Melanie Sena is community editor of Pharmaceutical Technology.

Melanie Sena

 has entered into an agreement with Pfizer to design, develop, and commercialize diagnostic tests for therapeutic products across Pfizer's pipeline. Under the agreement, Siemens will be one of Pfizer's collaboration partners to develop and provide 

 diagnostic tests for use in clinical studies.

The partnership will help Siemens' in providing clinical diagnostic solutions for hospital and reference laboratories, specialty laboratories, and point-of-care settings (including clinics and physician offices) to help enable diagnostics development.

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Siemens enters agreement with Pfizer to commercialize diagnostic tests for therapeutic products across Pfizer's pipeline.

Pfizer, Siemens Partner in Companion Diagnostics

AB, a Swedish pharmaceutical company,  has signed a deal to acquire three over-the-coutner brands in the US from Bayer HealthCare. The acquired portfolio includes: Domeboro, a topical astringent used for relieving itch and minor skin irritations; Vanquish, an internal analgesic; and Fergon, an iron supplement. The brands will be sold through Moberg’s current channel, primarily in chain drugstores and mass retailers, such as Walmart. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2013.

Moberg Pharma will acquire three OTC brands from Bayer HealthCare.

Moberg Pharma Acquires OTC Brands from Bayer

has formed the Oncology Clinical and Translational Consortium (OCTC), a scientific research network comprised of six international cancer centers.  The center includes Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, US), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), Netherlands Cancer Institute (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network (Toronto), and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (Barcelona). 

In forming the consortium, GSK will gain OCTC’s knowledge in preclinical, translational, and clinical development of anticancer therapeutics including kinase inhibitors, epigenome-modulating compounds, and immunotherapies. The centers will have access to studies with GSK’s early-stage oncology pipeline and opportunities to advance oncology therapeutics.  OCTC will foster scientific collaboration among the members and GSK.

Consortium members were selected for their international leadership and expertise in oncology research.  Members will collaborate on processes to ensure the highest quality standards for the collection of biological samples as well as the conduct of biomarker and clinical research.  Projects driven through the OCTC will include Phase I and II single agent and novel combination trials with GSK’s targeted and immune therapies as well as translational and preclinical studies.

GSK forms the Oncology Clinical and Translational Consortium, a scientific research network comprised of six international cancer centers.

GSK Launches Cancer Research Consortium

The University of Missouri’s Department of Biochemistry and

 have developed a joint initiative to offer science majors first-hand work experience in private industry. The University’s Department of Biochemistry will offer a five-credit course titled Biochemistry 4001, Industry Internship. ABC scientists will participate in course lectures and, the company will offer paid internships to interns selected for the program. Applications for the internships for the spring and summer semesters of 2014 were accepted, four internships have been awarded.

The University of Missouri's Department of Biochemistry and ABC Laboratories announce industry internship program.

ABC, University of Missouri Partner For Internship Program

(J&J) Innovation, a division of J&J reported the formation of a network of partnering offices across UK life science clusters. The offices function as extensions of its London Innovation Center to work with academics and entrepreneurs throughout the UK to identify early-stage innovation and support the translation of research into new products for patients.

While the London Innovation Center continues to be the primary hub for interactions with the academic and entrepreneurial community in the greater London area, these new partnering offices are part of a broader strategy to interact
more directly with life science “hotspots” throughout the UK and Europe. Johnson & Johnson Innovation is establishing partnering offices in the following locations that will function as a base for interactions throughout the regions:

Babraham Research Campus for the wider Cambridge area

University of Oxford Old Road Campus for the wider Oxford area

 The University of Manchester Innovation Center (UMIC) for the North and Midlands

Edinburgh BioQuarter for Scotland and Northern Irelan

 Life Sciences Hub Wales in Cardiff for Wales and the South West. 

Representatives from the J&J Innovation Center in London will establish a regular presence in each of the partnering offices that are expected to be fully operational in early 2014. 

Johnson & Johnson Innovation focuses on accelerating early innovation and enhancing opportunities for collaboration and investment across Johnson & Johnson’s global healthcare businesses. 

Johnson&Johnson will open a network of partnering offices across the UK.

J&J Innovation Announces Opening of Offices

reported a ruling by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York that ordered Apotex Corp., Apotex, and Torpharm, to pay AstraZeneca approximately $76 million in damages. This ruling is a result of Apotex’s infringing sales of generic omeprazole between 2004 and 2007. This follows a previous ruling in 2007 that found two Prilosec (omeprazole) formulation patents valid and infringed by Apotex.

AstraZeneca will receive $76 million in damages from Apotex Corp., Apotex, and Torpharm.