Related to Multiplicom, ICAN, ICM to Develop Tests for Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Neurological Diseases

• Clinical Trial Failures Further Signal Pancreatic Cancer’s Intractable Nature
  Researchers need to step out of the gemcitabine box and also take on the development of diagnostics for early detection.
  
• Jumping On Genetic Testing—The War of the SNPs
  Molecular diagnostics still have a long way to go before they can properly deliver on all their promises.
  
• Sirtuins: Antiaging Medicines or Marketing?
  GSK shelled out $720 million for Sirtris but admits that the new science needs validation.
  
• Examining Both Sides of the Sirtuin Coin
  Jury is still out on whether inhibition and/or activation can treat neurodegenerative disorders.
  
• No New Parkinson Disease Drug Expected Anytime Soon
  Drugs acting on nondopaminergic systems have yet to prove their mettle in clinical trials.
  
• Getting Personal: Multigene Testing for Individual Cancer Evaluation
  Scientists find comfort in numbers, using molecular patterns as prognostic markers.
  
• What Will Succeed Lipitor as the Next Blockbuster Cholesterol-Lowering Drug?
  CETP inhibitors are vying to take over from statins, but one major failure hovers ominously.
  
• Beckman Coulter on the Chopping Block?
  Some analysts believe it is not a question of who will buy the firm but if the firm will be bought.
  
• Tumor Cells Back in Circulation for Monitoring Cancer
  With one test on the market, researchers are developing tools that leverage CTCs as biomarkers.
  
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors for CNS Diseases at the Research and Discovery Phase
  One company has a clinical candidate, but focus for now is to understand kinase involvement in neurodegenerative pathways.
  
• Diagnostic Market Stakeholders Take Aim at FDA’s RUO/IUO Draft Guidance
  Among potential changes is that manufacturers will have to anticipate customers’ intended use of their IVD products.
  
• Prometheus and Myriad Case Outcomes Will Help Shape the Future for MDx Businesses
  Courts’ current decisions suggest that special attention will need to be paid to performing and claiming transformative steps in biomarker-based tests.
  
• Amicus Filings in Prometheus v. Mayo Reflect Divide Over Diagnostic Method Patentability
  Supreme Court has to decide whether to reverse previous stance upholding two of Prometheus’ method patents.
  
• USPTO Tasked with Evaluating Impact of Gene Patents on Second-Opinion Testing
  Diagnostic firms argue IP protection is key to innovation, while their opponents say it hurts medical practice.
  
• Standardization Key to Taking Next-Generation Sequencing to the Next Level
  As NGS technology makes steady progress with faster and cheaper machines, regulation will have to keep up.
  
• Debate over Patenting Genes at Forefront of First Hearing on Second Opinion Testing
  Hearing was part of a study required by the new patent system to assess the impact of gene patents on obtaining confirmatory tests.