Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of the U.S. Government
Sunday, November 7th, 2010
The Act creates a more level playing field for small to mid-size companies, according to reports. It has created a new Internal Revenue Code Section 48D that provides some financial relief for companies with new therapies with a significant potential to:
* Cater to areas of unmet medical need
* Prevent, detect or treat chronic or acute diseases or conditions
* Reduce long-term health care costs in the United States
* Significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within 30 years
Grants are given to companies that have “Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Projects” as above. For each grant, several companies might be applying and there is a competitive application process.
A recent story reports that Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was successful in receiving grants for seven out of the eight applications it submitted. The grants, totaling $1.5 million, cover development of ProLindac, Thiarabine, MuGard, CobOral Oral Insulin and CobaCyte siRNA Delivery Programs.
“We are pleased to have been awarded these grants, and believe it reflects the considerable value of the Access development programs,” said Jeffrey Davis, CEO of Access Pharma. “Given the recent launch of our oral mucositis product, MuGard, and our ability to manage our cash burn through multiple partnerships, we believe these grants will significantly impact our balance sheet and product development timelines.”
Read the story at International Business Times
Tags: biopharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, financial relief under U.S. Act
Posted in biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, business | No Comments »
Insights into Biotech Pharmaceuticals Scenario
Saturday, September 11th, 2010
A market research report into biotechnology pharmaceuticals market in the US provides insight into the drivers that propel the growth of this industry. One conclusion the report has is that Blood Modifiers will account for as much as 36.3 percent of the market. Blood modifiers can either enhance or inhibit the clotting or thinning of blood.
What are the drivers that help the expected 7.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for this industry? The report mentions the following:
* Biotechnology drugs with greater efficiency and safety are catching people’s attention and becoming ever more popular
* Government is adopting policies and regulatory frameworks that encourage companies engaged in biotechnology research and development; for example, proposals are under way for speeding up the time to market after all regulatory approvals
* An ageing population with chronic and age-related diseases is increasing the demand for biotechnology pharmaceuticals
Some experts are even arguing that biotechnology can provide a solution to the problem of an ageing population, i.e. a population where aged people form an increasing percentage. Aged people need more healthcare costing money, and are typically unable to engage in wealth-producing activities. Biotechnology with promises such as genetic therapy that targets genes underlying disease conditions (instead of working on symptoms) should be able to help tackle the problem better.
Read the report at BioMed Reports.
Tags: ageing population, biopharmaceutical industry, regulatory approvals process
Posted in biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, diseases | No Comments »
The Ninth Biotechnology Industry Organization Investor Forum
Saturday, August 21st, 2010
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Investor Forum is a national investor conference held in the US. Participants of the forum include leading private and emerging public biotech companies, venture and private equity investors in healthcare, and investors interested in buying or selling. Business development executives from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies participating in the forum will have the opportunity for networking and exploring for the kinds of deals they are looking for.
At this year’s conference, Chairman/CEO of Advaxis Inc., a biotechnology company developing proprietary, live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) vaccines that deliver engineered tumor antigens, will discuss recent developments in the areas of clinical trials and financing.
Other topics slated to be discussed include:
– First patient group dosing in US-based, Phase II cervical dysplasia (CIN) trial
– Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) clearance to proceed with a India-based, Phase II cervical cancer trial
– National Cancer Institute — Gynecologic Oncology Group’s trial in cervix cancer
– CRUK trial in Head and Neck cancer
– Collaborative research and development agreement (CRADA) signing with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to study Listeria in animals
– $7.5 million in financing agreement with life science fund
Read the news release at Market Watch.
Tags: biopharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, investors forum
Posted in biopharmaceutical, biotechnology | 2 Comments »
What Strategies do Successful Biotechnology Companies Use?
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Aarkstore has announced the publication of a report titled “The Fastest Growing Biotechnology Companies: Growth strategies, comparative analyses and company profiles.”
Biotechnology is providing more and more solutions in healthcare field and the interest of pharmaceutical companies in these solutions are driving them to partnerships with biotech companies. Drug discovery is becoming more science-intensive and biotech scientists are in a position to help.
Biotech companies do R&D for the big pharmaceutical companies on a contract basis and receive their financial help to meet high R&D costs and commercial pressures. The pharma companies, in turn are coming to depend on the biotech companies ever more.
The Aarkstore report claims to be based on research into the strategies adopted by the fastest growing biotech companies. According to the publisher’s release, the report looks at the structure and organization of the biopharmaceutical industry and analyses the growth strategies adopted by the biotech companies to meet cost pressures and competition from generics, complex pricing, government regulations and globalization.
Read more details of the report at: Aarkstore Market Research
Tags: biopharmaceutical industry, biotech industry challenges, biotechnology, drug discovery
Posted in biopharmaceutical, biotechnology | No Comments »
