Category Archives: Biotechnology

Explore Innovations in Industrial Biotechnology at Upcoming … – Newswise (press release)

Posted: June 28, 2017 at 2:44 am

Newswise Industrial biotechnology scientists, educators, entrepreneurs and executives from around the globe will be convening on the University of California San Diego campus this summer to explore the latest advances and world-changing innovations heating up the white-hot field of industrial biotechnology with workshops in microbial fermentation and metabolic engineering.

UC San Diego Extension will host its annual Industrial Biotechnology Workshops on Aug. 14 through 18. Participants can attend the whole program or attend the workshops on microbial fermentation or metabolic engineering separately.

Now in its fifth year, this widely acclaimed educational event creates an informal, intimate environment for robust exchange of knowledge and ideas among world-class academic instructors and leaders of cutting-edge companies of every size from startup to mature, said Hugo Villar, associate dean of Professional & Continuing Education for UC San Diego Extension.

Whether from California or China, biotechnology professionals attending these workshops will have a front-row seat to learn about current developments and advanced scientific skills being used to solve some the worlds most difficult problems, Villar said.

Microbial Fermentation

For the past four years, the workshop focused primarily on microbial fermentation, which is the transformation of feedstocks, such as plant sugars, into useful products, like fuels, chemicals, beer or antibiotics, by bacteria, yeast, fungi or algae.

The Microbial Fermentation Workshop will be held Aug. 16 to 18. Participants will be introduced to the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to design, develop, optimize, control, scale-up, analyze and troubleshoot fermentation processes.

As one of just a handful of programs in the world that provide in-depth, practically oriented coursework in microbial fermentation, it is expected to draw participants from Connecticut to Croatia.

While workshop participants should have some basic knowledge and experience in fermentation, everyone from scientists to biotech business executives to graduate students could benefit from the microbial fermentation workshop.

This years program features some of the brightest minds in the field, including:

Jeff Lievense, senior advisor of Bioengineering & Technology, Genomatica;

Rachel Dutton, assistant professor of Molecular Biology, UC San Diego;

Michael Japs, senior director of Process Technology, Genomatica;

Jon Hansen, principal of New Leaf Biotech;

Jason Ryder, vice president, Process R&D, Hampton Creek; and

Karen Fortmann, senior research scientist, White Labs.

Five interactive case studies, including production of microbes for cheese and beer, will allow attendees to practice what they learn, while the Fermentation Firing Line segment will offer a lively, open ended forum for posing questions to the instructional team on fermentation-related topics.

In addition, everyone in attendance can participate in a tour of the global headquarters of White Labs, which produces yeast for beer making, and attend a hosted reception in its craft beer tasting room.

Metabolic Engineering

A new segment on metabolic engineering, which will run Aug. 14-15, will also be offered.

Recently named as one of the top 10 emerging technologies by the World Economic Forum, metabolic engineering focuses on the design and development of equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as agriculture, food, animal feed and pharmaceuticals.

Instructors joining the interactive course with case studies throughout the curriculum include:

John Pierce, MIT lecturer and former scientist at multinational firms BP and DuPont;

Adam Feist, project scientist, UC San Diego;

Ben Griffin, senior director, Microbial and Enzyme Engineering, Synthetic Genomics;

Jeff Lievense, senior advisor, Genomatica;

Jim Mills, chief technology officer, BioAmber, Inc.;

Bernhard Palsson, principal investigator, UC San Diego; and

Kristy Salmon, head of research, BP.

Those who attend the Metabolic Engineering segment are also invited to participate in a tour of the global headquarters of White Labs, which produces yeast for beer making, and attend a hosted reception in its craft beer tasting room.

Those interested in finding out more about the upcoming workshops can visit http://extension.ucsd.edu/industrialbiotech , call (858) 534-9353 or email unexbio@ucsd.edu.

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66m Life Sciences Fund focused on Germany and Benelux – European Biotechnology

Posted: June 27, 2017 at 8:42 am

Venture Capitalist Biogeneration Ventures has exceeded the target size of its life sciences fund BGV III through investments from the European Investment Banks InnovFin Equity Facility and the Dutch Venture Initiative II.

The third fund of the Dutch company now comprises 66m, 16 more than the BVG IIIs initial target size. Biogeneration did not provide figures about the exact financial contributions of its new investors but said that investments will focus on medtech, diagnostic and drug development companies in Germany and Benelux.

The new fund will build on the first two BGV funds which yielded some success for investors including a 1,55bn divestment of Dezima Pharma into Amgen and the 7bn exit of Acerta Pharma, the largest private exit in Europe in the biotech sector to date.

Four investments have already been made from BVG III into German immuno-oncology company Catalym, and Dutch companies Escalier Biosciences, Scenic Biotech and Varmx, working on autoimmune diseases, target discovery, and haematology, respectively.

Our third fund makes BGV amongst the largest life sciences funds dedicated to seed investments in Europe, said Edward van Wezel, Managing Partner. Over the last decade we have made over twenty investments in the European life sciences ecosystem. Weve observed an ever-increasing interest from pharma in acquiring innovations earlier. With this third closing we are significantly exceeding our target fund size and are delighted with the commitment of EIF and other new and existing investors in BGV III. We expect to reach the maximum fund size of EUR 75m before the end of 2017.

BGV operates as a joint venture with Forbion Capital Partners, providing access to the later stage perspective on early innovation and a global network of experts and pharma companies. The BGV team has broad experience in investment, life sciences, business development, and commercial operations. The team includes experienced biotech entrepreneurs as venture partners and advisors.

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ASA provides input to USDA, FDA on advances in biotechnology – High Plains Journal

Posted: June 25, 2017 at 11:42 pm

The American Soybean Association submitted comments recently to both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding regulations in response to advances in genetic engineering.

ASA included in comments to USDA, that biotechnology is an essential tool in farmers quest to produce enough food to meet the needs of 9.7 billion people by 2050, creating the need for a clear, science-based regulatory system in the U.S. as an example and standard for regulatory systems of biotechnology internationally.

While applauding USDAs efforts to reduce the burden on regulated entities, ASA expressed concern that aspects of the rule as proposed will increase the regulatory burden and stifle research and innovation.

Additionally, ASAs comments to FDA cheered USDAs proposal to exclude certain genome-editing techniques from requiring pre-market approvals because they are low risk and could be found in nature or achieved through traditional breeding methods.

ASA concluded its support saying, Technological advancements such as genome editing offer an additional tool to combat threats while also improving sustainability in production agriculture.

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Biotechnology Conferences – Asia Pacific Biotech Congress

Posted: June 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

Sessions & Tracks

Track 1: Advancements in Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an ever emerging field in which biological processes, organisms, cells and cellular components are exploited to develop novel expertise. Over the past two decades there have been revolutionary biotech innovations which helped the mankind. New tools and products developed by biotechnologists are expedient in research, agriculture, industry and the clinic.

Recent advancements in the field of biotechnology will underpin our economy and provide solutions to intractable problems of human and animal diseases, climate change, fuel alternatives, food security as well as improving our quality of life.

15th World Congress on Biotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, March 20-22, 2017 at Rome, Italy; Biotechnology 2017, August 21-23, 2017 at Chicago, USA; 17thEuro Biotechnology Congress, September 25-27, 2017 at Berlin, Germany; Global Biotechnology Congress, Oct 9-11, 2017 at Auckland, New Zealand; 15thInternational Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology Conference, June 21-23, 2017 at London, UK; 2ndInternational Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology, March 9-10, 2017 at Colombo, Sri Lanka; BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, July 23-26, 2017 at Montreal, Canada; BioTech 2017, June 13-17 at Prague, Czech Republic; European Federation of Biotechnology; Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB); The Biotech Research Society; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); Australias Biotechnology Organization (AusBiotech); New Zealand Biotechnology (NZBIO); Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).

Track 2: Agriculture Biotechnology

Agriculture biotechnology or green biotechnology encompasses the use of scientific tools and techniques to understand and transform genetic make-up of living organisms such as plants, animals and microorganisms. The technology offers more precise improvements in crops and livestock and thus increases agricultural productivity. It has greater economic and social impacts as safe and sufficient food supply grown in a responsible method is essential for humanity.

Some of the applications include raising and stabilizing yields using plant breeding; to improve resistance to pests, diseases and abiotic stresses such as drought and cold; and to enrich the nutritional content of foods. Biotechnology is being used to develop low-cost disease-free planting materials for crops such as cassava, banana and potato and is creating new tools for the diagnosis and treatment of plant and animal diseases and for the measurement and conservation of genetic resources.

Track 3: Animal Biotechnology

Animal biotechnology is the practice of science and engineering to transform living organisms. Some of the examples include creating transgenic animals, generate specific inactivated gene using gene knockout technology and producing just about identical animals by cloning. It focuses on improving animal health and its welfare and thus increasing its productivity. Selective breeding and genetic engineering aids the animals in providing resistance to diseases and prevent injury.

Animal feeds and feeding practices are being altered by biotechnology to improve animal nutrition and to reduce environmental waste. Biotechnology is used in disease diagnostics and for the production of vaccines against animal diseases.

Track 4: Environmental Biotechnology

Environmental biotechnology is a system of science and engineering knowledge used in prevention, treatment and monitoring of environmental pollution through bio-treatment, bio-remediation of polluted environments, and bio-monitoring of environmental and its treatment processes. The process has been shown to play a substantial role inmaintainingzero waste agricultureand most significantly through the operation of over 15 millionbiogas digestersworldwide.

The main application of this system is the biodegradation/detoxication of hazardous substances in industrial waste. Some of the biotechnological agents used include bacteria, algae, fungi and protozoa.

Track 5: Food Biotechnology

Biotechnology has an extensive history in food production and processing. Food biotechnology involves the use of various techniques such as genetic engineering to improve productivity in food production and processing. This technology enables to produce new products with desirable characteristics such as leaner meat and nutritional rich foods.

Through newer biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques such as recombinant DNA (rDNA), researchers can move one gene, with the preferred specific traits, from one organism to another and omit the undesirable traits. This facilitates food producers to obtain animal and crop improvements in a much more precise, controlled and predictable manner.

Track 6: Industrial and Microbial Biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology, also known as white biotechnology in Europe, is one of the promising approaches that enable in averting pollution, conserve resources and thus cost reduction. The technology uses living cells and components of cells such as enzymes to yield industrially useful products in various sectors such as chemicals, bio-fuels, food etc. Microbial biotechnology implicates the manipulation of microorganisms at the gene and molecular level to yield useful products.

The above said biotechnology procedure enables to use renewable raw materials and can contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and stirring away from a petrochemical-based economy.

Track 7: Marine Biotechnology

Marine biotechnology, also called as blue biotechnology, is defined as the application of biotechnology principles in marine resources to derive new cancer treatments for marine organisms. Marinebiotechnologyhas focused largely onmarine biomolecules, especiallyproteins, which may have uses in medicine or engineering. Marine environments are the home to many exotic biological materials that may stimulatebiomimetic materials.

Track 8: Nano Biotechnology

Application of nanotechnology in biological systems is known as nano-biotechnology. This is a newer technological approach to imagine and create newer systems that can be used for biological research. Biologically inspired nanotechnology uses biological systems as the reference for technologies which have not been created yet.

Nano-biotechnology is assisting modernmedicineevolve from treatingsymptomsto generatingcuresand regeneratingbiological tissues. Some of the applications of nano-biotechnology include stem cell treatments, growing uterus outside the body and then placed inside in animals and developing fluorescence polymers.

Track 9: Plant Biotechnology

Plant biotechnology applies scientific tools and techniques that accustom plants for precise purposes by cross-breeding, prolonging their growing seasons, adjusting height, color and texture and several other mechanisms. It can also be applied to exchange plant genes to produce novel genetic combinations and superior hybrid species.

Applications of plant biotechnology include biochemical production, rapid clonal multiplication, production of hybrid plants, genetic modification in plants etc.

Track 10: Medical Biotechnology

Medical biotechnology, also called as red biotechnology, involves the use of living cells and cell materials to create pharmaceutical and diagnostic products which helps to treat and prevent human diseases. The principles of medical biotechnology are applied in pharmacology, gene therapy, stem cells and tissue engineering.

The application of biotechnology to basic science has empowered wider knowledge and understanding ofbiology. As a result of our development in scientific knowledge of normal and disease biology, we could able to develop newer medicines to treat previously untreatable diseases.

Track 11: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Pharmaceutical biotechnology involves the application of principles of biotechnology in the development of drugs. Techniques such as recombinant DNA are used to design more effective drugs. Biotechnology has added to the discovery and manufacturing of traditionalsmall moleculepharmaceutical drugsas well as drugs. Modern biotechnology allows manufacturing existing medicines relatively easy and less economical.

Modern biotechnology facilitates its use in pharmaceutical drugdiscovery, production and development,pharmacogenomics and genetic screening.

Track 12: Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Bioengineering refers to the usage of molecular biology to study advance applications and to create biotechnology. It extends to the creation of artificial organs and develops genetically modified organisms. It employs knowledge from pure and applied sciences such as mass and heat transfer, kinetics, biocatalysts, biomechanics, bioinformatics etc.

Bioengineering is applied in the design of medical devices, diagnostic equipment, biocompatible materials, renewable bioenergy and other areas that progress the living standards of societies.

Track 13: Bio-products and Bioenergy

Bio-products are biologically derived products such as chemicals, materials and energy from renewable resources. There are two types of bio-products namely conventional bio-products and emerging bio-products. Examples of conventional bio-products are pulp and paper, building materials and forest products whereas emerging bio-products include bioenergy, biofuels, bio-chemicals, bio-plastics etc.

Bioenergy is a renewable energy from materials derived from biological resources. It is a single largest renewable energy source providing 10% of worlds primary energy supply.

Track 14: Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is a branch of biotechnology that involves use of computer applications such as applied math and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data. It helps in organizing the large-scale information and analysis of biological queries using mathematical and statistical techniques. It is used in the identification of candidate genes and nucleotides which helps in better understanding of genetic basis of disease and its properties.

Bioinformatics is useful in areas such asfunctional genomics,structural genomics, andproteomics, and acts as a key constituent in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.

Track 15: Biotech Industry

Biotechnology industry harnesses cellular and bio-molecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to combat incapacitating and infrequent diseases, reduce our environmental footprint, feed the hungry, use less energy, and have safer, cleaner and more efficient industrial manufacturing processes.

The biotech industry broadly segments into the medical and agricultural markets. Although enterprising biotechnology is also being applied to other exciting areas like industrial production of chemicals, andbioremediation, the use in these areas is still specialized and limited. Biotechnology introduced a whole new approach to drug development that did not easily integrate into the chemically-focused approach most of the established pharmaceutical companies were using.

Scope and Importance of Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, medicine, technology and other fields requiring bio-products. Modern use similar term includes genetic engineering as well as cell and tissue culture technologies. It is the integrated use of molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology to achieve technological application of the capabilities of biological agents. Biotechnology is emerged as a science with immense potential for human welfare ranging from food processing, human health to environment protection. The field of biotechnology is constantly advancing. From finding ways to slow down the process of food spoilage, advancements in genetic engineering, to adapting organisms to clean up contaminated environments, new applications and biotechnological inventions are continuously being developed to help improve our world.

Modern biotechnology applies not only modern genetics but also advances in other sciences. However, there is a third revolution that is just emerging, which is nanotechnology. The development of techniques to visualize and manipulate atoms individually or in small clusters is opening the way to an ever-finer analysis of living systems. Nano-scale techniques are now beginning to play substantial role in the application of biotechnology.

World renowned experts and intellectuals agree that biotechnological innovation is the foundation-stone of our future, and a game changer. It is anticipated that it will underpin our economy and provide solutions to intractable problems of human and animal diseases, climate change, fuel alternatives, food security as well as improving our quality of life.

Biotechnology in Australia

The Australian biotechnology industry is one of the largest in the world. Despite the challenges of the global economy and the degree of difficulty in building a biotechnology and life sciences sector from scratch, Australia is doing very well by any comparative measure, with an impressive return on investment from a maturing stock of quality companies. Australian biotechnology boasts a raft of success stories and a world-class industry. Since its emergence in the early to mid-nineties, the biotechnology industry in Australia has achieved a great deal.

Australias comparative advantage comes from its world-class science and medical research, its capacity for international partnerships, cost effectiveness, and a transparent and effective regulatory system. Jobs of the future will be found in the biotech and pharmaceuticals sector, and the medical technology sector. In addition, there are many thousands of direct jobs in the agricultural and industrial biotechnology sectors and indirect jobs in dependent areas such as clinical trial teams, high-tech manufacturing, medical research and supplies to the medical technology sector and in services such as those provided by patent attorneys. Innovative industries provide high-skilled jobs with long-term prospects.

The Research & Development (R&D) Tax Incentive has been a long-established source of funding and support for businesses in the research, development and early developmental commercialization phases. The policy driver behind the R&D Tax Incentive is to encourage more companies to engage in R&D in Australia. And its working: a number of companies have publically stated that they have set up in Australia because of the support provided by the R&D Tax Incentive.

Australian state governments are developing and implementing independent regional initiatives. Each has strong medical research programs, some having specialist expertise in areas including tropical medicine, bio-discovery, regenerative medicine, bioremediation, agricultural/industrial biotech and medical devices. Australian life sciences companies have attracted well over $2 billion in deal flow over the last 18 months. Global recognition of the sectors quality was reflected in major deals, including Novartis acquisition of Spinifex Pharmaceuticals for as much as AU$1 billion and AstraZenecas licensing agreement with Starpharma that could deliver over half a billion (AU) dollars.

List of Major Universities in Melbourne and Australia

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Biotechnology Conferences - Asia Pacific Biotech Congress

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Eli Lilly Unveils $90M Expanded Biotechnology Center in San Diego – Times of San Diego

Posted: June 24, 2017 at 1:45 pm

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Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced the completion of a $90 million expansion of its San Diego biotechnology center, which is now more than double its previous size with the addition of 180,000 square feet of work space.

The facility, on Campus Point Drive near UC San Diego, also includes a new high-tech laboratory and room for what the Indianapolis-based company calls a Life Science Studio.

Eli Lilly moved into San Diego in 2004 with the acquisition of Applied Molecular Evolution Inc., and built its Biotechnology Center in 2009.

Being in the San Diego area for the last 13 years has been a game changer for us, specifically in the arena of discovering medicines for hard-to- treat autoimmune conditions, said Thomas F. Bumol, Lillys senior vice president of biotechnology and immunology research.

Company officials said they hope the new facility will allow closer collaboration among researchers. The center originally focused on immunology, but in the larger facility, scientists will also work on diabetes, oncology, neurodegeneration and pain reduction.

Investing in drug discovery and development is critical to maintaining an ecosystem that encourages and promotes innovation, said Jan Lundberg, executive vice president for science and technology and president of Lilly Research Laboratories.

Our expansion in San Diego is a prime example of investing in a research success story, Lundberg said. Expanding our presence in San Diego will not only help us discover and deliver innovative medicines faster, but will also help us achieve our goal of launching 20 new medicines in 10 years.

According to Eli Lilly, the Life Science Studio will allow researchers across the globe to remotely design, synthesize and screen molecules in an unprecedented manner, expanding the ability of scientists to test new ideas, reduce costs and minimize environmental impacts.

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Biotechnology remains a mystery for many Canadians – Western Producer

Posted: June 24, 2017 at 1:45 pm

Canadians generally do not have a solid understanding of what exactly the term biotechnology refers to, according to recently released public opinion research collected by Nielsen Consumer Insights on behalf of Agriculture Canada.

In July 2016, the department issued a contract asking Nielsen Consumer Insights to conduct a comprehensive research project to measure Canadian consumers perceptions and attitudes towards issues related to domestic agriculture and agri-food.

The research would help provide insight while developing the next agriculture policy framework, which comes into force in 2018. The data was collected via a series of focus groups, telephone calls and online consultations.

Overall, researchers found 88 percent of those surveyed have a generally positive or neutral view of biotechnology.

Canadians generally feel that biotechnology will have a positive impact on their future, placing it near the top of a selection of new and emerging technologies in terms of this promise, researchers told Agriculture Canada.

However, Canadian knowledge and view on specific forms of biotechnology varies widely.

Researchers found that most of the people who were surveyed struggled to give examples of biotechnology used in agriculture. Participants typically offered up examples used within the medical and health care fields, such as stem cells, antibiotics and robotics.

The association of the term biotechnology with health applications may be an indication that it is profiting from a halo effect, re-searchers warned.

This could lead to people feeling that biotechnology is positive because the applications that they associate with it promote human well-being.

Researchers reported an aversion to applications of biotechnology that consumers felt had the potential to upset the natural order or would allow scientists to play god.

The closer the application could be seen in terms of living, breathing organisms, the more resistance there was to the specific applications, such as genetically modified animals.

Researchers found less than half (46 percent) of the Canadians surveyed were familiar with the concept of GM animals, which has dropped from previous years.

Canadians werent particularly comfortable with the idea. Many within the focus groups raised moral or ethical concerns about it.

People were much more likely to see the potential risks of GM animals as outweighing the benefits than they were likely to see with other technologies, the report reads.

Those technologies include biofuel, gene editing and genetically modified fish, including fish that could be used to produce insulin for diabetic human patients.

Despite specific consumer concerns around certain applications, researchers found Canadians have not rejected biotechnology all together.

Consumer opinions are built based on the specific use presented and individual knowledge of that particular form of biotechnology, researchers said.

In other words, there does not appear to be a blanket approval or rejection of biotechnologies themselves.

Thats good news for Canadian agriculture, where participants stressed Canada could easily be-come a world leader in the agriculture and food biotechnology re-search field. That conviction, researchers found, is increasing as more attention is paid to it.

It is possible that this is due to the growing role that these technologies are playing in our food supply and a higher level of media attention, Agriculture Canada was told.

Similarly, people agree that these technologies will be developed elsewhere in the world where regulations and control may be less stringent, the report said, which isa situation Canadians said they would like to avoid. The federal government, respondents said, has an important role to play in the biotechnology field.

Over the course of the study, 875 Canadians were contacted last year by phone between Aug. 31 and Sept. 17 and Dec. 1-13. The phone portion of the research has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.

Another 220 Canadians participated in the online survey, and 10 focus groups were held, with two meetings each in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax and Calgary.

Kelsey Johnson is a reporter with iPolitics, http://www.ipolitics.ca.

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Play the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (ETF)’s (IBB) Popularity for Free – Investorplace.com

Posted: June 24, 2017 at 1:45 pm

Wall Street is going gaga over the healthcare and biotech sector. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (ETF) (NASDAQ:IBB) rallied 9% in four days. TheSPDR S&P Biotech (ETF) (NYSEARCA:XBI) rallied even more.

These are impressive moves that deserve respect. But I cannot chase it if I am not already on board the trade. Or I will end up buying someone elses profits. Wall Street loves to trade memes these days. A few weeks ago the IBB was dead money, now they cant have enough of it.

The hoopla centers around expectations from the new healthcare bill. I think we are giving it too much credit. We dont know if it will pass and even if it does, we dont know its full effects. But I am willing to bet that it wont be better to the sector than Obamacare was. This new bill is likely to be less, and therefore we could have a disappointment period coming.

Click to Enlarge Before you label me a perma-bear, I was a fan of the IBB a few weeks ago. Instead of chasing the momentum after it happens, a bit a good homework delivered great results. Case in point is this massive win from a bullish trade I shared on May 23 which yielded easy profits and out of thin air.

Now that everyone and their sister is chasing this rally in the IBB, I am ready to try and short it. Before you send out the posse to arrest me for daring to short the hot topic du jour, my trade is not against the sector, but rather is my bet against the short-term price action. I like to go long IBB on weakness but here I see the potential for a dip.

A lot of the enthusiasm is tied to politicians doing the right thing, and I am not so sure they will deliver. Even if they do, its probably going to take longer and be less than we expect. Eventually, traders will get antsy and lose interest and the IBB bids will abate, thereby creating a small vacuum below the current steep wedge. Therein lies the opportunity.

The Bearish Bet: Buy the IBB Aug $315/310 debit put spread for $1.50 or better per contract. If price falls through my spread in the next 56 days, I could triple my money. The faster and sooner the fall, the better otherwise time is my enemy.

To mitigate my out-of-pocket risk, I will leverage the value in the IBB ETF. I will sell longer dated puts to finance my bearish bet.

The Bank: Sell IBB Dec $270 puts and collect $5 per contract. This is a bullish trade which has a 90% theoretical chance of success. But if the IBB falls through my short put, then I will own the shares and could accrue losses below $265. But if Wall Street is correct about the political exuberance in the biotech sector, then I really have nothing to worry about. For a smaller risk profile, I could use a credit put spread instead.

Selling options is risky, so I never risk more than I am willing or able to lose.

Learn how to generate income from options here. Nicolas Chahine is the managing director of SellSpreads.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. You can follow him on Twitter at @racernicand stocktwits at@racernic.

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Roche’s lampalizumab halts geographic atrophy – European Biotechnology

Posted: June 24, 2017 at 1:45 pm

A publication in Science Translational Medicine shows that Roche has a rising star in the 15 million patient market of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In a Phase II trail US and German researchers showed efficacy in geographic atrophy, an advanced stage of AMD, which has currently no treatment.

One week prior to the publication, Roche announced it has intitiated two Phase III trails (CHROMA and SPECTRI) enroling 936 patients with the advanced form of AMD that affects 5 million AMD patients and has currently no cure. Primary endpoint is slowing for disease progression at 12 months, secondary endpoint is visual acuity at 24 months. However, rumors say the FDA could accelerate patient access through granting breakthrough status to the treatment.

In a multi-center, randomized, 18 month Phase study that recruited 129 AMD patients ( MAHALO), lead author Brian Yaspan observed a 20% reduction in lesion area progression in patients receiving Roche/Genentechs antibody drug candidate lampalizumab at acceptable safety profile. Lampalizumab zeroes in on complement D, part of the innate immune defenses alternative complement pathway

Genome analysis of participants identified a patient subgroup with complement D variants who showed a 44% reduction in geographic atrophy area progression. The authors say targeting the alternative complement pathway has potential to be a viable treatment option for patients with secondary geographic atrophy.

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Peterborough biotechnology startup targeting $50 million in equity financing – Kawartha Media Group

Posted: June 23, 2017 at 4:42 am

Kawartha Media Group

Peterborough biotechnology startup targeting $50 million in equity financing
Kawartha Media Group
Peterborough biotechnology startup targeting $50 million in equity financing. Community Jun 22, 2017 02:20 by Todd Vandonk Peterborough This Week. Share. Noblegen Inc. CEO and founder Adam Noble and CCO and co-founder Dr. Andressa Lacerda ...
Noblegen Announces the Opening of Its Second Round of Financing: Peterborough-based biotechnology startup ...ForexTV.com

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Shawnee Mission West High student wins international biotechnology competition – Kansas City Star

Posted: June 23, 2017 at 4:42 am

Kansas City Star

Shawnee Mission West High student wins international biotechnology competition
Kansas City Star
Hosted by the Biotechnology Institute, the competition challenges high school students from across the world to find solutions to health care, sustainability and environmental needs through biotechnology. Earlier this year, Smith was chosen along with ...

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Category Archives: Biotechnology

Explore Innovations in Industrial Biotechnology at Upcoming … – Newswise (press release)

66m Life Sciences Fund focused on Germany and Benelux – European Biotechnology

ASA provides input to USDA, FDA on advances in biotechnology – High Plains Journal

Biotechnology Conferences – Asia Pacific Biotech Congress

Eli Lilly Unveils $90M Expanded Biotechnology Center in San Diego – Times of San Diego

Biotechnology remains a mystery for many Canadians – Western Producer

Play the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (ETF)’s (IBB) Popularity for Free – Investorplace.com

Roche’s lampalizumab halts geographic atrophy – European Biotechnology

Peterborough biotechnology startup targeting $50 million in equity financing – Kawartha Media Group

Shawnee Mission West High student wins international biotechnology competition – Kansas City Star

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