Related to President Obama Proposes Budget Increases for NIH, CDC, NSF, and FDA

• NIH Expects to Have New Policies for Research Using Chimpanzees Next Year
  A working group has been established to review IOM’s findings and make suggestions for implementation.
  
• Regulatory Environment Warms Up to Obesity Drugs and Could Heat Up Market
  With Vivus receiving a positive recommendation, analysts see CV risk as one that can be evaluated post-approval.
  
• Comments Sent to FDA on Its Draft Biosimilars Guidance Mostly Conveyed Discontent
  More rigorous testing to prove biosimilarity and safety were the biggest concerns.
  
• Tussle over FY 2013 Budget Size Adds Wrinkle to Wrangle Over Spending Limits
  Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan, which passed the House on March 29, sets lower levels than the President’s proposal.
  
• FDA’s Hearing for Biosimilars Showcased Issues Ranging From Definitions to Study Requirements to IP
  Industry appeared to provide broad support for draft rules but pointed to areas that need tweaking.
  
• Reports Acknowledge FDA Progress but Cite Concerns on Agency Priorities, Management
  A major area of concern is the lower number of drugs that get the go-ahead after first review.
  
• FDA Reform Legislation Emerges as Exception to Washington Gridlock
  Bill includes reauthorization of PDUFA, which adds fees for generic and biosimilar developers.
  
• Gene Therapy Society Looking to NIH to Revisit Role of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee
  Goal is to restrict involvement in clinical trials and focus the RAC on questions of public concern.
  
• Fewer Approvals and Filings Sully FDA Offensive
  Agency’s recent efforts to shake off industry criticism are not supported by the numbers.
  
• Obesity Drug Developers Post Steady Gains
  High clinical trial costs and slower FDA approvals are among the hurdles to obesity drug approval.
  
• Getting Cancer Immunotherapeutics Approved
  It’s not just the FDA standing in the way.
  
• FSD Drugs Advance as Women Push for Equal Access
  Drug development in this arena has proven difficult, but some successes have been reported recently.
  
• With GAIN, Less Pain
  Antibiotic drug developers welcome incentives, though cost, rules remain a challenge.
  
• Biggest Biotech Trends of 2012
  GEN takes a look back at some key biopharma developments of the past 12 months.
  
• Getting FDA to Yes
  As PDUFA, patent cliff drive 2012 approvals, can industry keep cranking out new molecules?
  
• SBIR Thinks Smaller
  New rules taking effect on January 28 aim to draw investor-owned smaller biopharmas to the federal grant program and STTR, its companion.
  
• Transgenic Salmon Prove Tough to Tackle
  Many salvos have been fired to prevent the introduction of genetically engineered fish into commercial aquaculture.
  
• 20 Grants for Young Researchers
  Looking for funding? Here are some places to start.
  
• GEN Congressional Hall of Fame
  Biomedical research has friends in high places. Meet them.
  
• Top 20 Grant-Giving Disease Foundations
  These generous nonprofits help keep research alive.