• Study Involving More Than 100 Scientists Provides New Insights on Green Algae
  Culminating a three-year research project, 115 scientists from around the world report in the Oct. 12 issue of the journal Science a "gold mine" of data on a tiny green alga called Chlamydomonas. Findings have implications for human diseases according to UCLA researcher Sabeeha Merchant (photo right), professor of biochemistry and associate director of UCLA's Molecular Biology Institute, who has studied the green alga for 20 years ... read paper
• Brain Imaging Aids in Defense Against Genetic Disease
  Caltech researchers joined scientists at Penn State College of Medicine to study the signs of glutaric aciduria type I (GA-I), a disorder arising from a gene defect that blocks a child's ability to break down the amino acids lysine and tryptophan. Lysine in the blood stream goes straight to the brain, where acids concentrate and damage the mitochondria, the brain's energy producers. The team made two significant discoveries: all the mice fed a tailored diet survived the disorder symptom-free, and signs of impending brain injury could be detected with brain imaging techniques ... read abstract
• UCSB Receives $3 Million Gift to Establish Endowed Chair For Director of Planned Stem Cell Research Center
  The interdisciplinary Center for Stem Cell Biology and Engineering, which is pending formal approval by UCSB's Academic Senate, will help expand existing stem cell studies already under way on campus and stimulate new investigations of stem cell biology and engineering.

• New Report Concludes Medical Technology Industry Has a Strong and Very Positive Impact on the Economies of States Through Employment, Payrolls and Sales.

  • Each medical technology job generates an additional 2.0 jobs in that state;
  • Each medical technology payroll dollar generates an additional $1.12 in payroll in that state; and 
  • Each dollar of medical technology sales generates an additional $0.90 in sales in that state.
• Beauty Attracts Some Venture-Capital Beholders
  Venture capitalists have tended to shy away from investing in the vanity niche -- wrinkle-erasing or flab-zapping concoctions and devices -- a field better known for hype than scientific innovation. But with people spending more of their disposable income on beautifying themselves, investors are starting to express more interest in products like these.
• MAb Sector Growth Will Continue to Far Outstrip That of Small Molecules
  Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics currently generate global revenues of around $20 billion and represent the fastest-growing segment within the pharmaceutical industry. They are expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% between 2006-2012, easily outstripping the growth rate of 0.6% in the more traditional, small molecules market.
• Drugmakers Bet Big on RNA
  Drugmakers, biotechs experiment with RNA to block diseases; risky technology could lead to multi-billion dollar industry.

• Abraxis BioScience (West Los Angeles):
  • A Menace to Big Pharma
  • Abraxis Reaches Agreement with the FDA Following Special Protocol Assessment for Phase III Trial of ABRAXANE in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Advanced Cell Technology (Los Angeles):
  • ACT Announces the Promotion of Dr. Robert Lanza to Chief Scientific Officer
• Advanced Medical Optics (Tustin):
  • Advanced Medical Names Lambert As CFO
  • Study Shows Doctors and Contact Lens Wearers Don't See Eye to Eye When It Comes to Proper Lens Care
• Allergan (Irvine):
  • Allergan, J&J Face Off in Obesity Market
  • Regulators OK $370M Allergan Acquisition
  • Launch of Virtual Online Cosmetic Enhancement Makeover Allows You to Create Your Own Before and Afters
• AMDL (Tustin):
  • AMDL Submits Data to FDA for Clearance to Market Its DR-70(R) Diagnostic Test to Monitor Colorectal Cancer Patients
  • AMDL Expands Drug Distribution in China
• Avanir Pharmaceuticals (Aliso Viejo):
  • Avanir Rises On Approval Hopes
• Channel Islands Alzheimer’s Institute (Camarilllo):
  • Alzheimer’s Institute Receives $120,000 Donation
• Canopus Biopharma (Studio City):
  • Novel Antiviral HIV Drug SpirH(TM) Offers New Hope for AIDS Patients Worldwide
• CompuMed (West Los Angeles):
  • CompuMed, Inc. Awarded US Patent for Technology to Monitor Joint Disease
  • CompuMed, Inc. Announces New California Statewide Contract for ECG Services
• Cortex Pharmaceuticals (Irvine):
  • FDA rejects Cortex's request for study of drug candidate
  • Cortex shares plunge on FDA rejection
• Cougar Biotechnology (West Los Angeles):
  • Cougar Biotechnology Presents Positive CB7630 Phase II Data at Prostate Cancer Foundation Scientific Retreat
• Insert Therapeutics (Pasadena):
  • Insert Therapeutics' Lead Anti-Cancer Compound is Highlighted in Public Television Documentary
• Obagi Medical Products (Long Beach):
  • Obagi Medical Stock Offer Prices at $20
• USC
  • USC Stevens Opens Office at HSC

• Keck Graduate Institute
  • Master of Bioscience Degree
  • Executive Education for Women in the Life Science Industry
• University of Southern California
  • Master's in Regulatory Science 
  • Certificates: Food Safety, Patient & Product Safety, Clinical Trial Design & Management
• University of California Irvine
  • Medical Product Development Certificate Program
  • Clinical Trials Certificate Program
• California State University Fullerton
  • Certificate in Pharmaceutical Engineering
  • Certificate in Pharmaceutical Product Lifecycle Risk Management

Thanks to Participants in the SoCalBio Breakfast in Orange County on October 10

Local companies including Cenomed Biosciences of Irvine and USC spinoff, Anergix, will discuss progress made in targeting neurological disorders such as MS, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's.

Click Here for SoCalBio Calendar

Thanks to Sponsors

February 29, 2008
2^nd SoCalBio Human Resources  Conference Wilshire Grand Hotel, Los Angeles

Featuring a keynote presentation on
"Evolution and Modes of Specialization of U.S. Life-Science Regional Clusters: The Labor Market Implications" 

 
Richard Seline, CEO
New Economy Strategies

Sponsors

Los Angeles - Orange County 
EWD Biotechnology Center
     

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

(Los Angeles & Irvine)

Glumac provides consulting engineering for four market segments - Commercial, Healthcare, Institutional, and Advanced Technology.

• For more information, contact Edwin Lee, Managing Principal, at 213-239-8866

Join the Southern California Biomedical
Council and Enjoy the Benefits of our
Group Purchasing Program

The SoCalBio Group Purchasing Program includes the following:

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

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The BIOSCIENCE WEST MAP & CALENDAR (click on thumbnail to see a larger version) is a high quality promotional product offered by Silicon Graphics and distributed to almost every bioscience company in California, universities, Colleges, R&D Institutions, CRO's, and key government agencies. The Map/Calendar is published annually as a visual reference (a "snapshot") of our diverse and changing bioscience community. Custom imprinted with corporate message, this unique publication is an effective Marketing, Communications, B/D, Sales, and HR tool. 

For more information, contact Pat Murphy, Silicon Graphics, 925.314.1130 ext.24