BIOtechNow

This year marked the first time in the event’s eight year history that it was held in California. With 400 attendees present, BIO’s 2013 Pacific Rim Summit had a record number of exhibitors, poster presenters, and media present. BIO concluded its summit with a robust plenary titled, The Golden Age of Gas, moderated by Jonathan Burbaum, Program Director at ARPA-E, panelists consisted of the Laurel Harmon, VP of Government Relations, Lanzatech, Alan Shaw, Chairman of the Board, Read More 

In its recent article titled, AquaBounty GM Salmon Eggs Cleared for Production in Canada, The Fish Site, highlights a much needed success story in the field of animal biotechnology, “Environment Canada, the agency of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regulating environmental policies and issues, has decided that Genetically Modified (GM) AquAdvantage® Salmon from AquaBounty Technologies is not harmful to the environment or human health when produced in contained facilities. “AquaBounty will therefore now Read More 

The TRIPs (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property) Agreement, effective in 1996, has resulted in multiple benefits for public health. The last blog post reviewed Progressive Economy’s finding of TRIPS at 20. One additional benefit not mentioned in the article is the explosion of molecules in clinical development. The World Intellectual Property Indicators – 2012 Edition reveals an overall growth in patent applications around the world. The report finds that patent applications “worldwide doubled from Read More 

News of this year’s corn crop should put to rest the debate over whether the nation’s corn crop is redirected for fuel use at the expense of feed for livestock. With the release of its 2013 corn crop report, the USDA has estimated that this year’s corn harvest will hit a new record of 13.99 billion bushels, which is 7% larger than the previous year. Additionally, corn prices are projected at $4.10-$4.90 per bushel, the Read More 

False Scare Tactics Fail to Deter Voters As noted on the Washington state general election page, results revealed that 45.16% of voters were in favor of the initiative, while 54.84% of voters rejected the initiative, thus ending one of the most historically expensive battles over a state mandate. If enacted, Initiative 522 would have required the labeling of genetically engineered foods, as defined in the measure, on the packaging of raw agricultural commodities, processed foods, Read More 

The Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO)’s 2013 Pacific Rim Summit on Biotechnology and Bioenergy will be showcasing several inimitable presentations on the use of renewable chemicals to replace petroleum chemicals to meet rapidly growing consumer demand for environmentally healthy products.  This year’s summit will be co-organized by BIOCOM and held in San Diego, California from December 8-11, 2013 at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter. In a recent press release, BIO announced that the Pacific Rim Summit will offer a Read More 

“Its air leaking, I-522′s balloon is going flat” With November 5 rapidly approaching the voters of Washington State, residents are being faced with a contentious piece of legislation on this year’s ballot. Washington State I-522 will require the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods and food with GE ingredients beginning in 2015. Supported by robust scientific analysis, GE crops have been found to be as safe or safer than conventional as well as organic crops to Read More 

The Lancet Global Health Journal recently published an article “The drug and vaccine landscape for neglected diseases (2000-11): a systematic assessment” discussing the current research and development ongoing in this area.  They found 1,500 clinical trials were registered for neglected diseases which represents only 1% of all registered clinical trial activity.  Of the 123 new products in development for neglected disease, more than half were vaccines or biological products.  However, the article points out that Read More 

BIO submitted comments this week to the government of South Africa on their proposed “Draft National Policy on Intellectual Property.”  Below are some highlights. “BIO and its member companies are aware of the South African government’s aspirations to develop its life sciences industry, a message that South African officials communicated clearly at the recent BIO International Conference in Chicago, USA, in April 2013. At that conference and in subsequent discussions, South African officials have sent Read More 

How Ag Biotech Can Help End World Hunger Today, organizations, academics and many others across the United States and Canada are celebrating World Food Day by devising efforts to end global hunger.  Established in 1979 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Day brings together organizations from around the world to mobilize advocacy campaigns and events to strengthen the political will to end world hunger. The theme for World Read More 

Next month, BIO will be hosting our 3rd Annual BIO Convention in China, November 11-13. We are very pleased that Washington Governor Jay Inslee will be joining us as our keynote speaker on November 12. “China is a rapidly growing market for America’s innovative biotechnology companies, including those in Washington State. As this market continues to expand, it will be increasingly important to develop collaborative relationships with the Chinese government, companies, and academic institutions. The BIO Convention Read More 

Washington Research Council Reveals the Whole Story Behind Washington State’s Initiative 522, and Yes it Will Cost You a Dime Many Washington state residents know that on November 5, 2013, they will have to vote on whether or not to pass state Initiative 522, which will require special labels on certain foods made with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients.  What many residents don’t know is that a “yes” vote can lead to many costly consequences for Read More 

More than 40 biotech companies have gone public using provisions made available to emerging growth companies through the JOBS Act.  BIOtechNOW’s JOBS Act Deconstructed series will explore why it has had such an impact on biotech offerings and how emerging companies can leverage the new law to their best advantage.  Since the JOBS Act passed, attention has focused mostly on the law’s effects on the IPO market.  This is largely because the IPO On-Ramp was the Read More 

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) yesterday announced breakout sessions for the upcoming 2013 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy.  Breakout session tracks are designed to showcase state-of-the-art advancements in the world of industrial biotech.  Attendees will have exclusive access to presentations from some of the most innovative companies in bioenergy and biobased chemicals including, Gevo, Inc., POET-DSM, Cool Planet Biofuels, and Abengoa Bioenergy US Holding, Inc. Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President of BIO’s Read More 

Since Congress passed the Jumpstart our Business Startups (JOBS) Act last spring, there have been 39 IPOs in the biotech industry – and counting!  Today, another provision from the JOBS Act takes effect that will further enhance biotech capital formation. Pursuant to rules mandated by the JOBS Act, companies are now able to use general solicitation to advertise to investors when conducting an offering under Rule 506 of SEC Regulation D.  Rule 506 is a Read More