Melanie Sena is community editor of Pharmaceutical Technology.

Melanie Sena

 has expanded its exome sequencing services with the Ion Proton Next Generation Sequencer. Certification for Ion AmpliSeq Exome sequencing was also awarded after joining Life Technologies Corporation's Ion AmpliSeq Exome Certified Service Provider program (CSP). Using Life Technologies proprietary approach, consisting of the Ion AmpliSeq Exome Kit, the Ion Proton Sequencer and Ion Reporter Software, provides researchers with a fast, and cost-effective exome sequencing solution available with flexible throughput, according to the company. 

Articles

Eurofins MWG Operon expands its exome sequencing services with the Ion Proton Next Generation Sequencer.

Eurofins MWG Operon Launches Ion Proton Sequencing Services

reported that the companies’ US Diabetes Alliance is providing a three-year grant to the American Diabetes Association’s Pathway to Stop Diabetes program. The research initiative provides resources and support for a new generation of diabetes researchers and is designed to generate discoveries through collaboration and radical thinking.
  
  The 2013 Pathway Awards will provide $1.6 million in support for five to seven years for the selected investigators and will fund research relevant to any diabetes type, diabetes-related disease state, or diabetes complication. Nominations included a range of disciplines, including medicine, biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, and mathematics.
  
Source: 

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Diabetes Alliance provides a $5 million grant to the American Diabetes Association.

AstraZeneca, BMS Provide Grant for Diabetes Research Initiative

 reported that FDA has approved the company’s supplemental new drug application for three-times-a-week Copaxone 40mg/mL, a new dose of Copaxone. This new formulation will allow for a less frequent dosing regimen administered subcutaneously for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). In addition to the newly approved dose, daily Copaxone 20 mg/mL will continue to be available.

The FDA approval is based on data from the Phase III Glatiramer Acetate Low-Frequency Administration study of more than 1400 patients, which showed that a 40 mg/mL dose of Copaxone administered subcutaneously three-times-a-week significantly reduced relapse rates at 12 months and demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Source: 

Teva reports FDA approval for three-times-a-week Copaxone 40 mg/mL.

Teva Announces FDA Approval of a New Dose of Copaxone

reported that Barry J. Goldstein, MD, PhD, has joined its clinical development services business as vice-president and global therapeutic area head of the expanded cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and renal unit.  In this new role, Goldstein will join the medical & scientific affairs leadership team and will be based in Princeton, NJ.
   
  Goldstein joins Covance from Merck where he served as vice-president in clinical research and therapeutic area head for diabetes and endocrinology, since 2008.  In this role, he managed Merck’s Phase II-IV clinical development team for a large portfolio including diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and women’s health.  His responsibilities included strategic input to proof-of-concept study designs, clinical trial strategies, protocol development, regulatory filings, responses to payer inquiries, lifecycle management activities, as well as pharmacovigilance and post-marketing studies. In addition to his biopharmaceutical industry experience, Goldstein’s medical career includes serving as director, division of endocrinology, diabetes & metabolic diseases, Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia from 1992 to 2008.  His most recent academic roles include professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular pharmacology at Jefferson from 1997 to 2008. 
   
Source: 

Covance appoints Barry J. Goldstein as its new vice-president of Clinical Development Services and Global Therapeutic Area Head.

Covance Appoints VP of Clinical Development Services

 new environmentally controlled stability chambers include large-capacity environmental chambers (7000 Series) and refrigerated incubators (7001 Series) in two-door (50 cu. ft.) and three-door (75 cu. ft.) configurations. 

The new stability chambers are designed in accordance with FDA ICH Q1A Guidelines and can be used for numerous customer applications, including shelf-life studies, stability and package testing, and temperature-elevation studies. The stability chambers have several new features, including humidity control, self-closing doors with locks, CFC-free foam insulation, and a full-color user interface. These new design features help yield up to 71% in energy savings. The environmental chambers and refrigerated incubators also have a 7” color touchscreen that has easy-to-read icons and a display that can be operated with gloves on. Both products are constructed of stainless steel, making them easy to clean and highly resistant to corrosion.

Caron's New Environmental Test Chambers and Refrigerated Incubators

Caron Introduces New Environmental Test Chambers and Refrigerated Incubators

 has reported that Matthew Emmens will retire as non-executive chairman and Susan Kilsby, chairman of Shire’s Audit, Compliance & Risk Committee, will succeed him after the conclusion of Shire’s AGM on April 29, 2014. Emmens joined the company as chief executive in 2003 and became chairman of Shire in 2008. Kilsby joined the Shire Board as a non-executive director in September 2011. In May 2013, she was appointed chairman of Shire’s Audit, Compliance & Risk Committee. Dominic Blakemore will replace Kilsby’s position as chairman of Shire’s Audit, Compliance & Risk Committee. In addition, Kilsby’s will become a member of Shire’s Nomination Committee, effective February 1, 2014.
  
Source: 

Shire appoints Susan Kilsby as its New Chairman.