The news summaries appearing in BIO SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The information is not compiled or summarized by BIO. Questions and comments should be directed to SmartBrief at bio@smartbrief.com.

Today's Top Story

• Analysis: U.S. life science R&D spending will grow to $189.3B in 2013
  The U.S. life science sector is expected to spend $189.3 billion in research and development in 2013, up from $181.6 billion this year, driven by improved access to data, according to an analysis by Battelle and R&D Magazine. Out of the 275 life science firms that responded to a survey, a majority anticipate their R&D investment to grow over 2012 and 40% said they would participate in more collaborative research next year. MedCityNews.com (12/19)     

Health Care & Policy

• Revenue down 3.5% for brand-name drugmakers in 2012, report says
  The revenues of brand-name drug companies are projected to drop at an average yearly rate of 2.6% for several years due to competition from generics, according to an IBISWorld report. For 2012, the report said revenues are down by 3.5%. PharmaTimes (U.K.) (12/17)     

• FDA-approved trial to use telemonitoring, crowdsourcing approaches
  A Phase II clinical trial to examine the effectiveness of lisinopril in patients with multiple sclerosis by Transparency Life Sciences was approved by the FDA. The 12-month trial, which is the first to implement both remote monitoring and crowdsourcing techniques, will be performed by the biopharmaceutical startup with telehealth firm AMC Health. MedCityNews.com (12/18)     

Company & Financial News

• Conn. biotech raises $10M for trials of chronic itch treatment
  Trevi Therapeutics secured $10 million in a Series A financing round from TPG Biotech. The Conn.-based biotech will use the money to fund clinical trials of T111, an extended-release oral opioid, for the treatment of uremic pruritus in renal failure patients. American City Business Journals/Boston/bioflash blog/Mass High Tech (12/19)     

• Molecular Dx firm gets $1.5 million boost for MS assay
  A Series B funding round has pulled in $1.5 million for DioGenix, which the company aims to use to finance a prospective clinical study to evaluate the use of its MSPrecis test in diagnosing multiple sclerosis early. The assay works by measuring rearranged immunoglobin gene mutations in B cells separated from cerebrospinal fluid. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (12/18)     

Industry Deals

• Firms ally to develop drugs for autoimmune, inflammatory diseases
  Phenex Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Biotech agreed to collaborate in the discovery and development of compounds that target the nuclear hormone receptor RORγT as possible treatments for chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Janssen gets the rights to commercialize the drugs arising from the collaboration. The agreement entitles Phenex to up to $135 million in upfront and milestone fees. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (12/18), Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (12/17)     

• GSK, GlycoVaxyn collaborate on bacterial vaccine development
  GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and GlycoVaxyn agreed to use the latter's bioconjugation technology to develop novel bacterial vaccines. The deal, which covers a set of pathogen targets, gives GSK an exclusive licensing option. GSK will give GlycoVaxyn an upfront payment and equity investment plus milestone fees and royalties. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (12/19)     

• Cellular Dynamics to produce stem cell-based assays for research
  Cellular Dynamics International has entered a licensing deal with GE Healthcare Life Sciences to develop, produce and market stem cell-based analysis products for use in toxicity testing during drug development. The assays will be based on induced pluripotent stem cells and developed by Cellular Dynamics using technology that GE Healthcare licensed from Geron. American City Business Journals/Milwaukee (12/20)     

Food & Agriculture

• EFSA supports safety of Monsanto's biotech maize pollen for food use
  A European Food Safety Authority panel concluded that Monsanto's MON 810 maize pollen is safe for use "in or as foods." "[T]he genetic modification in maize MON 810 does not constitute an additional health risk if maize MON 810 pollen is to replace maize pollen from non-GM maize in or as food," the panel said. The panel's scientific opinion supports Monsanto's application to bring the maize pollen in the market. FoodNavigator (12/19)     

Industrial & Environmental

• House, Senate agree to keep Defense Dept.'s biofuels program
  The House of Representatives and the Senate have struck a deal to strip a provision from the defense authorization bill that would limit the military's ability to purchase biofuels. "This new compromise language will allow [the Department of Defense] to move forward with its clean energy agenda unscathed," said Stephanie Dreyer, a spokeswoman for the Truman National Security Project. The Hill/E2 Wire blog (12/18)     

News from BIO

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SmartQuote

No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true." --Nathaniel Hawthorne, American author