From the Lab Bench

• UC Irvine Scientists Find New Way to Sort Stem Cells
  The technique used by the scientists, called dielectrophoresis, is based on the premise that different types of cells have different electric properties. Stem cells that are destined to become neurons, for example, have a different electric charge than stem cells that will become astrocytes, another type of brain cell. The scientists discovered that the cells react differently when electric fields are applied. At one frequency, a neuron will be attracted to an electrode but an astrocyte will not, and at a different frequency, an astrocyte will be attracted but a neuron will not .. read more

Company & Industry Headlines

Trends and Predictions

• 2007: The Year Pharma Fell in Love With Biologics
  2007 showed that big pharma had an appetite for biologics that's quickly turning into an obsession. Whether they buy companies outright or just license the rights to drugs in development, it is predicted that there will be more money flowing into biologics ... read more
• Science Magazine's Selection of the Breakthroughs of 2007:
  • Human Genetic Variation 
    Equipped with faster, cheaper technologies for sequencing DNA and assessing variation in genomes on scales ranging from one to millions of bases, researchers are finding out how truly different we are from one another ... read more
  • Personal Genomics:
    Along with the discoveries in human genetics, 2007 saw the birth of a new industry: personal genomics. But researchers worry that these services open up a Pandora's box of ethical issues ... read more
    • 23andMe is a venture-funded online social networking startup offering web-based personal genomics services. Company is considered by WIRED magazine as one of the top ten startups to watch in 2008 ... read more
• WIRED Magazine's Top 10 New Life Forms of 2007
  Genetic engineering isn't just for scientists or corporate R&D labs anymore. Researchers are still creating new mice and crops every week, but the tools and knowledge necessary to create organisms never before seen on Earth have pushed out to pet breeders, artists and college kids ... see list
• Venture Capitalists Predict 2008 Trends
  "For venture capital firms, 2008 will be the year we begin to see larger funds raised at a faster pace, as many firms in the industry will focus on sectors that have increasing capital requirements such as life sciences and clean technology," said Mark Heesen, president of the NVCA ... read more
• Big Pharma vs. Big Biotech in 2008
  Big Pharma, fueled by promising pipelines and cost-cutting, is poised for a strong 2008, analysts say, while projections are mixed for the biotech sector ... read more

Company News

• Allergan (Irvine):
  • Looking Pretty
  • Medical Aesthetic Companies Remain Optimistic Amid Consumer Spending Slowdown
• AMDL (Tustin):
  • AMDL Announces Closing of Private Offering
• Amgen (Thousabd Oaks):
  • Can Amgen Turn Around?
• Arrowhead Research (Pasadena):
  • Arrowhead Research files for $50 mln shelf
• Cougar Biotechnology (West Los Angeles):
  • Cougar Initiates Phase I Trial for Noscapine
• Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine):
  • Edwards Completes Acquisition of CardioVations Product Line
• MannKind (Valencia):
  • MannKind CFO to delay retirement until 2009
• Masimo (Irvine):
  • Masimo Celebrates 500,000th Pulse Oximeter Shipped
• OSI Systems (Hawthorne):
  • OSI Announces Completion of Spacelabs Merger
• Pegasus Biologics (Irvine):
  • Pegasus Announces New Role for President and Founder
• Valeant Pharmaceuticals (Aliso Viejo):
  • Valeant Sells Hep-C Drug for $91 Million
• Viral Genetics (Azusa):
  • Viral Genetics Announces Licensing Deal With University of Colorado and V-Clip Pharmaceuticals
• VivoMetrics (Ventura):

  • VivoMetrics appoints Howard Baker as CEO

Register Now

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

SoCalBio Workshop on Accessing Government Funding

More Information

Click here to RSVP

Learn about funding opportunities from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army .. See attendee evaluation of previous workshop held on Jan. 2007

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

2^nd SoCalBio Human Resources  Conference

Click Here to RSVP

Organized by the Southern California Biomedical Council, 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 ... More information

For Sponsorship and Display Opportunities, Contact SoCalBio at scbc@socalbio.org

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

Recommended

ASME Emerging Technologies' 3rdFrontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference & Exhibition

June 18-20, 2008
Hyatt Regency Irvine

Leading authorities in the commercial and academic arenas will focus their expertise in eight technical sessions plus posters:

• Imaging & Anatomic Interaction
• Simulation & Modeling
• Device Testing
• Device Design & Development
• Device Technology & Innovation
• Bio-Sensors & Diagnostics
• Therapeutic Devices
• Clinical & Regulatory
• Posters

Submit your abstract by January 23, 2008. Go directly to the web site to submit your abstract: http://www.asmeconferences.org/biomed08

Facilities Available

LIFE SCIENCE START-UP INCUBATOR SPACE AVAILABLE

Click here for more information

Click here for more information