Category Archives: Biotechnology

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Avere Systems today announced that Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, has implemented its FXT Series Edge filers into its existing storage infrastructure. The Avere Edge filers were chosen to reduce latency and improve performance of applications critical in Concert's mission.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090914/LA74693LOGO)

Lexington, Mass.-based Concert is dedicated to creating new medicines through its proprietary DCE Platform that utilizes the naturally occurring element deuterium a safe and stable form of the element hydrogen. Concert uses deuterium to improve upon the metabolic properties of a drug while making little or no change to its intrinsic effectiveness. Concert has executed on this approach with its lead program, CTP-499, in Phase 2 clinical testing for chronic kidney disease.

Concert operates in a nearly 100 percent virtualized environment, including Exchange and application servers, with a Core filer from NetApp. With the NetApp filer nearing its end of life and issues of unpredictable traffic spikes, Concert began looking at new storage options that would minimize disruption to its production environment and allow it to keep its existing filer. The organization decided to implement a pair of Avere FXT Series Edge filers to optimize its environment and run all of its VMware traffic through.

"Basically, what drove me to Avere was a 'bursty' pattern of storage use that required me to schedule and plan the clock cycles throughout the day," said K. Mitch Goldenberg, associate director of IT/IS at Concert Pharmaceuticals. "I put Avere in front of everything to flatten out the spikes. And it works beautifully. It absorbs the 'burstiness' and gives low latency, predictable ops per second to my Core filer. So, now I can go and speed up what I was already doing."

Avere recently introduced its innovative Edge-Core architecture for NAS that ensures enterprise IT is best positioned to leverage the performance benefits of Flash, the consolidation benefits of virtualization and the collaborative and economic benefits of the cloud. The new architecture for NAS puts the fastest media and the intelligence to manage it closest to the user, boosting performance and removing storage bottlenecks created by legacy NAS architectures.

"For a company like Concert Pharmaceuticals that wants to simultaneously leverage its existing infrastructure and solve a storage performance problem, Avere is a perfect fit," said Ron Bianchini, co-founder and CEO of Avere Systems. "Avere FXT Series Edge filers are an ideal storage solution for virtualized environments because of their ability to provide the simplicity and familiarity of NAS with the ability to handle the write-centric workloads that virtualization generates."

About Avere Systems Avere Systems brings to the market NAS Optimization solutions designed specifically to scale performance and capacity separately and take advantage of new storage media using real-time tiering. Avere's FXT Series Edge filers allow organizations to achieve unlimited application performance scaling, free applications from the confines of the data center by eliminating latency and cut storage costs by more than half. Learn more at http://www.averesystems.com, and you can follow the company on Twitter.com/averesystems.

CONTACT AGENCY:

CONTACT CLIENT:

See the rest here:
Avere Systems Solves VMware Storage Problem at Clinical Stage Biotechnology Company

Background:
Lignin is an integral component of the plant cell wall matrix but impedes the conversion of biomass into biofuels. The plasticity of lignin biosynthesis should permit the inclusion of new compatible phenolic monomers such as flavonoids into cell wall lignins that are consequently less recalcitrant to biomass processing. In the present study, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was evaluated as a potential lignin bioengineering target for rendering biomass more amenable to processing for biofuel production.
Results:
In vitro peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization experiments revealed that both gallate and pyrogallyl (B-ring) moieties in EGCG underwent radical cross-coupling with monolignols mainly by beta--O--4-type cross-coupling, producing benzodioxane units following rearomatization reactions. Biomimetic lignification of maize cell walls with a 3:1 molar ratio of monolignols and EGCG permitted extensive alkaline delignification of cell walls (72 to 92 %) that far exceeded that for lignified controls (44 to 62 %). Alkali-insoluble residues from EGCG-lignified walls yielded up to 34 % more glucose and total sugars following enzymatic saccharification than lignified controls.
Conclusions:
It was found that EGCG readily copolymerized with monolignols to become integrally cross-coupled into cell wall lignins, where it greatly enhanced alkaline delignification and subsequent enzymatic saccharification. Improved delignification may be attributed to internal trapping of quinone-methide intermediates to prevent benzyl ether cross-linking of lignin to structural polysaccharides during lignification, and to the cleavage of ester intra-unit linkages within EGCG during pretreatment. Overall, our results suggest that apoplastic deposition of EGCG for incorporation into lignin would be a promising plant genetic engineering target for improving the delignification and saccharification of biomass crops.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

Background:
Historically, acid pretreatment technology for the production of bio-ethanol from corn stover has required severe conditions to overcome biomass recalcitrance. However, the high usage of acid and steam at severe pretreatment conditions hinders the economic feasibility of the ethanol production from biomass. In addition, the amount of acetate and furfural produced during harsh pretreatment is in the range that strongly inhibits cell growth and impedes ethanol fermentation. The current work addresses these issues through pretreatment with lower acid concentrations and temperatures incorporated with deacetylation and mechanical refining.
Results:
The results showed that deacetylation with 0.1 M NaOH before acid pretreatment improved the monomeric xylose yield in pretreatment by up to 20 % while keeping the furfural yield under 2 %. Deacetylation also improved the glucose yield by 10 % and the xylose yield by 20 % during low solids enzymatic hydrolysis. Mechanical refining using a PFI mill further improved sugar yields during both low- and high-solids enzymatic hydrolysis. Mechanical refining also allowed enzyme loadings to be reduced while maintaining high yields. Deacetylation and mechanical refining are shown to assist in achieving 90 % cellulose yield in high-solids (20 %) enzymatic hydrolysis. When fermentations were performed under pH control to evaluate the effect of deacetylation and mechanical refining on the ethanol yields, glucose and xylose utilizations over 90 % and ethanol yields over 90 % were achieved. Overall ethanol yields were calculated based on experimental results for the base case and modified cases. One modified case that integrated deacetylation, mechanical refining, and washing was estimated to produce 88 gallons of ethanol per ton of biomass.
Conclusion:
The current work developed a novel bio-ethanol process that features pretreatment with lower acid concentrations and temperatures incorporated with deacetylation and mechanical refining. The new process shows improved overall ethanol yields compared to traditional dilute acid pretreatment. The experimental results from this work support the techno-economic analysis and calculation of Minimum Ethanol Selling Price (MESP) detailed in our companion paper.Source:
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/rss/

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced more than 100 speakers covering the latest in industrial biotechnology at the 2012 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. The Summit will present four plenary sessions featuring international executives and academic leaders in industrial biotechnology October 10-12 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, Canada.

Vancouver is an ideal location for this years conference with its fast-growing and successful life sciences and biotech industries and a robust forest biomass supply, said Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIOs Industrial & Environmental Section. Our outstanding line-up of plenary sessions will highlight the growing biobased economy as we learn about advances in biofuels, renewable chemicals and synthetic biology. Industrial biotechnology can reduce dependence on foreign oil and also benefits consumers by revitalizing manufacturing and creating new opportunities for agriculture, generating jobs, making greener products and cleaner processes.

Plenary sessions include:

Status Report: The Synthetic Biology Pathway to Innovation in Fuels and Chemicals Wednesday, October 10, 12 2:15PM

Flying green: Why Airlines See a Bright Future in Biofuels Thursday, October 11, 8 9:30AM

Overcoming Regional Biomass Feedstock Supply Challenges with Public Policy and Science Thursday, October 11, 11:30AM 1:45PM

Biotechnology and Renewable Chemicals: The Future is Now Friday, October 12, 10AM 12PM

Now in its seventh year, the Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy will address the latest issues in industrial biotechnology, including algae, advanced biofuels, biopolymers and bioplastics, dedicated energy crops, green chemistry, and synthetic biology. The annual Pacific Rim Summit is the original conference dedicated solely to growth of the industrial biotechnology sector in Asia and the Americas. Visit http://bio.org/pacrim.

About BIO BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling innovations transforming our world. Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.

Source: BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

More here:
2012 Pacific Rim Summit On Industrial Biotechnology And Bioenergy

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces that registration is now available for the 11th Annual BIO Investor Forum, an international biotech investor conference focused on investment strategies for early stage and established private companies as well as emerging public companies. The event will take place October 9-10, 2012 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, Calif.

The BIO Investor Forum is the ideal venue for investors and business development leaders to discuss financial and strategic business issues affecting investment in biotech companies, and explore potential partnerships and business collaborations to fuel research and development for promising innovation, said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president, Emerging Companies & Business Developmentat BIO.

The 2011 BIO Investor Forum scheduled almost 900 meetings, 88% of which were between biotech companies and investors. Furthermore, the event hosted nearly 120 late-stage private and emerging public company presentations.

This years event will assemble public and venture-stage growth companies, as well as top public and private equity investors, to explore investment trends and opportunities in life sciences. In addition to panel discussions led by clinical thought leaders focusing on industry trends, the conference features business roundtables focused on financing, investment and the latest M&A trends. BIO One-on-One Partnering will also provide an opportunity to arrange meetings between investors; companies; and industry business development, licensing and therapeutic franchise heads.

The BIO Investor Forum is a must attend event forpublic and private market investors, research analysts, investment bankers, and industry executives focused on investment and business development opportunities in the life sciences.

The meeting attracts healthcare venture capital and public market investors and research analysts. In addition, the BIO Investor Forum draws business development executives from leading global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

BIO and the BIO Investor Forum Advisory Committee set the event agenda and program. Advisory Committee members include:

To learn more about the BIO Investor Forum, including registration and program information, please visit here.

BIO is pleased to recognize the leadership provided by the BIO Investor Forum Conference sponsors including Supporting Banks Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, and Roth Capital. BIO Double Helix and Helix Sponsors include Abbott Biotech Ventures, Amgen Ventures, Baxter Ventures, J&J Development Corporation, MedImmune Ventures, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Pfizer.

Link:
11th Annual BIO Investor Forum to Highlight Venture-Stage Growth and Emerging Public Companies

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI), a development stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2012, Puma reported a net loss applicable to common stock of $14.8 million, or $0.74 per share. Net loss applicable to common stock for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was $26.6 million, or $1.33 per share.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, was $8.8 million. Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was $11.6 million. As of June 30, 2012, Puma had cash and cash equivalents of $41.0 million, compared to $53.4 million at December 31, 2011.

Total operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 were $14.8 million. Total operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012, were $26.6 million. The operating expenses in the quarter were primarily driven by clinical development expenses for our lead product candidate, PB272 (neratinib), the transition of the PB272 clinical trial program to Puma from the drugs licensor, hiring staff and building out our corporate infrastructure.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2012 were $1.7 million. Total general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012, were $2.9 million.

Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2012 were $13.0 million. Total research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012, were $23.6 million. Included in the research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2012 are outside clinical development expenses of $10.3 million related to the transition of the ongoing PB272 clinical trials to Puma from the licensor, approximately $3 million of which represented duplicate costs incurred for the licensors services in connection with these trials. The Company anticipates that as this transition has largely been completed, these costs will decrease significantly in future quarters.

The second quarter of 2012 brought many significant achievements and advancements for Puma as we continued to make progress with the clinical development of our drug candidate PB272 and continued to build our corporate infrastructure, said Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive Officer and President. We will continue to move forward aggressively with the clinical development of PB272 during 2012. Our clinical development plan includes (i) initiating our Phase III clinical trial of PB272 in combination with chemotherapy in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer patients who have failed previous HER2 directed therapy, which we anticipate will occur later this year; (ii) completing the ongoing Phase II trial of neratinib in combination with temsirolimus in fourth line HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, which we anticipate reporting additional data from later in 2012, and subsequently initiating the Phase III trial of the combination of neratinib plus temsirolimus; (iii) completing the ongoing Phase II trial of PB272 in patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain, which we also anticipate reporting data from in 2012, (iv) completing our ongoing Phase II trial of PB272 as a neoadjuvant treatment for patients with HER2+ breast cancer, which we expect to report data from in 2013; (v) initiating a Phase II trial of PB272 in patients with HER2 mutated non-small cell lung cancer, which we expect will occur later this year; and (vi) initiating a Phase II trial of PB272 in breast cancer patients with a newly identified genetic mutation, which we also expect will occur later this year.

About Puma Biotechnology

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is a development stage biopharmaceutical company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of various forms of cancer. The Company focuses on in-licensing drug candidates that are undergoing or have already completed initial clinical testing for the treatment of cancer and then seeks to further develop those drug candidates for commercial use. The Company is initially focused on the development of PB272 (oral neratinib), a potent irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer.

View original post here:
Puma Biotechnology Reports Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results