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

• IZumi, Japanese university unite to refine stem cell technique
  IZumi Bio in California is collaborating with Kyoto University in Japan to further develop and commercialize a technique for converting mature human cells into an embryoniclike state. The procedure, known as cellular reprogramming, might lead to speedier drug discovery by allowing testing of experimental medicines against newly created cell lines from patients. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (4/14)

	Free Whitepaper: Enterprise Sales Contract Management for Life Sciences Leading life sciences companies are recognizing the need for synchronized, enterprise-wide pricing and sales contract management processes. Learn more about how an integrated solution can provide the transparency needed to satisfy auditors, balance pricing with go-to-market strategies, and support sales and finance teams –including accurately predicting margins.

Health Care in Transition

• Drug, device firms concerned over comparative-effectiveness studies
  Drugmakers and medical-device companies are concerned that studies comparing the cost effectiveness of treatments will be used to deny patients access to the best care available. "The overarching purpose of the program is to give clinicians and patients information they need to make decisions," including data on effectiveness, safety and costs, said Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (4/14)

• Former Daschle assistant named HHS chief of staff
  Senior HHS adviser Laura Petrou will serve as chief of staff to HHS Secretary-designate Kathleen Sebelius, a White House official said. Petrou, who also worked for former Sen. Tom Daschle, will replace Mark Childress, a Senate aide and a lobbyist at Foley Hoag. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (4/13)

• Lawmakers should consider chronic diseases in health reform bill
  The creation of a health reform bill "will test our leaders' ability to work in a bipartisan way to reach consensus," writes Dr. Richard H. Carmona, former surgeon general and national chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. Lawmakers can address that by using chronic disease as a common ground in creating such legislation, he writes. The Sun (Baltimore) (4/14)

Health Care & Policy

• Md. budget likely to provide full funding for biotech tax-credit program
  The House of the Maryland Legislature approved a $13.8 billion budget that would include $6 million to fund the state's tax-credit program for biotech companies. The state's Senate was scheduled Monday to vote on a final version of the measure. The Gazette (Montgomery County, Md.) (4/13)

• Alzheimer's drug removes disease-related protein
  U.K. scientists developed a drug called CPHPC that eliminates serum amyloid P component, a protein that has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, from patients' brains. "Coupled with the absence of any side effects, these new findings strongly support further clinical studies to see whether longer-term treatment with CPHPC protects against the inexorable mental decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease," the lead scientist said. BBC (4/13)

Company & Financial News

• Nanobac Pharmaceutical to merge with Eureka Genomics
  Nanobac Pharmaceutical will merge with Eureka Genomics in a stock and cash agreement. The deal, which is expected to conclude in the second quarter of this year, would set up a company that focuses on bioinformatics and genomics. American City Business Journals/Tampa, Fla. (4/13)

• Biotech drug Simponi approved for arthritis in Canada
  Canadian drug regulators approved biologic drug Simponi to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and active psoriatic arthritis. Simponi, a product of Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough, is awaiting regulatory clearance in the U.S. and Europe. Reuters (4/13)

• Cancer institute successful in first Phase 0 study
  The first Phase 0 clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute proved Abbott Laboratories' cancer drug ABT-888 is safe and potent enough to be tested on a larger number of patients. The approach shows "it is possible to enroll a small number of patients, treat them with a low dose of a new drug, identify whether the desired target of the drug was affected and obtain all of this critical information relatively quickly," the institute said. Reuters (4/13)

• Other News

• Dendreon to reveal findings of prostate cancer drug's trial
  Reuters (4/13)

Global Developments

• Strides Arcolab to split business into 3 entities
  Indian drug firm Strides Arcolab announced that it is splitting into three divisions: research and development, pharmaceuticals and specialty drugs. As a result of the revamp, Strides Specialities and Strides Technology and Research will become wholly owned subsidiaries, and the drugs business will remain under the parent company. Business Standard (India) (4/14)

Featured Content

Food & Agriculture

• Pioneer Hi-Bred: Soybean produces heart-friendly oil
  Pioneer Hi-Bred says it has bioengineered a soybean that produces zero-trans-fat high-oleic oil that appears to remain stable three to 10 times longer than low-linolenic oils. The Iowa-based firm plans to conduct tests of the soybean to validate the safety and claims of the oil, which could be used by food companies to promote heart-healthy fried foods. USA TODAY (4/13)

Industrial & Environmental

• Study: Ethanol expansion raises demands for water
  A U.S. study found that expansion of conventional ethanol production could use three times more water than earlier estimated. One of the researchers said the increase in water consumption is caused by the expansion of corn production into states that require "extensive irrigation." A Renewable Fuels Association official questioned the research and said ethanol companies are not building facilities in areas with a "severely limited" supply of water. MIT Technology Review (4/2009)

News from BIO

• Feeling the pinch in today's market hurts
  Let BIO ease your pain with BIO Business Solutions, BIO's cost-savings program, which provides products and services specific to the life sciences industry at discounted prices and other benefits. Participation is free to members of BIO and 38 state/regional biotech associations, and more than 1,900 companies currently use BIO Business Solutions. See how BIO Business Solutions can help your bottom line. Get more information about the 15 money-saving opportunities here.

SmartQuote

There are moments of existence when time and space are more profound, and the awareness of existence is immensely heightened." --Charles Baudelaire, French poet