Business of Auto-Immune

Giant of the Cancer-drug conglomerates, Celgene Corp recently announced a massive purchase of competitor Receptos Inc. The $7.2 billion deal is Celgene’s first move to become further involved in the business of combating autoimmune diseases.  Targeting the largest markets in this category, diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis, open a huge opportunity for additional revenue along with treatment advances.

The acquisition of Receptos Inc is a bid to diversify Celgene’s treatments. 65% of the company’s $7.6 billion is thanks to the sale of one drug. Revlimid, designed to treat blood-borne cancers, is so heavily relied upon for the company’s funding that a competitor’s advancement could put them out of business. Looking for a bigger piece of an industry that’s estimated at $67 billion and growing, Celgene’s purchase is a smart business maneuver for the company and those they treat.

Receptos Inc plans to supply Celgene a third drug for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis to bolster their offerings of autoimmune treatments. Currently named Ozanimod, Celgene is projecting a possible $6 billion return in yearly sales to their already sizeable annual income, and more importantly, an increase in quality of treatment for thousands of their patients. The latest splash in the drug industry, Celgene has been a major player of late. Acquiring a 10% share of Juno Therapeutics last month, Celgene’s maneuvering into an advantageous position for further development of their cancer treatments.

Celgene projects future sales in 2020 to exceed $21 billion, far surpassing any prior landmarks the company has ever achieved. With second-quarter earning neighboring $2 billion, Celgene is already 22% over where they were last year at this time. Commanding a wide influence over the treatment of autoimmune disease, Celgene looks to dominate the market, and bring real change through innovative treatments.

 

from Bjorn Koch | Healthcare http://ift.tt/1gOfVON

Slowing Alzheimers

Few things are more precious than memory, and for years, thousands have suffered with watching their loved ones lose themselves to the ravages of age. Alzheimer’s disease robs us of our loved ones too soon, but a solution is on the horizon. Researchers have found a way to fight against the decay of memory, possibly to stop it entirely. This hope comes in the form of a protein found to cause memory impairment when it builds in the blood and brain. By identifying the problem, these researchers have discovered how to block the production of this protein, preventing the eventual loss of memory.

Recent discoveries led scientists to theorize that blood plasma is the key to curing many age-based ailments. By focusing their collective efforts on identifying the components in blood plasma that lead to Alzheimer’s disease, patients are already preparing to undergo trials. While still in its infancy, the process could be capable of slowing down the aging process, and all its rigors.

Such a monumental discovery came from observing mice with increased levels of beta-2-microglobulin, or B2M. This protein, produced in both mice and humans, increase in saturation as the subject ages. Furthermore, subjects in need of long-term kidney dialysis often suffered from raised levels of B2M in their blood, resulting in a faster decline in cognition.

The hypothesis was proven during testing on young mice while they solved a maze. The younger mice, memories intact, would run the test while searching for specific checkpoints. When B2M was introduced into their systems, however, researchers noticed a drastic change. The young mice began to falter where they’d just recently displayed mastery of the maze. “They will make perhaps one or two mistakes over the course of three trials,” a researcher says, “but when you give them B2M, they’ll make perhaps five.”

Whether a treatment is to be developed for the infirm, or we’ll live to see this protein expunged from our bodies entirely, the identification of such a troubling element can only spell good things for the future. The eradication of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia will not only ensure a new quality of life, but promise the preservation of a lifetime’s worth of cherished memories.

from Bjorn Koch | Healthcare http://ift.tt/1M8za2o

IndieBio: Silicon Valley’s Biotech Accelerator

Biotechnology is the cutting edge of development. With advances once thought impossible coming out every day, the limits of imagination are all that bar the realm of discovery. And small biotech accelerator IndieBio, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, is looking to have their name on the next great evolution in biotech, writes Tech Crunch. Whether discovering the cure for diseases that have plagued humanity for generations, or creating a renewable source of energy to break dependence on fossil fuels, IndieBio looks to heal the world of its ills.

When understanding what IndieBio does, it’s necessary to know what a biotech accelerator is. The preeminent home for change and growth in the biotech industry, these accelerators supply scientists with the means and funding to pursue their goals in exchange for a stake in their discovery. Considered by many to be the cradle of innovation, Silicon Valley is home to many biotech accelerators, each with their own team of minds toiling away for the betterment of our future. From creating electric cars capable of traveling hundreds of miles on a charge, to powerhouse computers that fit in the palm of your hand, these scientists are answering questions both new and old. By supplying brilliant minds with the means to further their research, these biotech accelerators will foster the future, and IndieBio is doing just that.

With support from SOS Ventures, IndieBio is a standout bio accelerator with the power of a well-known company behind them. From 3D printed animal parts to artificial skin, the halls of IndieBio are buzzing with the hum of innovation. Biotech startups, each with their own unique mission, tirelessly pursue the fulfillment of their dream. As the first of its kind to focus on the development of 3D printed biopharma, IndieBio is staffed full of minds with their sights set on the future.

 

 

from Bjorn Koch | Healthcare http://ift.tt/1fl5SAh

Bristol-Myer to Develop a New Biotech Research Facility

The future is here, and Big Pharma is prepared to settle this new and expanding biotech landscape. Bristol-Myer, among several other giants of the industry, are currently in talks to open up new research facilities stocked with brilliant minds. With their sights set on the future and an endless potential for development, what’s in store for us in this bright new world?
According to Fierce Biotech, after recently signing a 15-year contract for their latest research facility, Bristol-Myer has plans to place over 300 researchers in this massive facility. Nestled in Cambridge’s biotech cluster, and offering over 431,500-square-feet of research space, Bristol-Myer is looking to rub shoulders with the science elite. With R&D neighbors from both Cambridge and Harvard, and a host of smaller biopharma companies looking to make a name for themselves, this small patch of ground is primed to be the birthplace of many future biotech discoveries in the fields of genetically defined diseases and molecular discoveries.
However, the rise in demand for Cambridge’s lab space does come with its own backlash. This surge for real estate among the brilliant minds of biotech, AsUnum Therapeutics CEO Chuck Wilson stated, “the demand for this space is driving up the rent prices.” While this may not be a concern for giants like Bristol-Myer, $80 per square foot can be a barrier to entry for start-ups looking to make a name for themselves.
CEO Joel Marcus disagrees with this projection, as stated during Philadelphia’s BIO conference. “The startups today are being way more well funded,” Marcus said. “ And rent is not a major factor in their overall cost and operations. They don’t want to be gouged, and they don’t want to pay something that’s not fair, but as a cost of doing business, it’s not material.” Joel went on to say that the industry’s recent boom has touched all tiers of biopharma, injecting revenue into the stars and startups alike.
Paving the way to a brighter future in biopharma, many companies are racing to the next discovery and for a place to plant their flag. With so many brilliant minds competing in such close quarters, and the electric buzz of innovation hanging in the air, keep your eyes peeled for the future coming from Cambridge labs.

from Bjorn Koch | Healthcare http://ift.tt/1IQYiEh