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: Cancer drugs top biopharmaceutical deals in 2011
  Cancer drugs accounted for nearly 24% of 714 licensing deals and joint ventures in the biopharmaceutical industry last year, according to a Deloitte analysis. Based on disclosed transactions, cancer deals could have been worth $10 billion last year. Despite having fewer deals, the highest median deal size was found in the autoimmune and inflammatory category at $400 million, followed by the endocrine and metabolic area at $163 million. Pharmalot.com/Pharma blog (5/31)     

Health Care & Policy

• 981 cancer drugs under FDA review or in clinical study
  Drugmakers have 981 cancer treatments and vaccines under FDA review or in clinical study, according to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The drugs include 111 for breast cancer, 117 for lymphoma and 121 for lung cancer. PharmaTimes (U.K.) (6/1)     

• Other News

• FDA allows earlier use of breast cancer treatments
  Chicago Tribune/Reuters (6/3)     

• Genentech's Avastin performs well in ovarian cancer study
  A late-stage trial found that patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with Genentech's Avastin, or bevacizumab, in combination with standard chemotherapy demonstrated median progression-free survival of 6.7 months, compared with 3.4 months for those who received chemotherapy alone. The chemotherapy-alone group also had a higher recurrence rate than the combination group. CNBC/Reuters (6/2)     

• Diagnostics maker to release thyroid cancer assay
  Quest Diagnostics will launch its Thyroid Cancer Mutation Panel designed to identify genetic mutations associated with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. The test will help doctors determine if a thyroid gland is cancerous and whether it needs to be removed. Quest also released an assay called Thyroglobulin Post-treatment Monitoring Test to monitor for cancer relapse after surgery. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (6/1)     

• Method grows beating heart cells from ESCs, iPSCs
  Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison were able to grow large batches of beating heart cells from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells by manipulating a single developmental pathway. The cells can be used as disease models and in drug testing. The report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/Pulse blog (tiered subscription model) (5/29), Domain-B.com (India) (5/30)     

Company & Financial News

• Funding round brings Novan $5.1M
  Novan Therapeutics, which specializes in treatments based on nanoparticles that release nitric oxide, secured $5.1 million in a financing round. The company is working on NVN1000, a topical gel for acne. MedCityNews.com (6/1)     

• NIAMS awards grants to multiplex diagnostic projects
  The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases plans to award Small Business Innovation Research grants to projects developing multiplex assays capable of measuring multiple protein and genetic biomarkers for a range of diseases. Early-stage projects will receive $150,000 while midstage efforts will get $1 million. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration) (6/1)     

Drug Development & Manufacture Basic Training

Featured Content

Food & Agriculture

• Camels that produce therapeutic proteins being developed in Dubai
  Dubai scientists are one step closer to developing a biotech camel that produces milk with therapeutic proteins. The Camel Reproduction Centre has developed cells with transgenic genes. "If we use good milking camels with transgenic camels that secrete the pharmaceutical protein in their milk, we can harvest those proteins and use them in the pharmaceutical industry," said Nisar Wani, the leader of the center's reproductive biology lab. The National (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) (6/1)     

Hot Topics

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

• FDA approves surrogate endpoint for breast cancer trials (MedPage Today)

• House approves bill that would reauthorize and expand FDA user fees (The Hill)

• Merck and Sanofi reportedly make first-round bids for Amylin (Bloomberg)

• Bristol will skip midstage study after cancer drug shows success (Bloomberg)

• Recognize new endpoint for cancer trials, scientist urges FDA (TheScientist.com)

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

Industrial & Environmental

• Hawaiian biomass-to-fuel initiative lands $6M federal grant
  The University of Hawaii's Biomass Research and Development Initiative will receive a $6 million federal grant to continue working on a project to produce biofuels from napiergrass and other plants. "At this time, fuel used for air, sea and land transportation accounts for more than 60% of the oil imported into Hawaii," said Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. "These funds will help convert various species of grass and plants into clean fuel." American City Business Journals/Honolulu (6/1)     

The DIA 2012 Annual Meeting: Collaborate to Innovate features four jam-packed days of learning and networking for global professionals involved in the discovery, development, and life cycle management of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and related products.

News from BIO

• Are you taking full advantage of your membership?
  BIO's cost-savings program, BIO Business Solutions, is helping 2,700 companies nationwide save on the cost of essential products and services. Members of BIO and 43 state and regional biotech associations are eligible to receive preferential pricing and other benefits at no additional cost beyond their membership dues. VWR International, FedEx, Office Depot and Business Wire are just a few of the industry leading providers that offer special pricing through this members-only program. Learn more or enroll here.     

SmartQuote

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, and then stand firm." --Abraham Lincoln 16th U.S. president