NIH funded study shows HIV can spread early, evolve in patients’ brains

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered that the AIDS virus can genetically evolve and independently replicate in patients’ brains early in the illness process.  An analysis of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), a window into brain chemical activity, revealed that for a subset of patients HIV had started replicating within the brain within the first four months of infection. CSF in 30 percent of HIV-infected patients tracked showed at least transient signs of inflammation – suggesting an active infectious process – or viral replication within the first two years of infection. There was also evidence that the mutating virus can evolve a genome in the central nervous system that is distinct from that in the periphery.



“These results underscore the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with antiretroviral therapy,” said Dianne Rausch, Ph.D., director of the Division of AIDS Research of the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). “Any delay runs the risk that the virus could find refuge and cause damage in the brain, where some medications are less effective – potentially enabling it to re-emerge, even after it is suppressed in the periphery.”

Fujifilm to buy Cellular Dynamics International for $307 million

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Fujifilm) and Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI), a leading developer and manufacturer of fully functioning human cells in industrial quantities to precise specifications, have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Fujifilm will acquire CDI via an all-cash tender offer to be followed by a second step merger.










Fujifilm aims to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of CDI's common stock for $ 16.5 per share or approximately $307 million (on a fully diluted basis). The offer represents a premium of 108% to CDI's closing price on March 27. Upon completion of the transaction, CDI will continue to run its operations in Madison, Wisconsin and Novato, California as a consolidated subsidiary of Fujifilm. The announced transaction was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Fujifilm will commence an all-cash tender offer no later than April 6, 2015. The transaction is conditioned on the tender achieving the minimum acceptance threshold, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Fujifilm will finance the transaction from the cash on its balance sheet and the completion of the acquisition is not subject to any financing conditions. It is anticipated that the tender offer will close during the second calendar quarter of 2015.

CDI was founded in 2004 and listed on NASDAQ in July 2013. The company had global revenues of $16.7 million in the year ended, December 31, 2014 and had 155 employees as of December 31, 2014.

Nanolek to commercialise Green Cross' biologics in Russian market

South Korean biopharmaceutical company, Green Cross and Nanolek, a Russian pharmaceutical company, have entered into a strategic partnership agreement for the commercialisation of Green Cross' biologics in the Russian market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nanolek will obtain marketing authorisations and set up the production of a number of Green Cross' biologics. The production will be organised at Nanolek's facility, a state-of-art biopharmaceutical complex built and equipped in compliance with EU GMP standards and launched in December 2014.

"This partnership is a perfect strategic fit for Green Cross' global business model," said EC Huh,  president of Green Cross Corporation. "We are excited to work with the team at Nanolek, and to share in the longer-term commercial success of Green Cross' products as it enters Russia."

"Our project with Green Cross will make socially significant drugs more accessible and minimize the state's financial burden for the procurement of these drugs outside of Russia," said Mikhail Nekrasov, CEO of Nanolek. "Making possible the domestic production of a number of biopharmaceuticals is our contribution to the implementation of the government policy in developing the Russian pharmaceutical industry."

Russia's pharmaceutical market is one of the most attractive in the emerging European region, mainly due to its absolute size, plus a growing economy and increasing government investment in healthcare, according to a report from Business Monitor International. The Russian market is set to grow at twice the pace of the global pharmaceutical market, with growth estimates around 10-15% annually reaching an approximate market value of $43-60 billion by 2020.

Cadila buys 50% stake of Zydus BSV from Bharat Serums

Cadila Healthcare Ltd, a Rs.7,200 crore pharma major from Ahmedabad, has purchased 50 per cent shares of Zydus BSV Pharma Pvt Ltd (Zydus BSV) from Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd (BSV) and now Zydus BSV has become 100 per cent subsidiary of Cadila Healthcare.







BSV is engaged in research, manufacturing and marketing injectable biological, pharma and biotech products. Its product portfolio comprises 25 brands which include plasma derivatives, monoclonals, fertility hormones, antifungals, anaesthetics, cardiovascular drugs and equine immunoglobulins/antitoxins.

B Jain Pharma launches Omeo Calendula, an antiseptic spray

B Jain Pharmaceuticals, one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of homoeopathic medicines, has introduced its latest product, Omeo Calendula, an antiseptic spray to treat wound. The product is available at all leading homeopathic shops in India.







Omeo Calendula Spray is an antiseptic medicine that heals abrasion, wounds, carbuncles and surgical cuts quickly. It prevents suppuration and favors phagocytosis. the homeopathic antiseptic is rolled out in 30ml sprayers.

Nishant Jain, director of B Jain Pharmaceuticals says, “Our products are gaining good response in the market. Omeo Calendula will soon be a leading antiseptic in the medical industry. I believe our consistent quality in manufacturing has been the sole reason of our survival. We are observing a new optimistic surge in the market for homoeopathy.”

Biotech startup to fight diabetes on the cellular front

New Cambridge biotech will be working on a treatment using stem cells that could let children and adults with Type 1 diabetes do something their bodies currently cannot: produce their own insulin, the hormone that keeps blood sugar levels in balance.

Semma Therapeutics is already off to a strong start. On Tuesday, the company will disclose it has raised $44 million from big-name investors, including Boston’s MPM Capital, to commercialize research from the lab of noted Harvard stem cell scientist Douglas Melton.






The startup, which is in the process of hiring employees and leasing lab space, is seeking to offer a different treatment approach in a field that hasn’t seen significant change for decades.
“This would be a huge breakthrough,” said Dr. George L. King, a Harvard Medical School professor and research director at Joslin Diabetes Center. “It could cure diabetes.”
But it is still likely to be years before Semma’s approach — transplanting insulin-secreting pancreatic “beta cells” into patients — will be available commercially.

First, Semma Therapeutics will have to surmount a daunting scientific challenge: overcoming the autoimmune response in Type 1 diabetes patients that causes their bodies to reject and destroy their own pancreatic cells, which naturally make insulin.
Felicia Pagliuca, who was a postdoctoral fellow in Melton’s lab in the Harvard Stem Cell Institute from 2011 to 2014, led a team that came up with a way to turn stem cells into cells that can produce insulin. Now, as Semma’s scientific cofounder, she will be working to turn those cells into a business — and a treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

Biogen Idec renames as Biogen

Biogen Idec, a company discovers, develops and delivers to patients worldwide innovative therapies, announced that the company has changed its name from Biogen Idec to Biogen with effect from March 23, 2015.

The company has introduced a new corporate identity and logo that reflect both its evolution and focus on bringing forth new therapies in areas of high unmet need – while honoring Biogen’s scientific heritage and legacy as a pioneer in the biotechnology industry.

Biogen Idec was created in 2003 through the merger of Biogen and IDEC Pharmaceuticals, creating one of the world’s leading research-based life sciences organizations. The company has since focused its research and commercial efforts in three core areas: neurology, immunology and hematology.

Biogen’s common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BIIB,” and its CUSIP number will not change.