science and technology

Valensa's Parry Organic Spirulina, Chlorella, Microalgae Earn Non-GMO Project Butterfly

Valensa International announced Non-GMO Project has been awarded to Valensa’s Organic Spirulina, Chlorella and Microalgae products.




science and technology

Recent Weight Management Ingredient Research Reflects Emerging Trends

Emphasis on fat and protein intake, reduced carbohydrate intake and gut health for managing weight are trends affecting the global weight management category.




science and technology

DSM Insight Series: 1 in 4 Consumers Prepare, Consume Breakfast in Less Than 5 Minutes

DSM today published the first part of a new report in its Global Insight Series, focused on breakfast habits and behavior in Europe and the US.




science and technology

'Doctor' Tony Huge: Brand Ambassador or Founder/Boss of Enhanced Athlete?

New Legal Motion Challenges Tony Huge’s Supposed Unpaid Role in Enhanced Athlete




science and technology

New Study Highlights OptiMSM's Influence on Key Metabolic Reactions

Bergstrom Nutrition, manufacturer of OptiMSM®, a branded form of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), recently published an article detailing how the small intestine absorbs MSM, particularly in relation to sulfur.




science and technology

Organic Trade Association and The Organic Center Applaud Senate Bill, Organic Agriculture Research

The Organic Trade Association and The Organic Center on Thursday applauded Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing The Organic Agriculture Research Act of 2018.




science and technology

Emport LLC New Training Resources for Professional Kitchens

Emport LLC is pleased to introduce new training programs and materials to augment its food safety and allergen control portfolio.




science and technology

Ingredient Manufacturer Announces Non-GMO Project Verified Caffeine Ingredient

Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) takes the next step in demonstrating complete transparency by getting four of its core ingredients Non-GMO Project Verified.




science and technology

National Institutes of Health Announces NIAGEN® Shows Improved Cognitive and Physical Function

ChromaDex Corp. announced NIAGEN® nicotinamide riboside prevented neurological damage and improved cognitive and physical function in a new mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.




science and technology

CRN Launches #SARMsCanHarm Consumer Education Initiative to Raise Awareness of SARMs Dangers

The Council for Responsible Nutrition announced the launch of a consumer education initiative designed to raise awareness of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, a dangerous class of ingredients.




science and technology

PR—The Most Important Part of Trade Show Marketing

Natural product brands can boost trade show ROI by investing in PR to work with trade press via press releases and onsite interviews.




science and technology

Supplement Company CEO Arrested, Faces Possible Probation Revocation

The chief executive of a supplement company under investigation by FDA could go to prison for allegedly violating the terms of his supervised release following a criminal conviction in 2014.




science and technology

Cannabidiol (CBD) and FDA—Regulating a New Market

Potential brain health benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) can make it an attractive ingredient for supplement brands, but federal regulations and FDA action may hinder product success in the market.




science and technology

Ad Agency Settles FTC, Maine AG Complaint

An advertising agency agreed to settle a complaint brought by state and federal regulators over the creation and dissemination of allegedly deceptive radio advertisements for weight-loss products.




science and technology

A Thoughtful Innovation: HP Ingredients Launches Quantum IQ for Cognitive Health

The cognitive-boost market just received another potent supplement ingredient–Quantum IQ Polygonum minus extract, exclusively from HP Ingredients, Inc. (HPI).




science and technology

Alkemist Labs Moves to Larger Facility to Accommodate Growth, Expand Capacity

Alkemist Labs is pleased to announce a move to a new facility with over four times more space to expand capacity and accommodate continued growth.




science and technology

Successfully Choosing and Maintaining a Contract Manufacturing Partnership

In this INSIDER Q&A, experts in contract manufacturing discuss aspects a brand owner should evaluate, what should be outlined in an agreement and what ongoing QA checks to conduct during the partnership.




science and technology

Endurance, Energy and Cognitive Prowess Drive Sports Performance

The best sports nutrition formulas designed to improve performance draw from a pool of ingredients researched for benefits to energy production, cognitive function and endurance both in general and specifically concerning muscles.




science and technology

EMA starts reviewing Gilead's remdesivir data to accelerate approval of COVID-19 antiviral

The European Medicines Agency has begun a rolling review of data on Gilead’s remdesivir, positioning it to cut the time it takes to decide whether to approve the drug in COVID-19 patients.




science and technology

COVID-19 the focus, but Pfizer isn't ignoring other vaccine R&D as its pens new deal

Pfizer and partner BioNTech are right in the middle of one of the most important vaccine trials in the world right now, but that doesn’t mean the Big Pharma is taking its eyes off the inoculation ball elsewhere.




science and technology

COVID-19: T cells offer clues to the potential power of Roche's Actemra

The successful activation of T cells is critical to the immune system's ability to clear infections. A retrospective study in China found that COVID-19 patients had remarkably low T-cell counts in their blood, while some pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6—which Roche’s Actemra targets—were elevated.




science and technology

Inovio's COVID-19 vaccine claims echo Theranos, says short attack

Inovio Pharmaceuticals’ stock has climbed higher and higher over the past month since it said it was working on a speedy COVID-19 vaccine.




science and technology

Newron ditches sarizotan program after pivotal trial flop, sees shares crater

Newron will terminate work on its experimental Rett syndrome drug sarizotan after a complete failure in its pivotal STARS trial.




science and technology

Lilly-partnered AbCellera gets COVID-19 boost from Canadian government

After penning a deal with Eli Lilly last month with the aim to have an antibody in the clinic within four months, Canadian-based AbCellera has been given a financial boost by its government.




science and technology

Alnylam, Vir plan year-end trial of new RNAi COVID-19 antiviral

Alnylam and Vir Biotechnology have identified an anti-SARS-CoV-2 development candidate, putting them on track to start testing the inhaled RNAi treatment for COVID-19 in humans around the end of the year.




science and technology

Repairing spinal cord injuries with a protein that regulates axon regeneration

Temple University researchers discovered that boosting levels of a protein called Lin28 in injured spinal cords of mice prompts the regrowth of axons and repairs communication between the brain and body. They believe the discovery could be used to develop new treatments for both spinal cord and optic nerve injuries.




science and technology

BioMarin pens gene therapy pact with little-known Swiss biotech

BioMarin Pharmaceutical is boosting its early-stage pipeline by penning a deal with Swiss startup Dinaqor.




science and technology

Oberland Capital nabs $1.05B raise for late-stage plays, handing out cash for royalties

Come on in, the water’s warm. After billions already raised by VC firms since the advent of the pandemic for life science companies, Oberland Capital has tossed more than $1 billion into the pot.




science and technology

Pfizer, BioNTech dose first U.S. subject with COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer and BioNTech have begun dosing participants in a U.S. clinical trial of their COVID-19 vaccine candidates. The dose-escalation stage of the trial will enroll up to 360 subjects, initially out of sites in New York and Maryland.




science and technology

Months after closing $617M life sciences fund, Frazier Healthcare nabs biopharma vets

Venture capital firm Frazier Healthcare has grabbed Scott Byrd, Ian Mills, and Gordon McMurray as its new Entrepreneur-in-Residence consultants.




science and technology

CSL Behring joins pandemic R&D fight with antibody work

Australia’s largest biotech company CSL says it is working on a plasma-based therapy for patients with more severe forms of COVID-19.




science and technology

COVID-19: Lilly ramps up to beat the virus with neutralizing antibodies as scientists raise worries

Eli Lilly has teamed with China’s Junshi Biosciences in the U.S., marking the company's second COVID-19 pact to develop neutralizing antibodies against the virus. It promises to be a faster approach than designing a new small-molecule drug would be, but getting from idea to an effective product may not be so simple.




science and technology

FDA delays decision on approval of Bristol Myers' CAR-T

The FDA has delayed its decision on whether to approve Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR-T cell therapy by three months. Bristol Myers attributed the delay to its submission of additional information upon the request of the FDA.




science and technology

Janssen promotes R&D exec into newfound data science role

Following in the footsteps of an increasing number of biopharmas that want to use data to get more bang for their buck in R&D, J&J has promoted Najat Khan, Ph.D., to the role of chief data science officer.




science and technology

Could Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent also treat age-related macular degeneration?

Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent has become a popular treatment for atopic dermatitis and asthma. Now, a research team in Japan has discovered that IL-4 and its receptor—which Dupixent inhibits—could be promising targets for treating the eye disease age-related macular degeneration.




science and technology

PTC Therapeutics nabs 'phase 3 ready' biotech Censa for just $10M upfront plus stock

PTC Therapeutics is adding to its rare disease pipeline with a midstage biotech buyout with a low upfront payment tied in with stock and biobucks.




science and technology

Moderna eyes 'early summer' start for phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial

Moderna is finalizing the protocol for a phase 3 trial of its COVID-19 vaccine with a view to starting the study early in the summer. The establishment of the timeline, which follows FDA clearance to run a phase 2 trial, puts Moderna on track to win approval for its mRNA vaccine mRNA-1273 next year.




science and technology

GSK taps experimental arthritis antibody to calm the cytokine storm hitting COVID-19 patients

GlaxoSmithKline is hard at work with partner Sanofi in getting a vaccine tested for COVID-19, but this morning it said it was now also entering the race to treat patients already hit with the disease.




science and technology

Chutes & Ladders—Johnson & Johnson elevates Khan to data science officer role

Johnson & Johnson taps Khan for chief data role; Icon poaches AstraZeneca vet Buck as CMO; Intellia signs on Lebwohl as CMO.




science and technology

After Alexion buyout, ex-Achillion nephrology lead jumps ship to Gemini Therapeutics

Just a few months after Alexion snapped up complement inhibitor biotech Achillion, Gemini Therapeutics has nabbed one of its key R&D execs as its new chief medical officer.




science and technology

Sorrento ventures into COVID-19 with Mount Sinai antibody pact

Sorrento Therapeutics is jumping into the race to develop therapies against COVID-19, teaming up with Mount Sinai to develop a cocktail of antibodies from the blood of 15,000 recovered patients. The company's scientists believe their multipronged therapy will sidestep risks such as treatment resistance.




science and technology

Fortress joins KRAS race through Columbia University deal

Fortress Biotech has licensed a treatment for KRAS-driven cancers from Columbia University. Sticking to its blueprint, Fortress has set up a new biotech, Oncogenuity, to advance the preclinical asset and work to generate more oligonucleotides from the underlying platform.




science and technology

Orchard Therapeutics cuts 25% of staffers, rethinks pipeline, closes California site

Tough times at Orchard Therapeutics as it swings the ax across staffers and facilities, phases in new pipeline advances and reduces interest in others.




science and technology

How Could Science #BreaktheInternet?

I saw the Breakthrough Prizes announced this weekend and was excited to learn about the interesting scientists on the list, including Jennifer Doudna who many of us in life science recognize for her CRISPR/Cas9 work. I’ll start out saying that I am glad to see a group of such influential people (Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki, Mark

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science and technology

Supporting Biotech Development in Madison

As part of our follow up to our recent Biotech in Wisconsin Meetup about professional development skills, we are asking folks to fill out this poll.




science and technology

We All Need a Risk Framework

I recently read “The Most Important Thing Illuminated: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor” by Howard Marks, Chairman and cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management. While I’m not an investor, Juan Serrate (@JPZaragoza1) brought the book to my attention during a Twittersation about risk. In my job developing a discovery into an actual drug, I think

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science and technology

What is the optimal biotech burn rate?

Ethan Perlstein, founder of Perlstein Lab, asked a question on Twitter and got some great answers from David Grainger, partner at Index Ventures and Katrine Bosley, CEO of Editas Medicine. (You can read the whole thread by clicking through.) @LifeSciVC @sciencescanner @ksbosley @scientre what's the burn rate distribution of biotech NewCos in for the first year of

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science and technology

Case Study: When does “technology” turn into medical device

This semester I’ve embarked on an adventure to co-teach a class in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Masters in Biotechnology program. What sold me on the experience was the majority of my responsibility is interacting with second year students on their final major project (essentially their thesis). That said, I will give one lecture, which will be “health

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science and technology

Precision in Oncology: Using the Macro and Micro

Last week, the New York Times had a nice piece “A Faster Way to Try Many Drugs on Many Cancers” on basket clinical trials, which matches patients to a therapy based on the genetics of their tumor as opposed to the site of their primary tumor. This type of trial feeds into the current excitement about precision

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science and technology

#MHVF Approaches to Drug Development

Today I had the chance for a panel conversation with Geeta Vemuri from Baxter Ventures and Ed Silverman from Pharmalot blog (Wall Street Journal) at the Midwest Healthcare Venture Forum. Our general topic was how we (an entrepreneur and a corporate venture capitalist) look at bringing drugs/devices to market. Here are a couple of takeaways from our

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