New SoCalBio Members

• Rady Center for Executive Development at UCSD (San Diego):
  The Center for Executive Development offers programs for professionals in a non-degree format. "Biotech Demystified" is one of the programs offered to prepare global life-science industry professionals for new heights of leadership. See announcement below.

• Cellestis (Valencia):
  Cellestis  develops and markets QuantiFERON technology products for medical diagnosis and scientific research. The QuantiFERON technology is a patented whole blood method for detecting cell mediated immune (CMI) responses of T cell lymphocytes using whole blood samples.

Company & Industry Headlines

General

• Pharma Industry's Contributions to Presidential Candidates
  Compiled by OpenSecrets ... click here to see figuers
• China's Laws Are Stifling Biotechnology Research, Study Finds
  China is stifling biotech research with regulations that deter foreign companies from investing in an industry that grew 30 percent a year from 2000 to 2005... read more
• The Cost of Pushing Pills: A New Estimate of Pharmaceutical Promotion Expenditures in the United States
  A new study contending that drug makers spend almost twice as much on marketing and promoting their meds than on R&D ... read more
• Drug Drought Deepens
  The malaise in big pharma is deepening, as 2007 shapes up as one of the slowest in years for new drugs .. read more

• Advanced Cell Technology
  • ACT Awarded Grant from the NIH
• Amgen
  • Amgen's Outlook Brightens
  • Amgen reps allege marketing abuse
• Biolase
  • Biolase Technology appoints CEO
  • Biolase Picture Brightens
• CoreValve
  • CoreValve announces that more than 500 high-risk patients have been treated with its ReValving(R) System for percutaneous aortic valve replacement
• Endologix
  • Endologix Expects Total 2007 Revenue of $27.8 Million
• MannKind
  • John R. Riesenberger Joins MannKind as Corporate Vice President and Chief Commercialization Officer
• ZenGen
  • Migami, Inc. Acquires ZenGen Assets and Sublicenses Bi-Layer Film Strip Technology in Korea
• Sanguine
  • Sanguine Supplies PHER-O2 to European Medical Research Group for Intravenous Development and Evaluation
• Synthetic Blood
  • Synthetic Blood Expands Scientific Advisory Board
• Watson Pharmaceuticals
  • Watson Pharma treatment for overactive bladder meets main goal

Jobs Available

Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics
Pasadena (CA) 

Advance your Career

This 4-day intensive course will provide executives and decision makers with a practical understanding of the basic science powering the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. 

Held in San Diego, this course is offered through the Rady School of Management in collaboration with the Division of Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. 

Designed for non-scientist executives and professionals, this program taps into the deep body of knowledge from both accomplished UC San Diego faculty and industry leaders. 

For more information and to register, go to: http://www.rady.ucsd.edu/exec/biotech

SoCalBio Networking Forums

Jan 24, 2008
4:00 - 7:00 pm
(Wilshire Grand Hotel
(Downtown Los Angeles)
RSVP Now

Battling Superbugs

Learn about local efforts in detecting and combating bacteria that are resistant to almost all antibiotics.

Speakers:

• Tuomas Holmberg, President, NovaDigm
• Michael Yeaman, Professor of Medicine and a Principal Investigator in the Division of Adult Infectious Diseases, LA BioMed

Feb 21, 2008
7:00 – 9:30 am
UCI University Club (Irvine, CA)
RSVP Now

Can Less be More? The Advantages and Challenges of Operating Virtually

These days, an increasing number of biotech and device companies -- often with prodding from the venture capitalists who back them -- are operating virtually on the premise that less can be more. Join us for a discussion by local device and biotech firms -- such as Symphony Medical and Cougar Biotechnology -- of the advantages and challenges of the virtual mode of doing business.

Upcoming Conferences

January 28, 2008
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
UCI University Club in Irvine

SoCalBio Workshop on Accessing Government Funding for Research

• Learn about funding opportunities from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army. 
• Hear from entrepreneurs who won government grants how to maximize winning chances. 
• Learn from VCs how to leverage grant funding to attract institutional funding.

More Information

Click here to RSVP

February 29, 2008
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wilshire Grand Hotel, Los Angeles

2^nd SoCalBio Human Resources  Conference

Click Here to RSVP

This conference provides a forum for information sharing among HR executives in device and biotech companies, HR service providers, bio-recruiters, educators, and workforce training professionals to address the growing human capital and employment needs of the life-science industry in Southern California. Learn about:

• Changes in technology and market dynamics affecting the supply and demand for skills 
• Best practices in talent recruitment and retention by biotech and device companies located in Southern California
• New educational and training initiatives in addressing skill shortages 
• Changes in public policies and workplace law, including immigration reform ..More information

Sponsors

10^th SoCalBio Investor  Conference

The SoCalBio Investor Conference features business presentations by CEOs of Southern California biotech, medical device and health informatics firms interested in raising capital and/or forging strategic partnerships. 

Presentation, Sponsorship and Display Opportunities Available. Contact SoCalBio