Minuteman HS Receives Biotechnology Lab Grant Patch.com From Minuteman HS:Minuteman High School has landed another major grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to help upgrade its Biotechnology program. The $108,172 competitive grant will enable the school to outfit its Biotechnology lab with ... |
Read more:
Minuteman HS Receives Biotechnology Lab Grant - Patch.com
The biotech sector has gotten a lot of attention lately both in the financial markets and in Washington. The sector, which was one of the worst performing areas of the market in 2016, posting a loss of more than 20%, has started posting gains again, and is looking like the rally may be poised to continue. The biggest play in the sector, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB), is up more than 10% on the year (its smaller equal weight counterpart, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA:XBI), is up over 17%).
The sector has alternatively gotten good and bad news from the White House. For many months, there has been talk of lowering drug prices through open competition or price caps putting pressure on the big drug manufacturers. On the other hand, President Trump spoke recently of his desire to reform the entire drug approval process in order to "speed the approval of life-saving medications" and "cutting the red tape at the FDA." That notion was welcomed by the equity markets even though it received a tepid response from big pharma companies.
One thing working in favor of biotech right now is M&A and the big prize could be Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY). A StreetInsider article from this week called the company "in play" and listed Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY), Novartis (NYSE:NVS), Gilead (NASDAQ:GILD) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) all as potential buyers. Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACAD) could also be up for grabs with Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) rumored to be a possible bidder. In its quarterly analyst meeting, Amgen's (NASDAQ:AMGN) CEO Bob Bradway discussed how his company was going to be on the lookout for acquisitions, both big and small.
Even Gilead, the big biotech that just caught Wall Street off guard when it significantly lowered 2017 revenue guidance due to weak sales in its hepatitis C drugs, even provided some reason for optimism. The stock dropped roughly 10% on its weak forecast, from a pre-earnings level of around $73, down to a post-announcement low in the $65 area. Since then, however, it has, somewhat surprisingly, begun rallying anew. The stock closed Friday at $70, gaining back nearly of what was lost. Does this signal something of a capitulation point and indicate that buyers are ready to return?
From a technical standpoint, the fund just broke out to the upside from a wedge pattern that has been forming over the past several months.
I wrote earlier this month that I felt the Biotech ETF could close out February above $300 if it could break through the resistance level around $285. It has and now it feels like that $300 level is well within reach.
Despite its rally so far this year, the fund is still about 13% off of its 2016 highs and 26% off of its all-time highs. Valuations in the sector look very reasonable right now as well. Thomson Reuters estimates put the forward P/E of the sector at less than 13, a level it hasn't seen in several years.
Gilead's results notwithstanding, the Q4 earnings season has been pretty good for biotech. Big players such as Amgen, Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG), Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) - all top 10 holdings in the fund - popped strongly after announcing earnings. If the sector can continue posting generally good revenue and earnings results and get a little help from the White House along the way, this could be a nice spot to add a few shares.
Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.
Follow this link:
This Biotech ETF Looks Primed To Rally Again - iShares Nasdaq ... - Seeking Alpha
Puma Biotechnology Inc s chart and data analysis indicates that the stock price has dropped -14.54% in the past 12 Weeks but analyzing the 6 month chart of the stock, the price of the stock has managed to drop negative and it has dropped down to -29.98% . Looking at the past 52 week period, the stock price is down -12.97% . Relative price strength is a important factor used by wealth management firms while investing in stocks because the indicator compares the stock performance with the overall market. The relative price strength of Puma Biotechnology Inc has a positive value of 4.53 compared to overall market.Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is having a Relative Strength Index of 68.39 which indicates the stock is not yet over sold or over bought based on the technical indicators.
For the current week, the company shares have a recommendation consensus of Buy. Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) has climbed 10.43% in the past week and advanced 24.81% in the last 4 weeks. In the past week, the company has outperformed the S&P 500 by 8.78% and the outperformance has advanced to 20.57% for the last 4 weeks period.
Company has reported several Insider transactions to the SEC, on Jan 24, 2017, Steven Lo (Chief Commercial Officer) sold 2,290 shares at 33.24 per share price.On Jan 24, 2017, Charles R Eyler (officer ) sold 820 shares at 33.24 per share price.On Jan 24, 2017, Richard Paul Bryce (SR VP, CLINICAL RESEARCH & DEV) sold 2,293 shares at 33.24 per share price.
Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) rose 7.76% or 2.9 points on Friday and made its way into the gainers of the day. After trading began at $37.25 the stock was seen hitting $40.5 as a peak level and $36.7 as the lowest level. The stock ended up at $40.25. The daily volume was measured at 1,377,113 shares. The 52-week high of the share price is $73.27 and the 52-week low is $19.74. The company has a market cap of $1,482 million.
Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, in-licensing, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Its products under development include PB272 (oral neratinib) for the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) positive metastatic breast cancer and gastric cancer and PB272 (neratinib intravenous) for the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Go here to see the original:
Stock Price of Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Increases 10.43% - Highland Mirror
With five U.S. patents issued and dozens more filed and pending around the world, On Target Laboratories LLC is working to advance its revolutionary fluorescent imaging technology that could help surgeons pinpoint and remove more cancerous tissues than has ever been possible while preserving more healthy tissue for patients.
Headquartered at Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, the company is developing a series of molecules, which, when administered intravenously, show promise in targeting many types of cancer cells, said Dr. Sumith Kularatne, On Targets vice president of research and development.
In addition to our current U.S. patents, we have 11 more either filed or pending in the U.S., Kularatne said. We have another 33 patents pending worldwide. These patents are very important in helping us move our discoveries to the public where they can help people.
These molecules carry a fluorescent dye and target diseased cells, including cancer, enabling surgeons to better diagnose and remove the disease while avoiding collateral damage to healthy tissue such as nerves.
OTL38 is a novel compound consisting of a folic acid-targeting molecule, or ligand, linked to a near-infrared dye. Following current clinical trial protocols, OTL38 is injected two hours before surgery and is intended to bind to diseased tissue, including several cancers, involving lung, ovarian, and renal. The goal of this technology is to allow the surgeon to see hard-to-detect, small cancer lesions or diseased lymph nodes that might otherwise be missed through the use of a NIR (near-infrared) camera. OTL ligands are designed to enhance the view in real time, and if proven successful, we believe may be an important addition to image-guided surgery.
We have a very robust portfolio of intellectual property (IP), said Martin Low, the companys chief executive officer. We believe, with this proprietary technology, we will enable surgeons in removing any solid tumor cancer.
In addition to cancer, On Target technology has shown promise in targeting infectious diseases and inflammatory diseases.
One of the patents issued for OTL38, On Targets primary molecule, is for the targeting of inflammatory diseases. Another pending patent is for the targeting of some infectious diseases.
In addition to OTL38, On Targets other molecules include: OTL78 which has four patents pending. Its shown promise for prostate, brain, liver, breast and colorectal cancers. OTL81 which has a pending patent. Its shown promise for gastric and thyroid cancers. OTL338 which has a pending patent. Its shown promise for pancreatic, colorectal and kidney cancers as well as tumors under hypoxic conditions. OTL228 which has three patents pending. Its shown promise for ovarian, lung, breast, pituitary and other cancers as well as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis.
On Targets patenting process has moved very quickly due to the strength of the science involved as well as the level of communication between the science and legal teams, Kularatne said.
Normally the patenting process can take years. But our initial five patents were issued in two years, Low said. Pending completion of clinical trials, commercialization of OTL38 for ovarian cancer patients is scheduled for early 2019 and for lung cancer patients in 2021.
While we are working to protect our IP, the real goal here is to save lives, Kularatne said. Cancer may start the fight. We want to finish it.
See the original post:
Flourescent biotechnology for high lighting solid cancer for more complete surgical removal - Next Big Future
February 20, 2017 6:42am NASDAQ:IBB
The biotech sector has gotten a lot of attention lately both in the financial markets and in Washington. The sector, which was one of the worst performing areas of the market in 2016 posting a loss of more than 20%, has started posting gains again and is looking like the rally may be poised to continue.
The biggest play in the sector, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB), is up more than 10% on the year (its smaller equal weight counterpart, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI), is up over 17%).
The sector has alternatively gotten good and bad news from the White House. For many months, there has been talk of lowering drug prices through open competition or price caps putting pressure on the big drug manufacturers. On the other hand, President Trump spoke recently of his desire to reform the entire drug approval process in order to speed the approval of life-saving medications and cutting the red tape at the FDA. That notion was welcomed by the equity markets even though it received a tepid response from big pharma companies.
One thing working in favor of biotech right now is M&A and the big prize could be Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY). A StreetInsider article from this week called the company in play and listed Roche (RHHBY), Novartis (NVS), Gilead (GILD) and Pfizer (PFE) all as potential buyers. Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) could also be up for grabs with Biogen (BIBB) rumored to be a possible bidder. In its quarterly analyst meeting, Amgens (AMGN) CEO Bob Bradway discussed how his company was going to be on the lookout for acquisitions both big and small.
Even Gilead, the big biotech that just caught Wall Street off guard when it significantly lowered 2017 revenue guidance due to weak sales in its hepatitis C drugs, even provided some reason for optimism. The stock dropped roughly 10% on its weak forecast, from a pre-earnings level of around $73 down to a post-announcement low in the $65 area. Since then, however, it has, somewhat surprisingly, begun rallying anew. The stock closed Friday at $70, gaining back nearly of what was lost. Does this signal something of a capitulation point and indicate that buyers are ready to return?
From a technical standpoint, the fund just broke out to the upside from a wedge pattern that has been forming over the past several months.
I wrote earlier this month that I felt the Biotech ETF could close out February above $300 if it could break through the resistance level around $285. It has and now it feels like that $300 level is well within reach.
Despite its rally so far this year, the fund is still about 13% off of its 2016 highs and 26% off of its all-time highs. Valuations in the sector look very reasonable right now as well. Thomson Reuters estimates put the forward P/E of the sector at less than 13, a level it hasnt seen in several years.
Gileads results notwithstanding, the Q4 earnings season has been pretty good for biotech. Big players such as Amgen, Celgene (CELG), Illumina (ILMN) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) all top 10 holdings in the fund popped strongly after announcing earnings. If the sector can continue posting generally good revenue and earnings results and get a little help from the White House along the way, this could be a nice spot to add a few shares.
The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) closed at $294.35 on Friday, up $1.37 (+0.47%). Year-to-date, IBB has gained 10.92%, versus a 5.17% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
IBB currently has an ETF Daily News SMART Grade of A (Strong Buy), and is ranked #2 of 36 ETFs in the Health & Biotech ETFs category.
About the Author: David Dierking
David Dierking is a freelance writer focusing primarily on ETFs, mutual funds, dividend income strategies and retirement planning. He has spent more than 20 years in the financial services industry and his background includes experience in investment management, portfolio analytics and asset/liability management at both BMO Financial Group and Strong Capital Management.
He has written for Seeking Alpha, Motley Fool, ETF Trends and Investopedia and was also included in the panel for ETFReference.coms 101 ETF Investing Tips from the Experts. He has a B.A. in Finance from Michigan State University and lives in Wisconsin with his wife and two daughters.
You can connect with David on Twitter and LinkedIn. Also be sure to visit his new website, ETFFocus.com.
Tags: biotech david dierking NASDAQ:IBB
Categories: NASDAQ:IBB
More here:
This Biotech ETF Looks Primed To Rally Again - ETF Daily News (blog)
The Associated Press
DECATUR -- Two Illinois lawmakers have proposed a plan to offer tax credits to biotechnology businesses in hopes of boosting agricultural jobs in central Illinois.
The legislation, introduced by Republican state Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet and Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, would provide incentives to produce and sell new renewable products made from biomass and other renewable sources, the Herald & Reviewreported.
Manar said the state is strategically poised to lead the development of new renewable products.
"We have leading biotechnology companies, large and small, that are leading research and development efforts on these innovative products, and we have critical mass in infrastructure to produce and transport these renewables around the world," Manar said.
Rose said there's potential for Decatur to be at the center of a new $20 billion biotechnology industry. He said the intent is to utilize Decatur's production and shipping capacity through the Midwest Inland Port along with the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab in Urbana.
"The potential for jobs is here," Rose said. "We have something no one else has to offer. This bill will help us capitalize on this and bring these jobs to central Illinois."
The proposed legislation would provide a state tax credit to Illinois companies that produce and sell new manufactured products made from bio-based molecules of biomass feedstocks. Those products, including renewable chemicals and food additives, represent the next generation of advanced biofuels.
"These new bio-based products offer great potential to the Illinois economy across the entire state," said Warren Ribley, president and CEO of Biotechnology Innovation Organization, which is among the organizations leading the efforts in Illinois. "We need to lead now by leveraging our tremendous assets or forever be playing catch-up."
The plan's chances in the state legislature are uncertain.
Illinois' corporate tax incentive program has been under scrutiny recently with critics calling it too expensive and favorable to large businesses. Last month Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an extension of the program through April but has called for replacing the program, known as EDGE, or Economic Development for a Growing Economy.
Rauner's spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis saidMondaythat the bill is "under review."
Follow this link:
Illinois senators propose biotechnology tax credits - The State Journal-Register
Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday.
According to Zacks, Pumas progress with the lead candidate, neratinib, has been impressive. Currently, neratinib is under review in both the U.S. and the EU for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. An approval would be a huge boost for the company given the immense commercial potential in the target market. Several additional studies on neratinib targeting different types of breast cancer patient populations are currently underway. Being a development-stage company, Puma does not have any approved product in its portfolio yet. Thus, the company is totally dependent on neratinib for growth. Puma has had its share of setbacks related to neratinib. With so much depending on the successful development and approval of neratinib, any further kind of development or regulatory setback could hamper the companys growth prospects and the stock adversely. Shares of the company have underperformed that of the industry in the past one year.
Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Citigroup Inc. set a $88.00 price target on Puma Biotechnology and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and issued a $88.00 price target on shares of Puma Biotechnology in a research note on Wednesday, November 30th. J P Morgan Chase & Co set a $89.00 price target on Puma Biotechnology and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 14th. Cowen and Company restated a market perform rating on shares of Puma Biotechnology in a research note on Tuesday, November 15th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and set a $111.00 target price on shares of Puma Biotechnology in a research note on Tuesday, November 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $68.56.
Puma Biotechnology (NYSE:PBYI) traded up 0.73% on Tuesday, hitting $34.60. Puma Biotechnology has a one year low of $19.74 and a one year high of $73.27. The firms 50-day moving average is $37.28 and its 200-day moving average is $45.81. The companys market capitalization is $1.27 billion.
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its position in shares of Puma Biotechnology by 53.2% in the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 16,700 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,120,000 after buying an additional 5,800 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA increased its position in shares of Puma Biotechnology by 112.0% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 2,133 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 1,127 shares during the period. Northern Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Puma Biotechnology by 1.2% in the second quarter. Northern Capital Management LLC now owns 16,288 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $485,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. Traynor Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Puma Biotechnology during the second quarter valued at about $246,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of Puma Biotechnology by 31.4% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 231,875 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $6,907,000 after buying an additional 55,345 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.98% of the companys stock.
About Puma Biotechnology
Puma Biotechnology, Inc is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of cancer. The Company focuses on in-licensing the global development and commercialization rights to over three drug candidates, including PB272 (neratinib (oral)), which the Company is developing for the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), positive breast cancer, and patients with non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and other solid tumors that have a HER2 mutation; PB272 (neratinib (intravenous)), which the Company is developing for the treatment of patients with advanced cancer, and PB357, which is an orally administered agent.
Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Puma Biotechnology (PBYI)
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
Read the original:
The Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Stock Rating Decreased by the Zacks Investment Research - DailyQuint
By: Express News Service | Mohali | Published:February 19, 2017 4:43 am The National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, on Saturday observed its 7th foundation day.
The National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, on Saturday observed its 7th foundation day at the NABI premises at Phase 8 in Mohali. The NABI is an autonomous institute aided by the department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and carries out research in the area of biotechnological applications at the intersection of agriculture, food and nutritional biotechnology.
Watch what else is making news:
A gathering of heads of the institutes and faculty from the Tricity region joined the function. More than 200 scientists, students and staff participated in the foundation day ceremony. Prof. Nagendra Kumar Singh, national professor, B P Pal chair and project director, ICAR National Research Centre on Plant Bioterchnology, New Delhi was the chief guest.
He delivered the foundation day lecture on Decoding the genomes of crop plants uniquely important for India. Dr T R Sharma, executive director, NABI highlighted the achievements of NABI and mentioned that NABI is poised to play an important role in generating world-class knowledge in the area of agri-food and health security. NABI is working on strategies to overcome anti-nutritional activity, and make food crops a better quality source for nutrition.
Go here to see the original:
National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute celebrates seventh foundation day - The Indian Express
Xn`Dr(6bE3s8zfPF$=$;a{w|3%o !m~>ZxN&zUV2mMUt#rk75nLMmukVqnpC3B|l;#kjB|lFCQ|O3+ob9;]Kkt7+} Zx9GhBNz)Q;% m=Y# rwHj[p1_QVDCDbhA]kS^W_E]-0_.L,ka=4wlNa#.r=`GZ7&?zZO}O #:ZOzQ{4: i>|Ua/pN Zhh_$,maG>k!@V@F44LzO^5 LDAVqQq.!R_@Ol
_}w1Zi:1kC;fG|cy SIKw(w{5_7j_8h_WPBt}tz} 6igh/*1TM=gjka[-3 }Yya9u>=NL5&t;b71m+xx=vpyy?P[a.&aF<)__mnOL[TB[kOW!v:r7M[kq_4qH1FSzY_1)Y&sy6yFRgy{; $7#&KTL]H/|(}Z"s,{Rl.n}xcf&9*9D{q{DN]]W0HqAB/{YHsZfW/7~W[f2q6nD/_w6/$iFnt9'riXF"Mrpc9&[ecI>#:G_N, v= y-N< Y)dw,e&YqM~tQ"cn/;.>6Y'BXHQ1.H#XmlB^RLM3Clw`#R[+8H"8,y +|l`${ EfXdTlFtsB{4,Z`cp4Mb'+fp @*ND)Sm??cT8R#2wV1k<>3 9xy qI DxW.K-~-%VtG&05XNz+W 5>'"T =1+f?pbB3*;0 5Z g 'jrnob }@wDk{#PN,3N$>4DFG;6*LUe]bBd2UNU UC3[6p%nY#@Q]D5:`dQ`'uc"7Nnifc=DZSHaE@yu mA%1R;CuIXt$V"[a}1./PU9(s!,vX$/(Aa%YLFOP pc6S{MHKx|9@,7e3H7:M7K^N!9Er6DjqjS7^T.Bz~,)
View post:
Hello, again, Dolly - The Economist
February 17, 2017 6:33am NASDAQ:IBB NYSE:XLV
From Taki Tsaklanos: Biotechnology was once the darling of stock market investors. Not so anymore, since the summer of 2015 the sector collapsed from 400 points to 250 points in the IBB ETF.
Likewise, the health stock market sector lost its status of outperformer as the XLV ETF went from 75 points to 62 points. Note that biotech is part of the health sector (XLV).
Biotechnology is now showing the first signs of life. The IBB ETF is up 3 percent on the week.
We warned readers to watch closely the 250 level in this alert: Biotechnology and Health Sector Testing Long Time Support. Later on, we noticed that biotech refused to break down, and started to show a pattern of higher lows. Right now, the biotech stock market sector is testing a breakout level. Things will really get bullish once 300 points in the IBB ETF is cleared.
The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) fell $1.78 (-0.61%) in premarket trading Friday. Year-to-date, IBB has gained 10.40%, versus a 5.01% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
IBB currently has an ETF Daily News SMART Grade of A (Strong Buy), and is ranked #2 of 36 ETFs in the Health & Biotech ETFs category.
The broader healthcare sector (XLV ETF) looks even more interesting. It recovered its losses, and is now ready to test all-time highs. Make no mistake, 75 points is a very important price level. A triple-test is significant as, mostly, three tests are sufficient for a breakout. However, a failure to breakout, after 3 tests, is bearish to say the least.
The Health Care SPDR ETF (NYSE:XLV) was unchanged in premarket trading Friday. Year-to-date, XLV has gained 6.70%, versus a 5.01% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
XLV currently has an ETF Daily News SMART Grade of A (Strong Buy), and is ranked #1 of 36 ETFs in the Health & Biotech ETFs category.
This article is brought to you courtesy of Investing Haven.
Tags: biotech Health Care NASDAQ:IBB NYSE:XLV
Categories: NASDAQ:IBB NYSE:XLV
The rest is here:
iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (ETF)(NASDAQ:IBB),Health ... - ETF Daily News (blog)
Market Summary Follow
Puma Biotechnology Inc is a A biopharmaceutical company
PBYI - Market Data & News
PBYI - Stock Valuation Report
Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) had a good day on the market for Friday February 17 as shares jumped 7.76% to close at $40.25. About 1.37 million shares traded hands on 9,969 trades for the day, compared with an average daily volume of 928,303 shares out of a total float of 36.82 million. After opening the trading day at $37.25, shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc stayed within a range of $40.50 to $36.70.
With today's gains, Puma Biotechnology Inc now has a market cap of $1.48 billion. Shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc have been trading within a range of $73.27 and $19.74 over the last year, and it had a 50-day SMA of $34.47 and a 200-day SMA of $41.58.
Puma Biotechnology Inc is a biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in the acquisition, development and commercialization of products to enhance cancer care.
Puma Biotechnology Inc is based out of Los Angeles, CA and has some 156 employees. Its CEO is Alan H. Auerbach.
For a complete fundamental analysis of Puma Biotechnology Inc, check out Equities.coms Stock Valuation Analysis report for PBYI.
Want to invest with the experts? Subscribe to Equities Premium newsletters today! Visit http://www.equitiespremium.com/ to learn more about Guild Investments Market Commentary and Adam Sarhans Find Leading Stocks today.
Puma Biotechnology Inc is also a component of the Russell 2000. The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.
Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.
To get more information on Puma Biotechnology Inc and to follow the companys latest updates, you can visit the companys profile page here: PBYIs Profile. For more news on the financial markets and emerging growth companies, be sure to visit Equities.coms Newsdesk. Also, dont forget to sign-up for our daily email newsletter to ensure you dont miss out on any of our best stories.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer
Continued here:
Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Soars 7.76% on February 17 ... - Equities.com
CRISPR is a life-changing genetic modification technology that could potentially cure cancer and eradicate genetic conditions before a child is born. But there is a dark side to the potential of this technology.
The patent dispute over CRISPR technology has been settled.
AN INFLUENTIAL US science advisory committee this week said genetic modification of human embryos should be allowed in the future to eliminate diseases, sparking new debate on a controversial topic.
The report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) caused concern among some researchers who fear that genetic tools could be used to boost certain peoples intelligence or create people with particular physical traits.
Clinical trials for genome editing of the human germ line adding, removing or replacing DNA base pairs in gametes or early embryos could be permitted in the future, said the report, released Wednesday (AEST).
But only, it added, for serious conditions under stringent oversight.
The emergence of inexpensive and accurate gene-editing technology, known as CRISPR/Cas9, has fuelled an explosion of new research opportunities and potential clinical applications, both heritable and non-heritable, to address a wide range of human health issues, the report said.
The committee of international experts was convened to examine scientific, ethical and governance issues surrounding human genome editing.
The experts noted that clinical trials on gene editing for certain non-hereditary traits are already under way.
These therapies affect only the patient, not any offspring, and should continue for treatment and prevention of disease and disability, using the existing ethical norms and regulatory framework for development of gene therapy, it said.
There is plenty of concern about the designer human floodgates opening.Source:YouTube
The warning come as a major patent battle over the technology was settled in the US in recent days.
What many described as the biotechnology trial of the century, the Broad Institute won the patent to the popular gene-editing process known as CRISPR/Cas-9.
The legal battle over who really invented the technology pitted Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute a research facility affiliated with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology against French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier of the Max Planck Institute in Berlin and biochemist Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley.
Both sides claimed to have developed CRISPR-Cas9, which allows scientists to edit stretches of the genome by removing, adding or changing pieces of the DNA sequence.
Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley ultimately lost out in the dispute.Source:Getty Images
Scientists say the technology has the potential to cure diseases but also raises ethical questions, particularly when it comes to the prospect of forever altering the human race.
Charpentier and Doudna have won multiple prizes in the past four years and were widely considered to have discovered this gene-editing technique. Their work was first published in the journal Science in June 2012.
This important decision affirms the inventiveness of the Broads work in translating the biology of the natural world into fundamental building blocks to create unprecedented medicines, said a statement by Katrine Bosley, president and chief executive officer of Editas Medicine, which has an exclusive licence on the Broad Institutes patent for human-therapy applications.
The Atlantic magazine described Editas Medicine as the biggest winner.
Assuming the patent decision does not change, Editas will be the major player in human CRISPR therapies in the foreseeable future, it said.
Excerpt from:
The biotechnology trial of the century over CRISPR patent settled in US court - NEWS.com.au
Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (CTi) (OTCQB: CVAT) (Berlin: WTC) and CBDual Biotechnology Corp announced today that the two companies have reached a comprehensive cross-licensing agreement. This agreement covers intellectual property involving application of technology and process patents to produce high quality pharmaceutical grade cannabis materials. The patented technology facilitates the production of cannabinoid formulations that may include Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that can be easily mixed into fluids or medications providing increased stability of products and a much quicker enhanced absorption rate of medications.
Dr. Greg Rubin, CEO of CBDual Biotechnology Corp. commented, "The cannabis derived products market is growing rapidly in North America. Market Research Future reports indicate that U.S., Canada, and Mexico are dominant markets for cannabis products and these markets are expected to grow at 33% per annum from 2016 to 2021. Growing awareness about cannabis medicinal properties is also reflected in growing demand for new CBD based products. The development of consumer and medical products require the development of the best quality and utilization of the most innovative technologies in order to achieve ultimate results. This is only possible if we use the most advanced technological processes and our agreement with CTi enables us to manufacture the best quality CBD based oral care products by utilizing their advanced patented technology."
Global Technology Manager of CTi, Roman Gordon, stated that, "Intellectual property covered by this agreement between our companies enhances the development of cannabis based products and helps us expand into new consumer and medical markets. Cannabis based medicine is now emerging and being revisited as a potential source of treatments for conditions not addressed properly by synthetic substances," concluded Mr. Gordon
CTi's cross-licensing arrangement with CBDual Biotechnology Corp will oversee the infusion of cannabinoids in CBD based oral healthcare product line that includes mouthwash, toothpaste with cannabidiol and other unique formulations. Management also sees the potential to attract a number of potential licensees and distributors across multiple markets, including the therapeutic foods, CBD water, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical industries.
About CTi
Founded in 2007, the company designs and manufactures state-of-the-art, flow-through, devices and systems as well as develops processing technologies for use in edible oil refining, renewable fuel production, expeditious petroleum upgrading, algae oil extraction, alcoholic beverage enhancement and water treatment. As an add-on to its existing neutralization systems, the company's patented Nano Reactor allows refiners to significantly reduce both processing costs and environmental impact, while also increasing yield.
About CBDual Biotechnology Corp.
CBDual Biotechnology is a privately held, US based Biotechnology company with a proprietary technology for enhanced oral delivery of bioactive cannabinoids. This technology promotes good gums health and overall dental health due to higher effectiveness of the delivery methodology. Company was founded in 2016 and is headquarted in California with its R&D capability in Israel and Ukraine.
CBDual Biotechnology is a pharmaceutical research and development company, focused on the commercialization of cannabinoids (CBD) based oral hygiene products and for the treatment of gum disease, bad breath, pain and other disorders associated with oral health, including CBD mouthwash, CBD toothpaste and other unique pharmaceutical products. Company conducts medical research and clinical trials in their new clinical research center in California. Company's Medical Advisory Board has experienced, Board certified doctors and specialists that oversee and design clinical research and develop new products.
Forward Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, and include statements regarding the anticipated installation and the timing of the installation, our intent to continue to focus on research and development, marketing and sales of our unique technology, our belief that our company is positioned for accelerated growth and the expected efforts to be made to enhance our shareholder's value. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, among others, the state of the economy, the competitive environment and our ability to perform the installation as anticipated and other factors described in our most recent Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. In light of these risks and uncertainties there can be no assurances that the forward looking statements contained in this press release will in fact transpire or prove to be accurate. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Cavitation Technologies, Inc.
Contact:
Investor Relations Jessica Steidinger Jessica@ctinanotech.com Phone (818) 718-0905
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer
Read more:
Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (CVAT) Announces Cross Licensing ... - Equities.com
The white biotechnology market has been segmented based on product, application, feedstock, and region. Based on product, the market has been segmented into biochemical, biofuel, biomaterial, and bioproduct. In terms of application, the market has been categorized into food & feed, pharmaceuticals, pulp & paper, textile, energy, and others. Based on feedstock, the market has been segmented into grains & starch crops, agricultural residues, food waste, forestry material, animal by-product, energy crops, and urban & suburban waste.
The executive summary provides detailed insights about the report and the market in general. This elaborate executive summary provides a glimpse into the present scenario of the global white biotechnology market, which includes a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments. The executive summary also provides overall information and data analysis of the global white biotechnology market with respect to market segments based on product, application, feedstock, and geographic regions. The market for white biotechnology has been extensively analyzed based on usefulness, effectiveness, sales revenue, and geographic presence. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ Bn for each product type, application, and feedstock has been provided for the period from 2016 to 2024. This report on the white biotechnology market also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each market segment for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year.
Geographically, the white biotechnology market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The market size and forecast for each of these regions have been provided for the period from 2016 to 2024, along with CAGR (%) for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The research study also incorporates the competitive scenario in these regions.
A list of recommendations has been provided for new entrants as well as existing players to help establish a strong presence in the market and increase market share. The report also profiles major players in the white biotechnology market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Major players profiled in this report include Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, Cargill, Inc., DuPont, Corbion, DSM, Novozymes, and Lesaffre.
The global white biotechnology market has been segmented as follows:
Global White Biotechnology Market, by Product
Biochemical
Biofuel
Biomaterial
Bioproduct
Global White Biotechnology Market, by Application
Food & Feed
Pharmaceuticals
Pulp & Paper
Textile
Energy
Others
Global White Biotechnology Market, by Feedstock
Grains & Starch Crops
Agricultural Residues
Food Waste
Forestry Material
Animal By-product
Energy Crops
Urban & Suburban Waste
Global White Biotechnology Market, by Geography
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East & Africa
Download the full report:
About Reportbuyer
Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers
For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: query@reportbuyer.com Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: http://www.reportbuyer.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-biotechnology-market---global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016---2024-300406777.html
SOURCE ReportBuyer
Introduction
Although the political uncertainty has abated, Donald Trump has been able to single handily influence the movement of specific stocks [i.e. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Ford (NYSE:F), Boeing (NYSE:BA) and others] and sectors (i.e. automotive, biotechnology, defense and healthcare). The overall healthcare sector has become volatile on the heels of any statement or tweet from Donald Trump. Case in point, Trump recently held a press conference and stated his stance with regard to the pharmaceutical industry and more specifically drug pricing. Trump stated that drug companies are "getting away with murder" when speaking to the drug pricing issue that has taken the spotlight. These remarks immediately resulted in a broad sell-off across the entire biotech cohort. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) shed more than 2.5% or $7 per share as these comments were heard during the live broadcast. The healthcare sector has been faced with a political backdrop that's put the entire industry on edge. The overall healthcare umbrella has become sensitive to any tweet from President Trump as he vows to bring down drug prices. As he pursues his agenda against drug pricing, much of these threats may have already been priced-in as seen in many healthcare related stocks [i.e. McKesson (NYSE:MCK), CVS (NYSE:CVS), AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) and Allergan (NYSE:AGN)] that have seen sharp and sustained sell-offs. Lately, many large-cap pharma companies have create a drug pricing coalition of sorts to reign in transparency, separate themselves from a few bad actors and get out in front of Trump's crusade against the drug companies.
Figure 1 - IBB price activity over the previous 6 months with pronounced volatility that coincide with political rhetoric against drug pricing
Merck Joins Drug Pricing Coalition
Big pharma companies are joining forces as of late to address the price increases that the public and governmental officials have been demanding. Allergan, J&J (NYSE:JNJ), Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) and AbbVie have committed to limiting any annual drug pricing increases to less than 10%. J&J went further stating that they will be publishing an annual report regarding its portfolio and the price increases they've implemented. AbbVie released data on its increases as well stating that Humira was increased by 8.4% with an only once annual increase moving forward. Merck (NYSE:MRK) becomes the latest pharma to join this drug pricing transparency coalition. Merck raised list prices by an average of 9.6% with an average net price increase of 5.5%
M&A and Repatriation Catalysts
The M&A activity has heated up as of late with J&J and McKesson making a big splash with acquisitions of Actelion and CoverMyMeds, respectively. Johnson & Johnson made an all-cash offer of $30 billion to acquire Swiss drug maker Actelion. This acquisition was approved unanimously by the boards of both companies and valuing the transaction at $280 per share, payable in U.S. dollars. This acquisition will be financed by cash held outside the U.S. while Actelion shares spiked 20% on the news. The drug discovery operations of Actelion will be spun off as a standalone company, termed R&D NewCo. Johnson & Johnson will own a 16% stake in the newly formed company with rights to an additional 16% ownership equity via a convertible note. McKesson reached an agreement to acquire privately-held healthcare IT company CoverMyMeds for $1.1 billion in an effort to strengthen its technology offerings to pharmaceutical manufactures, clinicians and payers. In addition to the latest moves, Pfizer's acquisition of Medivation for $14 billion, Allergan's acquisition of Tobira for $1.7 billion and J&J's acquisition of Abbott's Medical Optics unit for $4.3 billion. Recently, Ariad (NASDAQ:ARIA) Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceuticals for $5.2 billion.
As campaign promises of repatriation of overseas assets and decreases in corporate taxes come to fruition, this could serve as a catalyst for M&A. These events taken in conjunction with chronically depressed valuations of many companies may accelerate M&A within the sector. The governmental stance on M&A activity may loosen up with the new administration while its pro-business agenda. Potential repatriation of overseas assets, decreases in corporate taxes and the loosening of M&A push back may bode well for the industry in the intermediate term. As the cohort remains suppressed, many prospective buyout candidates become more financially appealing to the acquirer due to beaten down valuations in concert with the maturity of pipelines coming into play. As this acquisition activity heats up, be on the lookout for stocks that have been rumored as takeover targets to heat up and possibly take IBB along for the ride.
Summary
As Donald Trump pursues his crusade against drug pricing, much of these threats may have already been priced-in as seen in many healthcare related stocks that have seen sharp and sustained sell-offs that have now leveled off. President Trump may be up against a formidable challenge with the formation of this new coalition on drug pricing transparency within large pharma. As transparency and responsible drug price increases enter the market, reigning in these costs may be more challenging when countered with this coalition and its vow to limit drug price increases. If this debate can be stymied by the coalition and largely put behind the industry, this cohort will likely rise. Potential M&A activity and a favorable repatriation environment can further support this sector. Collectively, all these potential events bode well for the sector and as IBB attempts to break through the $300 barrier be on the lookout for these events in propelling the index higher.
Disclosure: I am/we are long IBB.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Here is the original post:
IBB: Merck Joins The Drug Pricing Coalition For Transparency - Seeking Alpha
iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (IBB) traded higher in the last at $284.75, gaining 0.19 points or 0.07%. From the data available, it can be said that the stock did not make an impact in the money flow department with the net figure coming to be $(-2.92) million. The composite uptick value of $19.32 million was eclipsed by the accrued downtick value of $22.25 million, thereby ensuring the up/down ratio of 0.87. For the week, the shares have posted returns of 0.6%.
iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology is having a Relative Strength Index of 61.82 which indicates the stock is not yet over sold or over bought based on the technical indicators.
Based on the Stock Research reports from financial advisors, there are Analysts recommending as a Strong Buy, and Analysts recommending as a Moderate Buy. Investors should also note that Stock brokerage firms are recommending to Hold the stock for short term. Stock Research experts are recommending to Sell based on the growth. There are Analysts recommending as a Strong Sell.
iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (NASDAQ:IBB) witnessed a decline in the market cap on Friday as its shares dropped 0.07% or 0.19 points. After the session commenced at $284.48, the stock reached the higher end at $285.88 while it hit a low of $283.55. With the volume soaring to 764,100 shares, the last trade was called at $284.37. The company has a 52-week high of $301.8. The company has a market cap of $8,332 million and there are 29,300,000 shares in outstanding. The 52-week low of the share price is $240.3.
The ISHARES NASDAQ BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX FUND seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of companies primarily engaged in the biotechnology industry, as represented by the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index.
Originally posted here:
Large Outflow of Money Witnessed in iShares Nasdaq ... - Highland Mirror
SAN FRANCISCO, February 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc. (AMBS), a biotechnology company focused on developing products for Regenerative Medicine, Neurology and Orphan Diseases, today, with great sadness, announced the death of biotechnology legend Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld, who was an independent director of the Company. Dr. Rubinfeld is survived by his wife, Loretta, and children Bonnie, Randee, Susan and Steven and their respective families.
"Dr. Rubinfeld, a co-founder of Amgen Inc., represented the best of the biotechnology industry. He was pragmatic, brilliant, honest and caring and always focused on the needs of patients" said Dr. John Commissiong, Chief Scientific Officer at Amarantus. "Immediately prior to his passing, Dr. Joe was selflessly working very hard to help turn Amarantus around. We will honor his memory by accelerating that effort to the best of our abilities."
Obituary of Dr. Joe Rubinfeld: http://www.oakmontmortuary.com/book-of-memories/2807770/Rubinfeld-Joseph/obituary.php
Joseph Rubinfeld
Resident of Danville, CA
October 24, 1932 - December 26, 2016
Joseph "Dr. Joe" Rubinfeld, a resident of Danville, passed away unexpectedly on December 26, 2016, at his home at the age of 84. Joe was born on October 24, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York to Mechel and Mary Rubinfeld. He married his wife and soul mate Loretta Rubinfeld on March 1, 1958.
Joe attended City College of New York before attending Columbia University for graduate school where he earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. Over a career that spanned more than 60 years, Joe was instrumental in discoveries that truly changed the world.
Some of his achievements include invention of 10-second Polaroid film and the biodegradable detergent formula used in dishwashing detergents. For saving the Great Lakes with his biodegradable detergent formula, Joe was awarded the Commonwealth Award for Invention in 1985.
Joe was also active in the biotechnology and medical fields. His inventions, including the development of the antibiotics Amoxicillin and Cefadroxil, were directly responsible for saving millions of lives.
While his passion was science and invention, he also had a passion for business. In 1980, he co-founded Amgen, which would become the world's largest biotechnology company. Later in his career, he founded SuperGen, Inc. and then JJ Pharma, Inc. He was active on the corporate and scientific advisory boards of multiple other pharmaceutical companies. He loved working and inventing. He retired once but did not like it because as he said, "there's only so many times you can go to Hawaii or Europe."
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Loretta; his son Steven and his wife Kathleen of Danville, his daughter Susan and her husband Joseph Iovino of Danville, his daughter Randee and her husband Kevin Rolens of Danville, and his daughter Bonnee. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, his brother Julius Rubinfeld and his wife Leslie, sister Rosalyn Axelrod, and a large and loving extended family.
About Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc.
Amarantus BioScience Holdings (AMBS) is a biotechnology company developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases in the areas of neurology, regenerative medicine and orphan diseases. AMBS acquired the rights to the Engineered Skin Substitute program (ESS), a regenerative medicine-based approach for treating severe burns with full-thickness autologous skin grown in tissue culture. ESS is entering Phase 2 clinical studies under a CRADA agreement with the US Army. AMBS has development rights to eltoprazine, a Phase 2b-ready small molecule indicated for Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, adult ADHD and Alzheimer's aggression, and owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and is developing MANF-based products as treatments for brain and ophthalmic disorders. MANF was discovered from the Company's proprietary discovery engine PhenoGuard. AMBS also received 80 million shares of Avant Diagnostics, Inc. via the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary Amarantus Diagnostics, Inc.
For further information please visit http://www.Amarantus.com, or connect with the Company on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.
Read More
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believes," "project," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "strategy," "plan," "may," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest rates, competition, and generally accepted accounting principles. These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.
Investor and Media Contact: Ascendant Partners, LLC Fred Sommer +1-732-410-9810 fred@ascendantpartnersllc.com
View original post here:
Amarantus Announces Passing of Biotechnology Legend Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld - Yahoo Finance
The last five years have witnessed amazing acceleration of innovation in biotechnology. CRISPR will lead to precision gene editing that could vastly improve food crop yields and provide cures to cancer. Lightning-fast gene sequencing will enable early detection of cancer from a simple blood test. High-speed bulk data transfer allows the entire genomes of millions of people to be compared online in the search for cures to both common and rare diseases. Neuromorphic chips will accelerate the dawn of artificial intelligence, and smart prostheses will allow para- and quadriplegic patients to move, the deaf to hear, and the blind to see.
Discovery of synergies in applications that blur the boundaries of traditional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics will continue to fuel this exponential growth of innovation. In spite of this exuberant trend, it is important to remember that innovation and discovery often outpace the regulatory structures that ensure their best and most ethical use in society.
The bioethics field traditionally is interpreted as pertaining mainly to the medical interests of humans. It has dealt with five key issues: beneficence, non-maleficence, patient autonomy, social justice, and patient confidentiality. However, with the advent of nanotechnology and other technologies that allow inter-kingdom transfer of genetic material, a need exists to establish a broader interpretation. Theologian Brian Edgar1 notes that a more robust definition should comprise six key considerations: respect for the intrinsic value of all life, valuing human uniqueness, preserving organismal integrity, recognizing ecologic holism, minimizing future liability, and producing social benefit. These considerations, while not expected to provide all of the answers to ethical dilemmas faced by technological advancement, create a framework for productive discussion of the most important aspects of biotechnology.
As Christians, we must also acknowledge that we are made in the image of God2, and have the unique ability, of all created things, to have a relationship with our Creator. In thoughtfully considering the implications of having been thus created, we have the responsibility of honoring Him by not only valuing human life, but by valuing and caring for His creation as well. If we actively and consistently apply this principle to guide us in making decisions about the application of biotechnology, the benefits to ourselves and to our world will be tremendous.
Posted: February 10, 2017
See the original post:
Why Bioethics Matters in Biotechnology - Azusa Pacific University
Scientists at the University of Illinois say they have developed a new technique of genetic engineering for basic and applied biological research and medicine. Their work ("Programmable DNA-Guided Artificial Restriction Enzymes"), reported inACS Synthetic Biology,could open new doors in genomic research by improving the precision and adherence of sliced DNA, according to the investigators.
"Using our technology, we can create highly active artificial restriction enzymes with virtually any sequence specificity and defined sticky ends of varying length," said Huimin Zhao, Ph.,D., professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, who leads a synthetic biology research group at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. "This is a rare example in biotechnology where a desired biological function or reagent can be readily and precisely designed in a rational manner."
Restriction enzymes cut DNA at a specific site and create a space wherein foreign DNA can be introduced for gene-editing purposes. This process is not achieved only by naturally occurring restriction enzymes; artificial restriction enzymes, or AREs, have risen to prominence in recent years. CRISPR/Cas9, a bacterial immune system used for "cut-and-paste" gene editing, and TALENs, or transcription activator-like effector nucleases, which are modified restriction enzymes, are two popular examples of such techniques.
Though useful in genetic engineering, no AREs generate defined "sticky ends"an uneven break in the DNA ladder structure that leaves complementary overhangs, improving adhesion when introducing new DNA. "If you can cleave two different DNA samples with the same restriction enzyme, the sticky ends that are generated are complementary," explained graduate student Behnam Enghiad. "They will hybridize with each other, and if you use a ligase, you can stick them together."
However, restriction enzymes themselves have a critical drawback: the recognition sequence that prompts them to cut is very short, usually only four to eight base pairs. Because the enzymes will cut anywhere that sequence appears, researchers rely on finding a restriction enzyme whose cut site appears only once in the genome of their organism or plasmid, an often difficult proposition when the DNA at hand might be thousands of base pairs long.
This problem has been partially solved simply by the sheer number of restriction enzymes discovered: more than 3600 have been characterized, and over 250 are commercially available. "Just in our freezer, for our other research, we have probably over 100 different restriction enzymes," said Enghiad. "We look through them all whenever we want to assemble something. The chance of finding the unique restriction site is so low."
"Our new technology unifies all of those restriction enzymes into a single system consisting of one protein and two DNA guides. Not only have you replaced them, but you can now target sites that no available restriction enzymes can."
The new method creates AREs through the use of an Argonaute protein (PfAgo) taken fromPyrococcus furiosus, an archeal species. Led by a DNA guide, PfAgo is able to recognize much longer sequences when finding its cut site, increasing specificity and removing much of the obstacles posed by restriction enzymes. Furthermore, PfAgo can create longer sticky ends than even restriction enzymes, a substantial benefit as compared to other AREs.
"When we started, I was inspired by a paper about a related proteinTtAgo. It could use a DNA guide to cleave DNA, but only up to 70 degrees," continued Enghiad. "DNA strands start to separate over 75 degrees, which could allow a protein to create sticky ends. If there were a protein that was active at higher temperatures, I reasoned, that protein could be used as an artificial restriction enzyme. SoI started looking for that, and what I found was PfAgo."
In addition to replacing restriction enzymes in genetic engineering processes, Enghiad and Dr. Zhao believe their technology will have broad applications in the biological research. By creating arbitrary sticky ends, PfAgo could make assembly of large DNA molecules easier and would enable cloning of large DNA molecules, such as biochemical pathways and large genes.
The application of these techniques is broad-reaching, they say, ranging from discovery of new small-molecule drugs to engineering of microbial cell factories for synthesis of fuels and chemicals to molecular diagnostics of genetic diseases and pathogens, which are the areas Dr. Zhao and Enghiad are currently exploring.
"Due to its unprecedented simplicity and programmability (a single protein plus DNA guides for targeting), as well as accessibility...we expect PfAgo-based AREs will become a powerful and indispensable tool in all restriction enzyme or nuclease-enabled biotechnological applications and fundamental biological research," predicts Dr. Zhao. "It is to molecular biology as the CRISPR technology is to cell biology."
Originally posted here:
Revolutionizing Biotechnology with Artificial Restriction Enzymes ... - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)
Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the "Service") through its website (the "Website") as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard to data collection and use of personal information of users of the Service, regardless of the manner in which users access the Service, and visitors to the Website are set forth in this statement ("Policy"). By using the Service, you signify your acceptance of this Policy.
JD Supra collects users' names, companies, titles, e-mail address and industry. JD Supra also tracks the pages that users visit, logs IP addresses and aggregates non-personally identifiable user data and browser type. This data is gathered using cookies and other technologies.
The information and data collected is used to authenticate users and to send notifications relating to the Service, including email alerts to which users have subscribed; to manage the Service and Website, to improve the Service and to customize the user's experience. This information is also provided to the authors of the content to give them insight into their readership and help them to improve their content, so that it is most useful for our users.
JD Supra does not sell, rent or otherwise provide your details to third parties, other than to the authors of the content on JD Supra.
If you prefer not to enable cookies, you may change your browser settings to disable cookies; however, please note that rejecting cookies while visiting the Website may result in certain parts of the Website not operating correctly or as efficiently as if cookies were allowed.
Users who opt in to receive emails may choose to no longer receive e-mail updates and newsletters by selecting the "opt-out of future email" option in the email they receive from JD Supra or in their JD Supra account management screen.
JD Supra takes reasonable precautions to insure that user information is kept private. We restrict access to user information to those individuals who reasonably need access to perform their job functions, such as our third party email service, customer service personnel and technical staff. However, please note that no method of transmitting or storing data is completely secure and we cannot guarantee the security of user information. Unauthorized entry or use, hardware or software failure, and other factors may compromise the security of user information at any time.
If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, you must immediately notify us of the problem by contacting us at info@jdsupra.com. In the unlikely event that we believe that the security of your user information in our possession or control may have been compromised, we may seek to notify you of that development and, if so, will endeavor to do so as promptly as practicable under the circumstances.
Except as otherwise described in this privacy statement, JD Supra will not disclose personal information to any third party unless we believe that disclosure is necessary to: (1) comply with applicable laws; (2) respond to governmental inquiries or requests; (3) comply with valid legal process; (4) protect the rights, privacy, safety or property of JD Supra, users of the Service, Website visitors or the public; (5) permit us to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that we may sustain; and (6) enforce our Terms & Conditions of Use.
In the event there is a change in the corporate structure of JD Supra such as, but not limited to, merger, consolidation, sale, liquidation or transfer of substantial assets, JD Supra may, in its sole discretion, transfer, sell or assign information collected on and through the Service to one or more affiliated or unaffiliated third parties.
This Website and the Service may contain links to other websites. The operator of such other websites may collect information about you, including through cookies or other technologies. If you are using the Service through the Website and link to another site, you will leave the Website and this Policy will not apply to your use of and activity on those other sites. We encourage you to read the legal notices posted on those sites, including their privacy policies. We shall have no responsibility or liability for your visitation to, and the data collection and use practices of, such other sites. This Policy applies solely to the information collected in connection with your use of this Website and does not apply to any practices conducted offline or in connection with any other websites.
We reserve the right to change this Policy at any time. Please refer to the date at the top of this page to determine when this Policy was last revised. Any changes to our privacy policy will become effective upon posting of the revised policy on the Website. By continuing to use the Service or Website following such changes, you will be deemed to have agreed to such changes. If you do not agree with the terms of this Policy, as it may be amended from time to time, in whole or part, please do not continue using the Service or the Website.
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, your dealings with this Web site, or if you would like to change any of the information you have provided to us, please contact us at: info@jdsupra.com.
- hide
Continued here:
Biotechnology Considerations for the Unitary Patent System in Light of Brexit and Other Current Developments - JD Supra (press release)