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

• BIO supports bill that would extend life science tax credits
  Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., has introduced a bill that would revive and expand the Therapeutic Discovery tax credit program for biotechnology and life sciences firms. Extending the program "will not only create more good jobs here in America, but keep us at the forefront of life-saving innovation," Menendez said. If approved, the legislation will help expedite the development of life-saving drugs, BIO president and CEO Jim Greenwood said. American City Business Journals/Philadelphia (5/25), NJBIZ (New Jersey) (5/25)     

Health Care & Policy

• Merck and Sanofi reportedly make first-round bids for Amylin
  Sanofi and Merck & Co. each offered to buy Amylin Pharmaceuticals for at least $25 per share, or more than $4 billion, in an initial round of bidding, sources said. Takeda Pharmaceutical and Bristol-Myers Squibb reportedly will bid as well. Bloomberg (5/26)     

• EU agency recommends approval of Vertex's CF drug Kalydeco
  The European Medicines Agency said Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Kalydeco should receive approval from the European Commission for use against a rare type of cystic fibrosis that affects patients with a specific gene mutation. The drug is the first to attack the fundamental cause of the condition. The Boston Globe/Business Updates blog/Bloomberg (tiered subscription model) (5/25)     

• Regeneron-Sanofi cholesterol drug yields favorable results in trial
  A Phase II trial found that patients who took Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi's investigational drug REGN727 saw their "bad" cholesterol decline 28.9% to 67.9% after 12 weeks, compared with 10.7% among patients treated with placebo. The partners plan to initiate a Phase III study next month. Reuters (5/26)     

• Researchers develop antivirals to fight flu
  An international team of researchers from Michigan State University has developed proteins that can attack a virus' weak points and block its activity. The proteins have been successful against several influenza strains. "These new therapeutics are urgently needed, so we were especially pleased to see that it neutralizes H1N1 viruses with potency," said researcher Tim Whitehead, an assistant professor. WXYZ-TV (Detroit) (5/27)     

• Bioreactor allows stem cell production by the billion
  Canadian researchers have developed a bioreactor for the production of billions of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from adult skin cells. The researchers used their process to produce stem cells without the cancer-causing gene cMyc. The team, whose results were published in the journal Nature Methods, has worked with mice cells and says human applications are possible. Calgary Herald (Alberta) (5/24)     

Company & Financial News

• Institutes devote $25M for sequencing in infant screening
  The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Human Genome Research Institute will award $25 million to projects that study how genome sequencing can be applied to newborn screening. Each institute plans to devote $2.5 million annually for the five-year grant program. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (5/25)     

Global Developments

• New facility aims to find stem cell treatments for major illnesses
  A new stem cell research center that will develop treatments for major diseases such as multiple sclerosis and heart disease has opened in Scotland. The $84.7 million Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine was funded by the University of Edinburgh, the British Heart Foundation, Scottish Enterprise and the U.K.'s Medical Research Council. The research facility will work with the newly opened Nine bioincubator. The Scotsman (Edinburgh) (5/28)     

• Europe commits funds to develop antibiotics for superbugs
  The European Commission launched the Innovative Medicines Initiative, which will put $137 million into NewDrugs4BadBugs, a research project to develop antibiotics for superbugs, or highly drug-resistant bacteria. The initiative is Europe's biggest public-private collaboration, funded by the EU and drugmakers. GlaxoSmithKline's David Payne said information sharing is "the central theme" of the project. The Wall Street Journal (5/24)     

Drug Development & Manufacture Basic Training

Featured Content

Food & Agriculture

• Biotech crops offer economic and environmental benefits
  The global net benefit of biotech crops totaled $14 billion in 2010, writes David Leyonhjelm, a consultant with Baron Strategic Services. Adoption of biotech crops helped meet global food demand and prevented prices of key food commodities from rising, he writes. The use of herbicide- and insect-resistant biotech crops also benefited the environment by reducing fuel use and increasing soil carbon storage. FarmOnline.com.au (Australia) (5/29)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by BIO SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Foreign countries hope to attract U.S. biotech firms, report finds (Mass High Tech (Boston))

• Drugmakers are likely to partner with payers, survey finds (MedCityNews.com)

• Reports paint a mixed picture of FDA's drug approval process (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News)

• Senate approves user fee bill for pharma and medical device industries (MedPage Today)

• 10 recommendations aim for more transparent clinical trial reports (American Medical News (free content))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Industrial & Environmental

• Sapphire Energy to open a "green crude farm" in New Mexico
  Algae-based fuels will represent a game-changer for the U.S. when they are commercially available, according to Sapphire Energy CEO Cynthia Warner. Sapphire Energy secured $144 million in new financing last month and will launch a "green crude farm" in Luna County, N.M., next month. The company plans to use the demonstration project to produce 100 barrels of algal fuel per day by 2015, rising to 5,000 to 10,000 by 2018. San Diego Union-Tribune (5/27)     

News from BIO

• Ship with FedEx
  FedEx is now offering member companies discounts of up to 35% off select FedEx services, both U.S. and international services. The BIO program with FedEx is one of the many cost-savings programs offered by BIO through its Business Solutions program. There is no charge for BIO member companies to participate in any of the BIO Business Solutions programs -- it is a benefit of membership. Learn more about the BIO and FedEx program.     

SmartQuote

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." --Henry David Thoreau, American author and poet