB7630 Phase I Clinical Data at ASCO 2008 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
• Prolacta Bioscience Announces In-Vitro Study Results on Effects of Human Milk Fortifiers for Premature Infants
• Valeant Pharmaceuticals Reports Positive Phase III Results for Retigabine in RESTORE 1
• Watson Rises As FDA Starts Inspection

Upcoming Business Mixer

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

Upcoming Conference

SoCalBio has assembled an impressive roster of over 20 outstanding keynote speakers and panelists who will tackle human resources issues of relevance to small and mid-size biotech and device companies, from the role of HR in creating a competitive edge, new educational and workforce training initiatives in Southern California, to practical tips on avoiding the top reasons companies get sued because of HR matters. 

Recommended Events

• March 2, 2008, Canada-California Infectious Diseases Collaboration Workshop (Hotel Crowne Plaza, Los Angeles International Airport) -- Click here for more information and to register

• March 4, 2008, The Next Generation of Medical Diagnostics: Applications of Nanotechnology (California Institute of Technology in Pasadena) -- Click here for more information and to register

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SoCalBio members receive $300 discount, (promotion code: socalbio). Additional information and online registration: 
www.rady.ucsd.edu/exec/open/hr/?source=socalbio

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