GDT::Biotech::Trekker::Archive::Year 2004

[17 December 2004, top]

On 01 December 2004, Isotechnika, Inc. received a "No Objection Letter" enabling them to enter into Phase III trial for ISA247. {InvestorSoft.com:: Isotechnika - Bio-Pharmaceutical Research in Immunosuppression}

The Fall 2004 issue of TechConnect magazine has an interview with Isotechnika about why they established operations in the Valley of the Sun. {AzTechCouncil.org:: Why We Moved the Company to Arizona } [TechConnect::Volume 1::Issue 3::Fall 2004::Kelly Sacks]

[Extra] Congratulations to Mitsutoshi Nakada, M.D., Ph.D. for receiving a fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). {TGen.org:: TGen Researcher Awarded JSPS Fellowship }

[10 December 2004, top]

[Extra] It is the season of turkey consumption... {News.Yahoo.com:: Team Uses Biotech to Build a Better Turkey }

[03 December 2004, top]

   The Orion Cluster Workstation comes ready-to-use with 
   pre-installed productivity software for bioinformatics. 
   The BioTeam iNquiry suite of over 200 applications with 
   the Orion desktop solution brings the power and price/performance 
   of a Linux cluster to your benchtop. Built and delivered by 
   Orion Multisystems, fully supported by the award-winning BioTeam.

BioTeam.net:: The BioTeam

[26 November 2004, top]

• Wisc.edu:: Wisconsin Poised to Invest $750 Million in Biomedical Reseach
• Wisc.edu:: Embryonic Stem Cell Research at UW-Madison

[19 November 2004, top]

[Extra] EastValleyTribune.com:: Mesa high schools start biotechnology program

[12 November 2004, top]

It appears as though California is following Spain's lead: News.Yahoo.com:: Spain OKs Stem Cell Research Conditions

From the Why do we care? department: News.Yahoo.com:: Mel Gibson Weighs in on Stem Cell Issue

If you are interested in investing in companies that are doing stem cell work, then StemCells, Inc. has a good name. StemCells, Inc. is a Palo Alto-based company involved with stem cell research and the following is a "Reuters Abridged Business Summary" about the company.

	"StemCells, Inc. is engaged in research aimed at the 
	 development of therapies that would use stem and progenitor 
	 cells to treat and possibly cure human diseases and injuries, 
	 such as neurodegenerative diseases, including Batten's, 
	 Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases and other metabolic 
	 genetic disorders; demyelinating disorders, such as Multiple 
	 Sclerosis; spinal cord injuries, stroke, hepatitis, chronic 
	 liver failure and diabetes. The Company uses cells derived 
	 from fetal or adult tissue sources, and are not developing 
	 embryonic stem cells for therapeutic use. It is not involved 
	 in any activity directed toward human cloning. The Company's 
	 programs are all directed toward the use of tissue-derived 
	 cells for treating or curing diseases and injuries."

Yahoo.com:: StemCells Comments on Passage of California Proposition 71

StemCells, Inc. trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol STEM.

[05 November 2004, top]

• "Accelerate the discovery of treatments and cures for diseases."
• "Increase the probability of effectiveness of new drug therapies."
• "Enable the discovery of treatments for diseases that are specific to man."
• "Help to identify dangerous drug interactions."

ScienceCare.com:: Body Donation for Medical Research and Education

[29 October 2004, top]

[22 October 2004, top]

News.Yahoo.com:: DNA Pioneer Defends Stem Cell Research

Watson (who is 76 years old) is quoted saying "I think there's a perception that scientists are more interested in science than society, that scientists are less moral than religious people." Watson also said, "To what extent research on stem cells will improve the quality of human life, I don't know, but we should be allowed to try."

"We should be allowed to try..." You know they will be trying in other countries. The United States of American is already behind other countries when it comes to scientific research and discovery. Restricting what scientists can do with stem cells puts us at risk of falling even further behind.

[Extra] A recent study has been published indicating "stem cells can emit healing molecules."

[15 October 2004, top]

A microscopic swimming robot unveiled by Chinese scientists could eventually be used for drug delivery or to clear arteries in humans, say researchers.

The 3 millimetre-long triangular machine was constructed by Tao Mei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, and colleagues from the University of Science and Technology of China.

[08 October 2004, top]

[01 October 2004, top]

[side-bar] The Bio-ITWorld.com article contains a table that lists fourteen biotechnology companies developing anti-terror products. Six of the fourteen companies were in California (and four of those were in the San Diego area) along with three Maryland-based companies, two from Massachusettes, and one each from North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey.

[24 September 2004, top]

The 14 September 2004 Arizona Bioindustry Association (ABA) breakfast provided attendees with an overview of what the biotech geographical landscape will look like in a few short years. The ABA titled their event: "Building Bio from the Ground Up."

Also in the works is the Chaparral Bio-Medical Campus located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community just west of Loop 101 and north of Chaparral Road. The Chaparral Bio-Medical Campus is adjacent to the Chaparral Business Center (which is home to Western International University and the corporate headquarters for Fender Guitar). The Bio-Medical campus will be located across the 101 from Scottsdale Community College. I hope I still have an office on the SCC campus a couple of years from now.

Chaparral Bio-Medical Campus  |  Salt River Devco

[17 September 2004, top]

Washington, DC, has the potential to become a biotech leader; however, to date, it remains a "tier two" biotech area.

   "As boosters will tell you, the Washington region leads the nation 
    in attracting research dollars and biotech-related PhDs, reflecting 
    the local presence of the National Institutes of Health, the Food 
    and Drug Administration and various other federal labs. But this 
    strength also contains the seeds of the region's weakness. Much 
    of the activity is focused on basic research that is several steps 
    away from commercialization. It has created a scientific culture 
    more oriented toward winning research grants and appropriations 
    than toward starting companies."

Arizona must pass proposition 102; otherwise, it will have problems similar to those being experience in the Washington, DC, area.

{News.Yahoo.com:: Getting Out Of Biotech's Second Tier [WashingtonPost.com]}

[10 September 2004, top]

• Bio-ITWorld.com:: The BioTeam: Riders of the Storm
• BioTeam.net:: Independent Life Science Informatics and Bio-IT Consulting
• OrionMultiSystems.com:: Frequently Asked Questions

[03 September 2004, top]

   "This is a topic of science and medicine, but it's 
    a topic that's become embroiled in politics."

When it comes to the topic of embryonic stem cell research, Laura Bush (and George W. for that matter) are not scientists. {YesOn71.com:: California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative}

[27 August 2004, top]

[20 August 2004, top]

[13 August 2004, top]

It is Hugh Hallman's quote, but I agree with him. Tempe has a chance to become a leader in the worlds of "hightech, biotech, and nanotech."

[Extra] Francis Crick, who helped discover the double-helix shape of DNA, died on 29 July 2004 at the age of 88. Crick was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1962 for his DNA work.

[30 July 2004, top]

Congratulations TGen!

{TGen.org:: Largest Autism Study Ever Conducted Using DNA Array Technology}

[Extra] Naming is important and if you going to change a name, then it is better to do it sooner rather than later. The Arizona Biodesign Insitutute at Arizona State University is changing its name to the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University eliminating the duplicate usage of Arizona. {AzBio.org:: Biodesign Institutute at Arizona State University}

[23 July 2004, top]

[16 July 2004, top]

[09 July 2004, top]

[02 July 2004, top]

On Monday, 21 June 2004, I attended the "Topping Off Ceremony" for the TGen/IGC headquarters. {pictures}

Construction of this building has been accomplished on-time and within budget. TGen/IGC headquarters is located across the street from ASU's downtown campus and it is part of the Phoenix Bioscience Center at Copper Square.

[25 June 2004, top]

[18 June 2004, top]

	"In 2004, 40 states specifically target the biosciences for 
	 development and all 50 states have economic development 
	 initiatives available to assist bioscience companies."

Some states have huge leads. States lacking strong educational systems are at a distinct disadvantage.

	"More than 885,000 people in the United States are employed 
	 in the biosciences. The largest segment of this group is 
	 working in the areas of medical devices and equipment, which 
	 accounts for 37 percent of bioscience employment."

The report indicates there are five major bioscience sub-sectors and they are:

	"agricultural feedstock and chemicals;
	 drugs and pharmaceuticals;
	 medical devices and equipment;
	 research and testing; and
	 academic health centers, research hospitals and research institutes."

The report also included the following information.

	"Twelve states -- California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
	 Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, 
	 Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia 
	 -- have both large employment bases in the biosciences 
	 and are specialized in at least one industry sub-sector."

Note that Arizona is not on the aforementioned list of states, but that doesn't mean we are aren't trying. {AzCommerce.com:: Arizona a Formidable Presence at BIO 2004}

[Extra] Police arrested 29 protesters on Tuesday, 08 June, 2004 after some an intersection near where the BIO 2004 conference was being held. {ReclaimTheCommons.net:: Event::Shut-Down}

[11 June 2004, top]

On Monday, 24 May 2004, LYNX shares traded between $2.10 and $1.99. Three days later, on Thursday, 27 May 2004, the shares hit $4.64 and closed the day at $3.25. On Friday, 28 May 2004, they spiked to $3.55 before closing at $2.99. Today, they closed at $3.37 up from a previous close of $3.14.

	$1.99 to $4.64 is a 133.2% gain.
	$4.64 to $2.99 is a  35.6% loss.
	$3.25 to $3.55 is a   8.5% gain.
	$3.55 to $2.99 is a  15.8% loss.
	$2.99 to $3.37 is a  12.7% gain.

	$8.44 to $3.37 is a  60.1% loss.

On Monday, 22 September 2003 -- almost eight months ago -- LYNX shares hit $8.44. Today, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, they closed at $3.37 resulting in a 60.1% loss.

On Friday, 21 May 2004 -- almost two weeks ago -- LYNX shares fell to $1.92. Today's close of $3.37 is a 75.5% gain.

Lynx Therapeutics is a Hayward, California-based company engaged in the "development and application of genomics analysis solutions." On 21 May 2004, Lynx signed an agreement with National Institute of Mental Health to study gene expression in the brain.

[04 June 2004, top]

"RES today announced that its first commercial plant is selling an equivalent of crude oil No. 4, produced from agricultural waste products. The Carthage, Missouri, plant is currently producing 100-200 barrels of oil per day utilizing by-products from an adjacent turkey processing facility."

{RES-Energy.com:: Waste-to-Oil Company Selling Oil Commercially }

[28 May 2004, top]

"The San Jose bioscience incubator is easily accessible via a reverse commute from West Valley Corridor and East Bay locations, just 12 minutes south of downtown. It is close to San Jose State University, Stanford University, Santa Clara University, U.C. Santa Cruz, and a number of community colleges and research institutions. The incubator is well positioned to benefit from the financial, intellectual and community assets of the region."

{Biz.Yahoo.com:: San Jose Announces Management Team for Bioscience Incubator and Innovation Center }

[21 May 2004, top]

"Advances in biotechnology in recent decades have made available an increasing capacity to intervene in the beginnings of human life, especially life initiated outside the body, whether in the clinic or in the laboratory. This capacity emerges from a confluence of work in reproductive biology, developmental biology, and human genetics, and raises ethical issues involving a number of important human goods. There is little question that the way these new technologies are used could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the individuals involved but also for society as a whole."

When I read the phrase "society as a whole," I immediately think religion and in a nutshell: science and religion don't mix.

[14 May 2004, top]

[07 May 2004, top]

Press Releases

• OrthoLogic Reports First Quarter 2004 Results
• OrthoLogic Announces Agreement to Acquire Chrysalis BioTechnology, Inc.

[30 April 2004, top]

[23 April 2004, top]

[side-bar] Everyone Poops is one of my favorite children books.

[16 April 2004, top]

[09 April 2004, top]

Isotechnika is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The company was founded in 1993. During 2003, the company opened a facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. Isotechnika is a publicly traded company whose shares trade on the Toronto stock exchange under the symbol ISA.TO.

[02 April 2004, top]

Item::Neil Young Does Biodiesel
Here is a quote from Neil Young obtained from the Environmental News Network.

"I have 17 diesel vehicles, and they're all running on vegetable oil farmed by American farmers."

[26 March 2004, top]

Arizona Republic, Sunday, 07 March 2004      
Help Wanted: Systems Support Specialist
   Employer: TGen

TGen is looking for somebody with the following skills.

	Microsoft networking, server administration,
	and desktop support.  BS in CIS or related
	field.  Good customer support a must.
	Visit www.tgen.org

[12 March 2004, top]

[side-bar] Here is a quote from Ukiah Daily Journal Online: "At ground zero for the Yes on H campaign -- the Ukiah Brewing Company -- the jubilation was intense." I took a road trip through Mendocino County and enjoyed it greatly. We drove through Ukiah, but now I wish we had stopped at the Ukiah Brewing Company.

[05 March 2004, top]

Arizona Republic, Sunday, 15 February 2004      
Help Wanted: Senior Biomedical Application Programmer
   Employer: TGen

TGen is looking for somebody with the following skills.

   Java technologies, Oracle, DB2, IBM Websphere,
   Apache webserver.  Apply modern engineering
   and information technologies to develop and
   implement Microarray analysis algorithms and
   visualization tools for high throughput gene
   sequencing and gene expression profiling using
   MATLAB, Java, and C.  Masters degree required.

TGen's needs prompted me to see if there are any FLOSS programs similar to MATLAB and we found Octave.

From the Octave website:

   "GNU Octave is a high-level language, primarily 
    intended for numerical computations.  It provides 
    a convenient command line interface for solving 
    linear and nonlinear problems numerically, and 
    for performing other numerical experiments using 
    a language that is mostly compatible with Matlab."

[Extra] On Tuesday, 02 March 2004, I will be attending an Arizona BioIndustry Association Breakfast titled "TD2: Engineering Drug Development for the 22nd Century." The speaker is from TGen's Center for Translational Drug Development (TD2). 22nd Century? We are only four years into the 21st Century, yet researchers are looking forward 100 years now.

[27 February 2004, top]

   Dear Customer,

   This is an automatic confirmation for the renewal of the domain you
   registered with Gandi :

      AZBIOTECH.NET

   Your domain has been renewed for 1 year(s) without error.
   The new expiration date is now : 2005-04-03 07:46:02

AzBiotech.com is registered to Scottsdale-based GoDaddy.com. At of the time of this Biotech::Trekker posting, the dot-org, dot-biz, and dot-info AzBiotech domain names were available.

{Gandi.net:: Whois AzBiotech.net  |  Whois AzBiotech.com}

[20 February 2004, top]

[13 February 2004, top]

Rockville, MD, is home to the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute which includes CARB. {NIST.gov:: Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology}

[06 February 2004, top]

Dr. Jiping He (along with other researchers) are doing work to help people with spinal cord injuries to stand and walk.

In a nutshell, electrodes are placed on a membrane that covers the spinal cord. The electrodes are connected to an external controller device. A computer is used to send commands to the controller which then sends signals to the electrodes. The electrodes stimulate a neural circuit within the spinal cord. An un-expected side-effect was improved patient metabolism in the form of less oxygen consumption.

Dr. He showed a video clip of a paraplegic struggling to take only a couple of steps. After training, therapy, and more training, a second video showed the same patient walking with significantly less struggle.

   keyword phrases:
   ----------------
   Micro/Nanotechnology and Bioinformatics
   Neuroscience, Information Technology, and Micro/Nanotechnology.
   quantifying the parameters of gait
   adaptive decoding algorithms

ASU.edu:: Computational Motor Control Laboratory (CMCL)

[30 January 2004, top]

Ken Thompson created the Unix operating system during the late-1960s/early-1970s. He is a computing Guru. Here are some quotes from an interview he did with the IEEE Computer Society from May of 1999.

   "Well, I had to give advice to my son, and my advice to him - 
    to the next generation - was to get into biology."

   "Computer science is coming into its middle age. It's turning 
    into a commodity.  People don't know about Carnot cycles for 
    refrigerators, yet they buy refrigerators.  It's happening in 
    computing too. Who knows about compilers? They buy computers 
    to play games and balance their checkbooks. So my advice to 
    my child was - I am unfortunately talking to Computer magazine 
    - to go into biology, not classic biology but gene therapy and 
    things like that."

   "[...] aspects of computer science are becoming more specialized."

Now almost five years later Thompson's words are confirmed. Yahoo.com:: Valley Job Trend: Biomedical

Who is Ken Thompson?

[23 January 2004, top]

In a nutshell, Lynx Therapeutics, Inc., is engaged in the "development and application of novel genomics analysis solutions that provide quantitative digital gene expression information important to modern systems biology research in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agricultural industries. The Company's Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing technology (MPSS) generates a complete, accurate and quantitative analysis of the transcriptome (the full complement of activated genes, messenger RNAs or transcripts in a particular tissue at a particular time) to enable systems biology. Transcriptome analysis provides information about all the genes that are expressed in a biological sample. The Company's business model is primarily focused on providing genomics discovery services using MPSS." [source::Multex via Yahoo]

[16 January 2004, top]

[01 January 2004, top]

Thanks for Visiting