News
Company News: Nanohale AG acquires R&D and service units of Scil Technology GmbH
– Transaction creates new Nanohale subsidiary named Formycon GmbH –
Scil Technology GmbH and Nanohale AG today announced that Nanohale has acquired the entire R&D, contract development and manufacturing organization of Scil Technology GmbH in an asset deal, effective December 31, 2011. Employees and inventory of Scil Technology GmbH have become part of Formycon GmbH, a fully-owned subsidiary of Nanohale AG. The rights to the tissue regeneration projects, which were out-licensed by Scil Technology to Medtronic, Inc. and Sanofi, will remain with Scil Technology GmbH, which will be sustained as an independent company to manage its existing collaborations. Financial details have not been disclosed.
Scil Technology recently out-licensed its cartilage regeneration program for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteochondral defects to Sanofi. The company has strong expertise in protein drug development, formulation and analytics, which is highly complementary to Nanohale´s existing protein formulation platform and will enable Nanohale to strengthen its biopharmaceutical development expertise.
Christian Nafe, CEO of Scil Technology, who was responsible for the transaction together with Klaus Binder (COO), said that the agreement creates an excellent exit opportunity for Scil Technology´s investors at BioNet Holding.
Food for Thought: Weekly Wrap-Up
Manfred Lindinger in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) introduces a giant molecule the size of a virus. It is not a macromolecule – instead, it consists of just two rubidium atoms glued together by one electron.
Forget about “good” cholesterol, writes Nicola von Lutterotti, also in FAZ. Latest studies revealed that drug therapies to increase HDL failed to reduce the risk for cardiovascular events and did not prolong life.
Klaus Sievers in Die Welt explains how sewage plants can be used to produce electricity. The trick is done by microbial fuel cells populated by metal-reducing bacteria.
Garage biotech is approaching fast, writes Ted Greenwald in Forbes. He introduces OpenPCR, a $599 build-it-yourself PCR machine and PersonalPCR, a $149 2-tube PCR thermocycler by a company called Cofactor Bio. The DNA analysis is performed by Cofactor. Already, the machines have been used by high school students to identify tilapia fish sold as white tuna in a sushi restaurant.
The Economist features Ron DePinho, the new president of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, a serial entrepreneur who us planning to use the results of the International Cancer Genome Consortium to develop new drugs against five cancers. The effort is financed by a $3 billion cancer-research fund created by the state of Texas and local philanthropists.
In the New York Times (NYT), Gina Kolata profiles Eric Lander, founding director of the Broad Institute of Harvard and the MIT, who excelled as a mathematician but then was attracted by fruit flies and nematodes so that he finally decided to become a geneticist.
Susanne Kutter introduces in Wirtschaftswoche the latest, indispensable winter outfit: gloves that allow for the handling of smartphone and camera touch screens.
Last not least, Hanna Wick in Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) introduces “Science Ink”, a book by US science writer Carl Zimmer which features tattoos worn by researchers and science enthusiastics, e. g. Schroedinger’s cat, a geological cross section or a piece of DNA.
Company News: Rolf Meyer GmbH Exclusively Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights for enpurex® Product Portfolio from bubbles & beyond
– Innovative cleaners for the printing industry now available worldwide –
bubbles & beyond, a technology company focusing on customized intelligent fluids®, today announced that Rolf Meyer GmbH has acquired the exclusive global sales and distribution rights for the enpurex® print industry cleansing products, effective January 1, 2012.
At present, the enpurex® product portfolio comprises various special cleansing agents for specific demands of the printing industry. The cleansers are water-based, non-flammable, free from aggressive chemicals, biodegradable, and thereby constitute an entirely new, sustainable and eco-friendly product generation. In addition, they are superior to existing products in terms of efficacy. Based on bubbles & beyond’s novel, proprietary intelligent fluids® approach, the products offer significant process cost savings, excellent compatibility of materials, optimum efficacy and operating safety.
Initially, sales activities will focus on the areas of flexo and gravure printing, in particular packaging, label and tissue printing. Product solutions for offset, screen and digital printing are under development.
In addition, the cooperation with Rolf Meyer GmbH provides bubbles & beyond with the opportunity to sell industrial cleansers, e.g. highly effective special cleansing agents for industrial flooring and machinery as well as industrial hand cleaners.
Company News: Sanofi Licenses Worldwide Rights on Regenerative Treatment for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Disorders from Scil Technology
Scil Technology GmbH, a privately held biopharmaceutical company with core expertise in protein drug development, formulation and analytics, today announced that Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) has exclusively licensed Scil Technology’s program for the regenerative treatment of osteoarthritis and cartilage disorders.
Under the agreement, SCIL Technology will receive an upfront payment and potential milestone payments totaling up to EUR 180 million. Moreover, the company is entitled to receive undisclosed royalties on worldwide product sales. Sanofi will assume responsibility for the progression of the development program with immediate effect, including the start of clinical trials.
The program is based on targets for the regeneration of cartilage tissue, which also stimulate chondrocyte differentiation and the synthesis of cartilage matrix. The leading compound is based on a proprietary formulation for direct delivery into the joint, making it an excellent treatment option for osteoarthritis. The program is currently in advanced preclinical development.
The cartilage regenerative program is Scil Technology’s second program which has been out-licensed successfully. The first (GDF-5) was taken over by Medtronic after completion of Phase II.