Alliance between 3M Electical and DYMO Industrial

On April 28 2010 The 3M Electrical Markets Division and DYMO Industrial, the industrial division of DYMO announced the formation of a strategic alliance. Financial details of the agreement were not released.

From June 1 2010 the 3M Electrical Markets Division will offer a line of portable industrial strength labelers through its distribution channels serving electrical markets in North America and key countries in Latin America and Europe. The products will be co-branded under the 3M and DYMO names.

Partnership between IRX Therapeutics and Japan’s National Cancer Research Center

IRX Therapeutics announced on April 30 2010 that it has established a strategic collaboration with Japan’s National Cancer Research Center (NCRC) to evaluate next-generation peptide-based cancer vaccines. Clinical research will be conducted at NCRC. IRX Therapeutics will provide its proprietary IRX-2 immunomodulatory regimen, clinical trial design and technical support. This is the first collaboration of its kind between the NCRC and a U.S.-based biotechnology firm.

The NCRC will run proof-of-concept clinical trial programmes in at least two cancer indications. The programmes will include a Phase 1 proof of concept trial and Phase 2 confirmation trials.

Collaboration between EyeGate Pharma and GlaxoSmithKline

On 29 April 2010 EyeGate Pharma established a research collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to evaluate the delivery of several GSK therapies to the anterior (front) and posterior (back) tissues of the eye using the EyeGate(R) II delivery system. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

BioPartnering 2010: tracking the most highly respected companies in the sector

Nowadays, alliances are at the heart of the business model of nearly every single major biopharmaceutica company. Biopharmaceutical companies are increasingly stepping up their efforts to attract potential partners. And, to make sure that they get the pick of the deals ahead of the competition, many big companies are now striving to be viewed as the ‘partner of choice’ by potential partners.

It is clear that those companies which are the most effective at managing their alliances will inevitably deliver more long-term value to their partners. Its also clear that aligning with a company with a high reputation as opposed to one with a poor reputation can significantly benefit the partner. But when selecting companies to open discussions with as potential alliance partners it can be difficult to determine which companies are the most effective at managing their alliances and which have the highest reputation in the sector generally.

To answer these questions we and our partner in this research, IBM, are running our bi-annual BioPartnering study polling executives in the sector. Since its launch in 1999, BioPartnering has become one of the most authoritative sources of information about partnering and licensing trends in the life sciences available to the commercial and academic life science communities. The last iteration of the study, BioPartnering 2008, attracted 4,965 individual company ratings by executives in the sector and senior academics. BioPartnering 2010, the fifth iteration of the study, has incorporated several enhancements including a more detailed list of ranking factors and the impact of recent events on the reputations of companies.

We are now inviting life science professionals with experience of working with other companies in partnerships or licensing agreements to participate in the study. The survey is very short and should take you no more than ten minutes to complete. In return for participating in the research you will be provided with a comprehensive report of the findings of the research when the survey has closed. The report will include rankings of the top companies across each of the ten factors covered by the survey. This report will provide an essential tool in your partnering, alliance sourcing and alliance management strategies.

If you would like to take part in the survey please contact us on silico@silico-research.com.

Positive trial results for partnership between Targeted Genetics and Celladon

On April 28 2010 argeted Targeted Genetics Corporation announced that its licensing partner, Celladon Corporation, had reported its first Phase II trial with MYDICAR® for the treatment of advanced heart failure has met its primary safety and efficacy endpoints, as prospectively defined in the Phase II trial protocol.

The two companies first signed collaboration and manufacturing agreements in 2004. In 2009, Targeted Genetics licensed its adeno-associated virus vector serotype and manufacturing technology to Celladon and manufactured clinical supplies of MYDICAR. If MYDICAR is developed and commercialised by Celladon, then Targeted Genetics could receive multiple milestone payments totaling up to US$20 million, starting with a milestone payment should a MYDICAR Phase III human clinical trial commence. In addition, Targeted Genetics is entitled to receive up to a 10% royalty on commercial sales of MYDICAR. Alternatively, if Celladon enters into a partnering or other strategic transaction related to MYDICAR, Targeted Genetics could receive a percentage of future partnering income or strategic transaction value received by Celladon and, in certain circumstances, a royalty of up to 10% on sales of MYDICAR.

Cerner and CareFusion enter a medical systems partnership

On April 28 2010 Cerner and CareFusion entered a partnership to integrate CareFusion’s Pyxis medication, supply and anesthesiology systems with Cerner’s CareAware device-connectivity architecture. The two companies also will develop a Pyxis health information technology adaptor, which is expected to help integrate electronic health record systems with clinical information in the areas of medication management, pharmacy and surgery.

Fujifilm starts collaboration with Fox Chase Cancer Center

On April 28 2010 FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation signed a five-year comprehensive joint research and development agreement on endoscopy-related products with Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Stem cell alliance between Vitro Diagnostics and HemoGenix

On April 28 2010 Vitro Diagnostics Inc signed a contract to jointly manufacture and distribute stem cell analysis tools with HemoGenix Inc.

HemoGenix owns patented and patent-pending technology for analysis of stem cells known as the HALO(R) assay platform which is based on advanced measurement of ATP cellular content. HALO(R) assays are now industry standard methods for quality and potency determination of hematopoietic stem cells and also allow sophisticated analysis of toxic effects of drugs and new drug candidates including cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

The agreement with Vitro will allow expansion of assay platforms from HemoGenix, in particular, LUMENESC for mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and LumiSTEM for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). IPS technology allows the use of reprogrammed adult cells to achieve properties of embryonic stem cells including the ability to differentiate into any type of cell in the body without use or sacrifice of embryos and as a consequence, any of the ethical or religious issues involved with the use of embryonic stem cells.

Alimera Sciences pays licensing partner pSivida US$15 million

On April 28 2010 pSivida Corporation received US$15 million and an additional $225,000 in accrued interest from Alimera Sciences Inc, pSivida’s licensee developing Iluvien® for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Alimera intends to file an NDA for Iluvien this quarter and to seek priority review, which, if granted, is expected to result in a response from the FDA in the 2010 fourth quarter. If the FDA approves Iluvien for the treatment of DME, pSivida is due to receive a US$25 million milestone payment from Alimera. pSivida is also entitled to receive 20% of the net profits of sales of Iluvien.

Valeant to acquire Vital Science

On April 28 2010 Valeant Pharmaceuticals International announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Valeant Canada Limited, had signed an agreement to acquire Vital Science Corporation, an over-the-counter dermatology company located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for approximately C$10.5 million. Vital Science currently has annualised sales of approximately C$11 million.