Biotechnology News

China quarantine bureau rejects U.S. corn cargo
Reuters – 2 hrs 47 mins ago

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's quarantine bureau confirmed on Tuesday it had discovered traces of an unapproved genetically modified organism (GMO) in a U.S. corn cargo and had refused it entry into China. Full Story »
New Drug Shows Promise Against Certain Lung Cancers
HealthDay – Wed Oct 27, 11:48 pm ET

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental cancer drug is proving effective in treating the lung cancers of some patients whose tumors carry a certain genetic mutation, new studies show. Full Story »
New Insights on Who Should Take Erbitux for Colon Cancer
HealthDay – Tue Oct 26, 11:49 pm ET

TUESDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- New research challenges previous assumptions about how to treat metastatic colon cancer in patients with a certain genetic mutation. Full Story »
Brazil says UN biodiversity summit needs biopiracy deal
AFP – Tue Oct 26, 7:03 am ET

AFP/File

NAGOYA, Japan (AFP) - Brazil's environment minister warned Tuesday that UN talks on biodiversity hinged on a deal being reached to stop genetic resources and knowledge being plundered in developing countries. Full Story »
How You Handle Lack of Sleep May Be in Your Genes
HealthDay – Mon Oct 25, 11:49 pm ET

MONDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Why is it that two people can be equally sleep-deprived, and yet the next day one person ends up feeling more tired and listless than the other? Full Story »
Summary Box: Amgen profit falls in 3Q
AP – Mon Oct 25, 6:20 pm ET

FLAT VICTORY: Biotech drugmaker Amgen Inc. said Monday its third-quarter profit fell because of flat sales and higher operating costs, although the drugmaker still beat expectations. Full Story »
Biotech drugmaker Amgen's 3Q profit falls 11 pct
AP – Mon Oct 25, 5:57 pm ET

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Biotechnology company Amgen Inc. on Monday posted an 11 percent drop in third-quarter profit on flat sales and higher operating costs, although the drugmaker still beat expectations. Full Story »
Genzyme boss counters Sanofi-Aventis hostile bid
AFP – Fri Oct 22, 1:31 pm ET

AFP/File

NEW YORK (AFP) - The head of US biotechnology group Genzyme on Friday tried to deflect a 18.5 billion dollar hostile takeover bid by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis, saying it sharply undervalued the firm. Full Story »
Health Buzz: Gene Therapy Could Treat Depression, Study Says
U.S. News & World Report – Thu Oct 21, 4:43 pm ET

Gene therapy could eventually be used to treat mental illnesses such as depression, new research suggests. Depressed people often have low levels of the protein p11 in the reward center of their brain, and fixing the gene that produces those proteins could alleviate depressive symptoms, according to a study published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine. Researchers studied mice that lacked p11 and acted depressed: When they were held up by their tails, they did not struggle to get away. ... Full Story »
Biogen reports more brain infections in MS patients
Reuters – Thu Oct 21, 12:42 pm ET

BOSTON (Reuters) - Two more patients taking Biogen Idec Inc's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri have developed a potentially deadly brain infection known as PML, the company said on Wednesday. Full Story »
Genetics May Play Role in Vitamin E Levels
HealthDay – Wed Oct 20, 11:48 pm ET

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have identified common genetic variations that may explain differences in peoples' ability to process vitamin E. Full Story »
Animal Study Explores Potential Gene Therapy for Depression
HealthDay – Wed Oct 20, 11:48 pm ET

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of animal and human research is pointing the way towards a novel gene therapy that could ultimately help in the treatment of major depression, researchers say. Full Story »
Gene therapy could treat depression: US research
AFP – Wed Oct 20, 9:36 pm ET

AFP/File

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Gene therapy could become a powerful new weapon in the fight against severe depression that does not respond to traditional drug treatments, US researchers said Wednesday. Full Story »
Gene Therapy That Works in Mice Could Make Humans Happy
LiveScience.com – Wed Oct 20, 2:55 pm ET

A gene therapy treatment that cures mice of depression-like symptoms could be the key to treating the blues in humans, according to a new study. The treatment, which is now being tested in primates, could be approved for human clinical trials in as little as two years if all goes well. Full Story »
Study points to possible gene therapy for depression
Reuters – Wed Oct 20, 2:24 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers have identified a gene that can cause symptoms of major depression and said it may be possible to use gene therapy to counteract its effects. Full Story »
Sanofi-Aventis says gets US approval for Genzyme bid
AFP – Wed Oct 20, 10:19 am ET

AFP/File

PARIS (AFP) - French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis said on Wednesday that US competition authorities had not raised any objections to its hostile bid for US biotechnology group and rare disease specialist Genzyme. Full Story »
No cloned steaks on EU plates
AFP – Tue Oct 19, 12:01 pm ET

AFP/File

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union on Tuesday announced plans for a five-year ban on animal cloning for food production as well as a traceability system for imports of semen and embryos of clones. Full Story »
EU exec proposes ban on animal cloning for food
Reuters – Tue Oct 19, 6:41 am ET

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union announced plans on Tuesday to temporarily ban the use of animal cloning for food production, while allowing imports of food derived from the offspring of clones from the United States and elsewhere. Full Story »