MassBio News

MassBio President Bob Coughlin speaks about the Co-Pay Assistance Bill on Greater Boston (WGBH)

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EDT

MassBio President Bob Coughlin explains how this bill will help the patient population of Massachusetts.

FDA, CMS Memorandum of Understanding Released

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The FDA and CMS have released their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The text is below and can also be found online here.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
AND
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES

1. Preamble

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), both as part of the Department of Health and Human Services, and hereinafter also referred to as "Federal partners," agree to work together to promote initiatives related to the review and use of FDA-regulated drugs, biologics, medical devices, and foods, including dietary supplements, as defined by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (see 21 U.S.C. 321) and the Public Health Service Act. (See 42 U.S.C. 262).

2. Purpose and Goals

The purpose of the MOU is to promote collaboration and enhance knowledge and efficiency by providing for the sharing of information and expertise between the Federal partners. The goals of the collaboration are to explore ways to:

a. Further enhance information sharing efforts through more efficient and robust inter-agency activities.

b. Promote efficient utilization of tools and expertise for product analysis, validation and risk identification.

c. Build infrastructure and processes that meet the common needs for evaluating the safety, efficacy, utilization, coverage, payment, and clinical benefit of drugs, biologics and medical devices.

3. Substance of the Agreement - Program Areas and Responsibilities/Activities

a. Each Federal partner will establish a principal point of contact to facilitate the actions carried out under this MOU.

b. FDA and CMS agree to attend an initial meeting to establish the specific procedures and safeguards necessary to implement this MOU. The initial meeting will take place within 30 days of signing and approval of this MOU. Periodic meetings will be scheduled thereafter on an as needed basis. FDA and CMS agree not to share information under this MOU unless, and until, adequate procedures and safeguards are established and implemented by each Federal partner.

c. FDA and CMS agree that each initial request for information will be made by and transmitted to the Agency principal point of contacts designated according to Section 3.a. of this MOU. Subsequent communications pertaining to that issue may occur between other staff as outlined in the initial request for information.

d. FDA and CMS agree that any Federal partner may decide not to share information or expertise in response to a particular request for information made according to the procedures established under Section 3.b., or to limit the scope of information and expertise sharing in response to a particular request. A decision not to share information in response to a specific request may be based on several factors, including, for example, the amount of resources necessary to fulfill the request, the reasonableness of the request, the responding Federal partner's priorities, or legal restrictions. In the event that Federal partners can not reach consensus on a decision to share or not share information, the issue will be referred to the FDA Deputy Commissioner and CMS Administrator for a final decision.

e. FDA and CMS agree to establish reasonable timelines for responding to information requests and to refer instances of delays to the Agency point of contact for resolution.

f. FDA and CMS recognize that the following types of information transmitted between them in any medium and from any source must be protected from unauthorized disclosure: (1) trade secret and other confidential commercial information that would be protected from public disclosure pursuant to Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); (2) personal privacy information, such as the information that would be protected from public disclosure pursuant to Exemption 6 or 7(c) of the FOIA; or (3) information that is otherwise protected from public disclosure by Federal statutes and their implementing regulations (e.g., the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1905), the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a), the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Pub. L. 104-191).

g. FDA and CMS agree to promptly notify the relevant Federal partner(s) of any actual or suspected unauthorized disclosure of information shared under this MOU.

4. General Provisions

a. Safeguarding & Limiting Access to Shared Information

The procedures established under Section 3.b. must include proper safeguards against unauthorized use and disclosure of the information exchanged under this MOU. Proper safeguards shall include the adoption of policies and procedures to ensure that the information shared under this MOU shall be used solely in accordance with Trade Secrets Act [18 U.S.C. § 1905], the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended [5 U.S.C. § 552a], the Freedom of Information Act [5 U.S.C. § 552], and their implementing regulations, as well as the HIPAA Privacy Rule [45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164]. FDA and CMS shall establish appropriate administrative, technical, procedural, and physical safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information and to prevent unauthorized access to the information provided by the other Federal partner.

Access to the information shared under this MOU shall be restricted to authorized FDA and CMS employees, agents, and officials who require access to perform their official duties in accordance with the uses of the information as authorized in this MOU. Such personnel shall be advised of (1) the confidential nature of the information; (2) safeguards required to protect the information, and (3) the administrative, civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance contained in applicable Federal laws.

If an agency that has received information under this MOU receives a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the shared information, it will refer the request to the originating agency for it to respond directly to the requestor regarding the releasability of the information. In such cases, the agency making the referral will notify the requestor that a referral has been made and that a response will issue directly from the originating agency.

b. Restriction on Use of Information

All information provided by FDA or CMS shall be used solely for the purposes outlined in Section 2. If FDA or CMS wish to use the information provided by the other Federal agency under this MOU for any purpose other than those outlined above, the requesting agency shall make a written request to the other agency describing the additional purposes for which it seeks to use the information. If the agency receiving this request determines that the request to use the information provided hereunder is acceptable, it shall provide the requesting agency with written approval of the additional use of the information.

c. Effect on Existing Statutes and Regulations

FDA and CMS agree to take actions under this collaboration that are consistent with existing laws and regulations, and that nothing in the MOU shall be construed as changing the current requirements under the statutes and regulations administered and enforced by FDA and CMS including but not limited to: Title 42 of the United States Code, the Public Health Service Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Further, nothing contained in this MOU constitutes a mandate or a requirement imposed on FDA or CMS that is additional to the mandates or requirements imposed on FDA or CMS by Federal statutes and regulations.

d. Resource Obligations

FDA and CMS will designate respective project managers to oversee the administration of, and adherence to, the content of this MOU. These project managers shall include one or more designated individuals from any of the following: FDA's Office of the Commissioner and CMS’ Office of the Administrator; FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and Office of Regulatory Affairs; and CMS’ Office of Clinical Standards and Quality and Centers for Medicare Management.

FDA and CMS will make reasonable efforts to provide the necessary staff to implement this MOU in an efficient and effective manner.

5. Assessment Mechanisms

FDA and CMS staff involved in implementing the MOU will provide regular and consistent oversight and reevaluation of all terms and conditions contained herein.

6. Terms, Termination or Modification

This MOU becomes effective upon the signature of both the FDA and CMS and will remain in effect for 5 years, unless otherwise terminated. This agreement may be modified by unanimous consent or terminated by any party upon 60 days written notice. This agreement may be modified by consent of both Federal partners or terminated by any party immediately upon written notice in the event that a Federal statute is enacted or a regulation is issued by a Federal partner that materially affects this MOU.

7. Principal Points of Contact

David H. Dorsey, J.D.

Acting Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Budget

Office of Policy, Planning and Budget

Office of the Commissioner

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

10903 New Hampshire Avenue, WO-1

Silver Spring, MD 20993

301 -796-4800

Barry M. Straube, M.D.

CMS Chief Medical Officer

Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

7500 Security Boulevard, S3-02-01

Baltimore, MD 21244

410-786-6841

Gaming for Good at Summer Camp

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Microsoft, MassBioEd and Children’s Hospital Boston Host Week-long Learning Video Game Camp for Massachusetts Students

School’s out and few students statewide will be able to say they spent a week of their summer vacation learning how to develop a video game from industry leaders from the MIT Education Arcade, the Learning Games Network and FableVision. Generation Cures at Children’s Hospital Boston, Microsoft and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) are hosting 15 student-teacher pairs from across the state at the “Game for Good” Design Camp at Microsoft offices in Waltham.

The camp was inspired by Children’s Hospital Boston’s Generation Cures, a kid-led, parent-enabled community that inspires kids to give back to others. At generationcures.org, free and safe online content speaks to kids in their own language through an online animated series (Zebrafish), science-based games (Caduceus), and for-kid, by-kid videos. The animated series Zebrafish- named after the transparent fish used to study disease- is now is available as a graphic novel, published by Simon and Schuster.

During the week-long program, participants will meet Children’s Hospital Boston doctors and researchers and get first-hand views of the labs and facilities where researchers search for cures for cancer, immunological and neurological disorders, among other diseases.

Following these presentations, the teacher-student teams will be asked to identify a topic for the new learning game they’ll design. They then work with designers and developers from the Learning Games Network, MIT and Generation Cures’ design and educational programming team to explore the elements of effective and fun creative learning game design.

Each team’s goal for the week is to produce a preliminary design document (prototype) and “poster presentation” to pitch their concept to an expert panel of judges from the pediatric medical research and learning games realms. One of the prototype games might eventually be produced and added to the Generation Cures roster of games.

Judges and presenters include Robert Ross of MassBioEd; Alex Chisholm and Dan Roy of the Learning Games Network; Generation Cures Caduceus game designer, Scott Osterweil, and Eric Klopfer of the MIT Education Arcade; Children’s Hospital/Harvard researchers Isaac Chiu, PhD, Henry Cheng, MD, Pablo Gomez, MD, and Yariv Houvras, MD; and Kate Cotter and Zebrafish book illustrator, Renée Kurilla of FableVision.

Generation Cures “In the Classroom” program leaders and MassBioEd will then take the concept, Generation Cures-tailored curriculum, as well as video and other resources taken at this design camp and offer it to other teachers nationwide.

ABOUT GENERATION CURES (www.generationcures.org)

Generation Cures is a philanthropic movement that teaches tweens to use their powers for good. The Generation Cures website offers free games (Caduceus), videos, music, webisodes and creativity challenges that inspire kids to care about others and want to make a difference in the world. Tweens can then turn their inspiration into action to help cure other kids through online and offline family fundraising initiatives that support Children’s Hospital Boston’s life-saving pediatric care and world-changing research. Since launching in late 2008, Generation Cures has won more than 20 national awards for creativity, education and family fun and Seals of Approval from Good Housekeeping and Kidzui. Celebrities, including Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Jennie Garth, JoJo Levesque, Mayim Bialik and Neal McDonough, support the initiative. Follow us: http://www.twitter.com/generationcures www.facebook.com/generationcures and www.youtube.com/generationcures.

ABOUT GENERATION CURES CADUCEUS GAME

Generation Cures’ Caduceus game transports kids to a virtual world where they take on the role of young healers tracking down the source of a mysterious plague. As they solve scientific puzzles, tweens experience the same hurdles that real doctors and scientists face in their work. They are challenged to track down the source of the disease, isolate its causes, and mix and match ingredients to find a cure.

As kids conquer each of the game levels, portions of their sponsors’ pledges are unlocked and donated to Children’s Hospital Boston. If they complete all five, they cure the virtual plague, earn the title “Master Healer” and win the full donation amount to advance real-world cures for kids. All funds raised go directly to research to find cures and treatments for debilitating childhood illnesses including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Kids can enter the Generation Cures Game for Good challenge by registering for free on the Generation Cures site (www.kids.generationcures.org). Once registered, kids can reach out to parents, relatives and family friends, asking them to sponsor their game play by making a “Game for Good” pledge of any dollar amount.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BOSTON (www.childrenshospital.org)

Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School’s primary pediatric teaching hospital, is a leading source of life-saving treatments, groundbreaking research and compassionate care for children in New England and worldwide. In its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” issue, U.S. News and World Report has rated Children’s Hospital Boston one of the top two children’s hospitals for more than 20 consecutive years. Children’s Hospital Boston has the largest and most active research program at a children’s medical center, with more than 1,100 Children’s Hospital/Harvard scientists. Become a fan of Children’s Hospital on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChildrensHospitalBoston or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/childrensboston.

About the MassBioEd Foundation (www.massbioed.org)

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd), founded in 2001, is a nonprofit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning. Serving as a link between education, industry, and government, MassBioEd is working to ensure Massachusetts’ biotechnology sector, has an appropriately trained work force to meet the growing employment needs. MassBioEd’s BioTeach program provides professional development to over 500 teachers in their biotechnology curricula and provides grants and lab equipment to 179 schools across the Commonwealth. In addition, MassBioEd’s BioTech Learning Center offers professional development courses for employees in the biotech sector to advance their professional skills.

International partnership brings fresh faces

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

From the Summer 2010 issue of the MassBio News

There will be four new faces at the Novartis labs in Cambridge this summer, as part of an international partnership with the non-profit Seeding Labs and Kenyatta University.

Drs. Sauda Swaleh, Hudson Nyambaka, Nicholas Gikonyo and Evans Changamu , from the university’s pharmacy and chemistry departments, will spend 10 weeks shadowing Novartis scientists, discussing issues like intellectual property and networking with their American counterparts.

The partnership grew out of discussions on how Novartis might help Seeding Labs fulfill their mission to help scientists in the developing world gain access to lab equipment and other career resources. In March, Seeding Labs was able to donate lab equipment to Kenyatta University, said Dr. Nina Dudnik, the group’s founder and CEO.

“Sending equipment is only the first step,” Dudnik said. “Our greater goal is to connect scientists in the developing world with their counterparts here in the U.S. Scientists in much of the world are isolated from their colleagues, and from the latest developments in techniques and tools. With new equipment scientists in the developing world are in a position to become collaborators and partners for scientists here and they bring a unique perspective and set of scientific questions. Connecting scientists gives everyone a chance to learn from each other and improve science worldwide.”

Brigitta Tadmor, VP and Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Health Policy at Novartis said their discussions soon centered on the possibility of bringing Kenyan researchers to Cambridge to shadow scientists and learn more about using the equipment they were given.

Tadmor said the company’s interest in a partnership centered on the opportunity to provide diverse experiences for their employees and to be a truly international organization.

“We realize if you want to help patients, if we want to go into the developing worlds, not just countries with emerging markets like China, we firmly believe that one way of succeeding is by setting up scientific collaborations and building scientific capabilities in these countries so that when we develop medicine to cure world diseases there is more of a clinical or scientific infrastructure set up to work with to get medicines to people, clinics and communities,” she said.

Dr. Hudson Nyambaka said the partnership is a godsend for his research on nutrients and the use of food formulations in the management of HIV and AIDS.

For Dr. Evans Changamu Ogwagwa, from the chemistry department at Kenyatta University, the partnership is an opportunity to get experience he’s been missing.

“I have always been fascinated with metals in biological systems but never really had an opportunity to try my hand. I have desired to connect with a lab involved in applied science and so when this opportunity came I grabbed it with both hands and I cannot wait to arrive,” said Dr. Ogwagwa, who has been researching the synthesis and characterization of amine complexes.

Dr. Ogawagwa said he hopes to learn the principles of drug design and development, but also to connect with scientists at Novartis and in other Massachusetts companies.

“We in the developing world have a wealth of ideas but the cost of doing research in terms to equipment and consumables ensures that we never try even the noblest of them,” he said. “International research partnerships are key to utilizing resources available from anywhere in the globe, whether material or human.”

Tadmor echoed Ogawagwa’s sentiments and the company is looking forward to a busy summer.

“When you partner with another organization you can do so many things in a short amount of time. With these relatively little resources you can actually create fantastic things that in my opinion will have a big impact.”

As a capstone to the Fellows Program, Seeding Labs will host an August 12^th symposium to celebrate the work of the visiting fellows. The four scientists will reflect on the experience of research in Africa, what they've learned in Boston, and what new research and teaching they will pursue upon their return. The event will include a reception and networking and MassBio members are welcome. Stay tuned to the events calendar on www.MassBio.org for more information.

Supreme Court decides Bilski Case

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled on the Bilski v. Kappos case regarding the patenting of business processes. Read the opinion online here.

The Supreme Court affirmed the Federal Circuit’s holding that Bilski’s business method was unpatentable subject matter because it sought to claim patent protection on an abstract idea. But the Court rejected the Federal Circuit’s bright-line “machine or transformation” test as the sole test for determining whether an invention is eligible for patent protection.

Bilski’s patent application claimed a method for a buyer or seller to hedge price risks in commodities trading. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected all claims as unpatentable subject matter under Section 101 of the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. §101, because the invention was not implemented on a specific apparatus, but merely manipulated an abstract idea and solved a purely mathematical problem.

Bilski appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit affirmed the rejection of Bilski’s patent application, holding that Bilski’s claimed process or method was not eligible subject matter for a patent because it was not tied to a machine or apparatus, or did not transform a particular article into a different state or thing (later termed the “machine or transformation test”). In re Bilski, 545 F.3d 943, 88 U.S.P.Q.2d 1385 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (en banc), cert. granted, 129 S. Ct. 273 (2009).

Bilski successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case. Bilski argued that there should be no rigid test for patentability of business methods. The government urged the Court to adopt the machine or transformation test. Over forty amicus briefs were filed.

In its decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the Federal Circuit's holding that Bilksi's method for hedging risks in commodities trading was ineligible for patent protection. Although there were three separate opinions, all members of the Court agreed that the Federal Circuit's "machine or transformation" test is not the exclusive test to be applied in determining what is patentable subject matter, although that test provides a useful clue or investigative tool.

As a threshold matter, Justice Kennedy, in an opinion joined in whole or in part by four other justices, determined that the term “process” in the Patent Act does not categorically exclude business methods. The Court held, however, that Bilski’s method simply explained the basic concept of of hedging, and reduced it to a mathematical formula, an unpatentable abstract idea. Because the Court has held in prior decisions that abstract ideas are not patentable, it rejected Bilski’s method on those grounds.

The Court stated that it did not need to define further what would constitute a patentable process, and encouraged the Federal Circuit to develop other limiting criteria to the extent needed to restrict business method patents consistently with the purposes and text of the Patent Act.

While the differing views of the concurring justices suggest that the debate over subject matter patentability will continue, the decision assures a more flexible approach to future inventions than the Federal Circuit’s overly rigid machine-or-transformation test. Indeed, Justice Kennedy, joined by three members of the Court, emphasized the uncertainty the Federal Circuit’s test would create for innovation in such fields as computer software, advanced medical diagnostics, and manipulation of digital signals. Thus, the decision offers hope that the courts will allow patent law to continue adapting in order to protect future new technologies, including in biotechnology, medical diagnostics, and high tech.

Thank you to MassBio member company Foley Hoag for this summary.

Governor Patrick and Life Sciences Leaders Urge Massachusetts Companies to Apply To Federal Therapeutic Tax Credit Program

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Application period opens on June 21st

Boston, MA – Governor Patrick, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, MassBio and MassMEDIC today urged qualifying companies to apply for the Therapeutic Discovery Tax Credit, a new federal program created under the Affordable Care Act to support biomedical research. Qualifying companies may apply to the new federal program starting on Monday, June 21, 2010 with applications due by July 21, 2010. Applicants will receive a determination no later than October 29, 2010. More information is available on the MassBio website, www.massbio.org, or the web site of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, www.masslifescience.com.

Limited to smaller companies (with 250 or fewer employees), the Therapeutic Discovery Tax Credit will be granted to biomedical research firms with projects that show significant potential to produce important new therapies, create high-quality jobs, and enhance U.S. competitiveness. The tax credit is effective immediately and covers up to 50 percent of the cost of qualifying biomedical research. To allow startup companies to participate, applicants can take the money as a grant instead of a tax credit, providing an immediate cash infusion for companies looking to continue their innovative research.

Applications will be subjected to a rigorous evaluation process and awards will be made on a competitive basis. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will evaluate each project for its potential to produce new therapies, address unmet medical needs, reduce healthcare costs or advance the goal of curing cancer. The new tax credit program was championed by three US senators — Max Baucus of Montana, John Kerry of Massachusetts, and Robert Menendez of New Jersey — and incorporated in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Administration officials expect to receive thousands of applications.

"We applaud the President’s efforts to promote life-saving research and provide a boost to the small businesses that conduct it, and we thank Senator Kerry for his leadership on this issue," said Governor Deval Patrick. "This program will create jobs in our innovation economy in Massachusetts, but only if local companies apply. I encourage Massachusetts companies and entrepreneurs to take advantage of this exciting opportunity."

“Massachusetts companies are well positioned to compete for these funds as long as we are well represented in the applicant pool,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. “We look forward to seeing some of our terrific young companies and entrepreneurs in Massachusetts leverage this new source of federal funding. We have encouraged the companies in whom we have already invested to apply for the credit and are pleased to hear that many of them are planning to do so.”

"This new credit presents an unbelievable opportunity for our earliest stage companies to access resources that will allow them to push the most cutting-edge research forward," said Robert Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio. “For every dollar credited, that is a dollar being invested back into the research we see changing and saving lives every day.”

“This tax credit program could provide the cash needed to boost R&D expenditures, increase headcount and, most importantly to device manufacturers, accelerate time to market,” said Tom Sommer, President of the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC).

About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a ten-year, $1 billion initiative that was signed into law in June of 2008. The Center’s mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and commercialization as well as building ties between sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community. For more information, visit www.masslifesciences.com.

About MassBio
www.massbio.org
MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services.

About MassMEDIC
The Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council, an organization of over 400 manufacturers, suppliers, research institutions, and academic health centers, was formed in 1996 to promote the unique interests of the Bay State’s growing and vibrant medical device sector. Through a variety of programs, informational seminars, advocacy campaigns and other projects, MassMEDIC provides medical device manufacturers and suppliers with information on industry trends and regulatory policies, and creates forums that allow members to exchange ideas and information on issues affecting the industry. The organization has also effectively advocated industry positions on Capitol Hill and Beacon Hill and before the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For more information on MassMEDIC, please contact us at (617) 414-1340 or visit: www.massmedic.com.

Therapeutic Discovery Tax Credit Program Application Released

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The application for the Therapeutic Discovery Project tax credit has just been released!

Applications must be postmarked by July 21, 2010.

Download the application (Form 8942)

Download the Project Information Memo (required with application)

Download application instructions

THIS JUST IN! MassBio members are invited to join BIO’s third webinar on the Therapeutic Discovery Tax Credit Program titled "Therapeutic Discovery Tax Credit Program: Application Process" which will provide up to date information on regulatory guidance, implementation of the new program, and the application process. The webinar is complimentary to MassBio’s biotechnology company members, and will take place on Monday, June 28th at 1 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Q&A: Mark Levin

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

MassBio asked Mark Levin, a partner at Third Rock Ventures for his thoughts on the economic climate, the future of venture capital and hot new science. Here's what he had to say.

Q: It has been said that Third Rock looks for “Big Science” to invest in. As you look to the next 10 years out, what do you see now that has the capability to qualify as "big science?"

A: Well I guess a couple things. Certainly that’s true; we do look for big science. We also try to balance the portfolio. If you look at each year, we’re typically going to be involved in starting up let’s say five to seven companies. About half of those will be big science. So when we think about big science the things that we are very focused on these days is certainly this whole genetics and genomics revolution and how it’s going to affect personalized medicine – the right drug for the right person at the right time – that’s a huge focus of ours. Another major focus is this whole area of new drug modalities in that we’ve got areas such as peptides or natural products, gene therapy. We just started up a gene therapy company. We’re following the whole stem cell and regenerative medicine area very carefully. It’s not something we’ve invested in but we think that’s going to be a very important area for the future, so we’re following that very closely. And we have a major effort in biologics, so we look at the whole new protein engineering field for biologics, whether it’s peptides again or antibodies or engineered molecules of some kind on the biologics side. To balance that, when we think about the therapeutic areas side we have a lot of expertise in metabolic disease. Obesity is a major focus of ours certainly, based on what a horrific disease it is and how it’s affecting the world, but also oncology, neurodegeneration and rare genetic disorders.”

Q: At our Annual Meeting recently, George Whiteside was asked, "When is the right time to invest and start a company around a technology?” to which he replied, “When the science is done”. What do you consider the best positioned “scientific platforms” and when do you think the science will be done?

A: I’m sure George would agree with this – the science is never done. And I think it’s fair to say that most, or all the companies that we’re involved with or anybody involved in the science really is never done. I think when you start up a company, as we did with Millennium, the science wasn’t done certainly on the genomics and genetics side and it’s something that evolved. We got involved in a lot of other companies with polaric and transcription biology or others. Genentech—in the early days of Genentech, the science was just beginning to evolve with regard to cloning, and Genentech itself and many other major companies had to develop that science. So when we look at science we really look at areas where we think there’s been really major breakthroughs in biology, in academia where there’s outstanding people leading the field, where the publications are going up dramatically, which typically means that breakthroughs are occurring, and we also spend a lot of time with pharma and device and diagnostic companies and what is just starting to catch their interest. For us it’s a combination of when we see breakthrough science, it’s the publications, it’s great people, it’s us getting involved in it and thinking it’s really going to make a big difference for the patient. And then it’s also looking at the customers downstream, the pharma companies and big bio as an example, and seeing that they’re interested in it – that’s typically when we get involved.

Q: What are the biggest challenges to transforming big science into a usable platform that VCs and innovators start to form companies?

A; Well, the big challenges for us were always people. People make it happen. And again I think it goes back to the fact that really that from our standpoint when we get involved in something, the science – a lot of it’s been done but it’s evolving very rapidly. So when we bring this rapidly evolving science into a new company and we put in place an important vision and certainly a plan for the future, it really takes extraordinary people to make this happen. And I would argue that almost in all cases with important platforms it’s the people that make the difference, because even though you have an important breakthrough for the future, that breakthrough will go in many different directions because the science is really still evolving rapidly. And it takes people that can understand where that breakthrough should take you and where it should not, and building a balanced portfolio that allows you to be successful. Because if you started following just on one breakthrough in science and you follow that no matter what, most of the time you’ll be unsuccessful. So it’s the people and their ability to see where the science takes you.

Q: Unless you are a well- established investigator, there seems to be a real barrier between academia and industry, characterized by a dearth of capital that can be deployed at the very early stages. Why are VCs and Pharma hesitant to place a lot of small bets on interesting science (not big science) and see what sprouts?

A: Well, I guess there are a lot of reasons for that. The first reason is, as you probably know, almost everything fails in drug discovery today, and, everybody has different numbers, but if you look at, let’s say, if you’ve got a target in drug discovery today, the likelihood that that target will end up taking the product to market could be, you know, one in 50, one in 100. If you’ve got animal model data the odds might be one in 10 to one in 20 that you’ve got a product. So then if we take that back to even earlier than that where you have an early idea in academia, you can imagine the probability that that will ever end up being a product. So the probability in itself are something that everybody thinks about. Secondly, most of the early stage stuff or ideas in science or academia is just too early. You don’t have targets, you don’t have chemistry, you don’t have a biology around it, and people are looking as we talked about, as George said ‘when is the science done?’ or when do we think the science is evolved enough, most of the time it is just too early and you can’t afford to invest a lot of dollars around it. I guess lastly is a lot of venture groups I know now are funding projects in academia by putting $100,000 or $1 million and letting it develop for a year or two, to see if in fact it really brings science to fruition. We actually have done some of that. So I would say some groups are doing that and when they see an ideal project – a big part of it is, one, you shouldn’t do a lot of it because there’s very little of it that will ever be successful, at least from a product standpoint, and two – it’s a challenge in dealing with the technology transfer offices sometimes. I think the venture groups and technology transfer offices need to sit down and find the right formula for that, because when you invest so early, early before it’s even a company, then the value of that has to be seen appropriately by both groups and they need to come to a happy medium. And a lot of time those negotiations just don’t go on and then they fail. So that’s another big part of it.

Q: We’re seeing signs we’re pulling out of the recent economic downturn. Will venture capital come back in the way it existed prior to the downturn, or will we see a new model or direction?

A: Well, that’s a tough one. So I started in the pharma/biotech industry actually in the seventies, and I was at Genentech in the early eighties and venture in the late eighties and then off to Millennium, and I guess I’ve seen it go up and down many, many times, and every time it goes up and down everybody says ‘well this is a huge change.’ This change I think is probably a little different and that it has certainly affected pharma in a big way and there’s new healthcare initiatives that are going to affect pharma. Pharma’s restructuring, the venture industry and our limited partners are rethinking things, so I think it will be different, but I still think it’s going to be very aggressive going forward. If you look at pharma today, and what’s happening with regard to their patent estates going away, tens of billions of dollars worth of products are going away, they’re cutting back on discovery, and the venture groups for the most part are not funding early stage work. So I think what you’ll see over the next couple years is the venture groups coming back into earlier discovery just simply because the customer, pharma, is going to demand it more and more because they’re more focused on later stage efforts but yet at the same time they need to be able to build their pipelines. So I think you’ll see venture coming back very aggressively and I think you’ll see a lot of groups working on the early side again. Of course it’s going to depend on pharma and the IPO market coming back. But I’m very confident of it. We think it’s going to be very exciting for the future here. The other part of that which is driving this is science and medicine are better than ever. The whole genetics and genomics revolution is just exploding on the science side and that’s a real driver. So there’s a lot of great science out there to build important efforts around.

Mark Levin is co-founder and partner at Third Rock Ventures.

o2h continues its collaboration with senexis to support patent filing by senexis limited

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Executives from Senexis Limited (Cambridge,UK) signed an agreement with O2h (Ahmedabad, India) under which O2h will provide Senexis with chemistry services to support a patent filing on a novel chemical series that have shown potential in pre-clinical models, as disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dr. Mark Treherne, CEO of Senexis said that he appreciated O2h’s continual support over the last 4 years in being a reliable chemistry partner, providing flexible multi-FTE chemistry support to the company.

Dr David Scopes, CSO at Senexis said “We have had a long collaboration with O2h and are happy that it is supporting us to further our programs into the important stage of patent applications. Senexis is again leveraging O2h’s expertise on the synthetic chemistry methodology underpinning our lead compounds. “

Sunil Shah, CEO, O2h “We have an incredibly good relationship and I was very happy learn about the positive Senexis data from their pre-clinical studies which allowed the Wellcome Trust to continue supporting this programme.”

About Oxygen Healthcare Ltd
O2h is a 5 year old discovery services company co-located in Cambridge, UK and Ahmedabad, India. The Indian operations provide a high level of chemistry expertise while UK office provides project management support. Current clients of O2h include several top 20 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US, Europe and Japan. O2h adheres to the highest standards of performance with a particular emphasis on rapid interactive communications and delivery speed. Services provided by O2h include FTE-based synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, full services lab-units and ADME. Further information on O2h can be found at www.o2h.com.

O2h is a 5 year old discovery services company co-located in Cambridge, UK and Ahmedabad, India. The Indian operations provide a high level of chemistry expertise while UK office provides project management support. Current clients of O2h include several top 20 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US, Europe and Japan. O2h adheres to the highest standards of performance with a particular emphasis on rapid interactive communications and delivery speed. Services provided by O2h include FTE-based synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, full services lab-units and ADME. Further information on O2h can be found at www.o2h.com.

Virtify Addresses Global Disclosure Complexity for Life Sciences With New Software Release

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Virtify CTRR Enterprise 2.0 with XML Rules Injection™ Delivers U.S. Compliance Today, and a Platform for Rapidly Expanding Global Registries

Washington, D.C., from the DIA Annual Meeting – June 14, 2010 – Virtify, Inc. today announced the upcoming release of its new Clinical Trials Registration & Results software product, CTRR Enterprise 2.0, part of the Virtify Enterprise Content Compliance (ECC) software suite. CTRR Enterprise 2.0 is the first and only disclosure solution that automates compliance through dynamic, real-time validation of more than 5,200 built-in rules derived from www.clinicaltrials.gov, the FDAAA-mandated repository for clinical trials registration and results. In addition, CTRR Enterprise 2.0 is architected to support new PRS rules as well as new international registries – without custom coding or costly system redesign.

New laws and mandates in the U.S. and across the globe have dramatically increased public disclosure requirements for clinical trials and their results. In the U.S., mandated submissions to www.clinicaltrials.gov are bound by 2,700 unique rules regarding clinical trial registration and 2,500 additional rules for results postings; this totals 5,200 for the U.S. alone. Compounding the issue, many countries are also establishing registries with their own deadlines and rules including the European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) and others.

“Any life sciences company with a global presence is preparing for a veritable administrative nightmare to keep pace with the continually changing regulatory climate. The complex and numerous rules governing disclosure make it a daily struggle to comply in a timely, efficient and profitable manner,” said Satish Tadikonda, president and CEO of Virtify. “Virtify’s new CTRR Enterprise Edition will enable companies to maintain full and timely compliance with these ever-changing global mandates on a single, unified platform.”

Complicating this evolving regulatory environment is the submissions process itself. “Accurately inputting what could be thousands of data points for a single clinical trial result is virtually impossible, particularly when we must abide by rules that can change without notice,” said Shahid Ahmed, co-president of Nexus Pharmaceuticals and a Virtify customer. “This is a real issue for us, since timely and accurate submissions are critical for securing a first-to-market advantage. One inaccuracy can delay approval for months.”

Virtify’s CTRR Enterprise 2.0 is designed to address U.S. disclosure rules today and emerging global registries, including EudraCT in Europe as well as others in Germany, Croatia, Brazil, India and China. This critical capability is made possible through Virtify’s unique architecture and XML Rules Injection^TM technology which enables rapid alignment with new registries on top of a single code base – without modifying source code. By managing Global Disclosure from a single platform, life sciences organizations will be able to easily translate and reuse content, maintain cross-registry consistency, and keep costs and corporate risk in check.

Key features of Virtify’s CTRR Enterprise 2.0 include:

• A unified, state-of-the-art, web platform architected to meet U.S. disclosure today – as well as the growing list of new and emerging global registries

• XML Rules Injection for seamless, rapid alignment with emerging International registries and changes to the PRS system

• In-line Validation for real-time compliance with more than 5,200 business rules required by www.clinicaltrials.gov

• Parallel Review and Approval for real-time collaboration between mutliple authors and reviewers

• Open, extensible .NET architecture enabling integration with existing systems and databases

• Comprehensive professional services including software implementation, legacy data migration, SAS integration, regulatory & registry tracking, training and customer support

• Standard and custom reporting including audit trails

• Flexible delivery via SaaS or perpetual license

• 21 CFR Part 11 compliant

Virtify is exhibiting at the DIA Annual Meeting, June 13-17 in Washington D.C. Please visit the company at Booth 1527. Virtify CTRR Enterprise 2.0 will be available to customers in Q3 2010.

About Virtify

Virtify is the market leader in Enterprise Content Compliance (ECC) software solutions for life sciences. Organizations rely on Virtify solutions to reduce time-to-market, risk, and costs by managing and automating the complex regulatory compliance and content exchange requirements throughout the product life cycle. Virtify’s easy-to-use ECC software suite is the industry’s only solution to provide a secure, collaborative web-based environment for managing regulated content throughout the entire continuum – from pre-clinical through product registration to commercialization. The company plays a leadership role in the development of global regulatory standards and is an active participant in a variety of standards committees. Virtify’s software products combined with comprehensive professional services and deep domain expertise enhance quality and compliance for some of the world’s leading life sciences companies. Located on the Web at www.virtify.com

Nasrullah named Outstanding Asian American in Business

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Award recognizes entrepreneurs, corporate executives

Imran Nasrullah, MassBio’s Chief Business Officer, was named one of the 2010 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business by the Asian American Business Development Center.

Nasrullah accepted his award at a ceremony in New York on June 10^th. The annual event, now in its ninth year, is the only forum to highlight the achievements of Asian Americans across the United States. The awards recipients represent a microcosm of the best of Asian American business owners, professionals and corporate executives who are engaged in a wide range of business interests.

Nasrullah was nominated for the award by the Consulate General of Pakistan.

Hundreds of students and volunteers join statewide Biotechnology Job Shadow Day

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:26:00 EDT

350 Massachusetts students visit biotech companies for hands-on, real-life experience

More than 350 Massachusetts high school students will spend their day shadowing biotechnology professionals as part of the first-ever statewide Biotechnology Job Shadow Day.

Today's event, sponsored and organized by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio), is part of an ongoing effort to increase interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Biotechnology companies continue to choose to grow or locate to Massachusetts largely because of the talented workforce, however research conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute shows that the Commonwealth’s talent advantage in the industry could erode unless state government, employers and educators work together to maintain it.

“The future of the biotechnology industry in Massachusetts is dependent upon the presence of a qualified workforce,” said Lance Hartford, Executive Director of MassBioEd. “Activities like job shadowing or hands-on science labs are proven to pique students’ interest in STEM and often translate into an increase in students pursuing science in college and beyond.”

The job shadow event is the first statewide event held to draw attention to the growing partnership between the biotech industry and Massachusetts’ future workforce. Twelve biotechnology companies participated by pairing students with scientists for a day of on-the-job experience.

“Learning is a life-long practice. One should never stop discovering, asking ‘why’,” says Indu Javeri, Ph.D., CEO of Formatech. “We need to encourage and help develop this interest with today’s youth—as early as possible.”

“Millipore is pleased to provide opportunities to strengthen students’ interest in STEM and help strengthen the future biotech workforce in Massachusetts,” says Tara Duplaga, Millipore Corporate Giving & Community Affairs Manager. “We are excited to partner with MassBioEd on this important event.”

"We are pleased to welcome 60 students from Norton High School and Milton High School to EMD Serono," says Renee Connolly, Vice President of US Communications at EMD Serono. "In collaboration with the Mass Biotech Council, our goal is to expose them to the vast array of potential career opportunities available to them in the life sciences as they begin to make choices about their college direction and future. Our employees enjoy sharing their passion for their jobs, as well as the company's purpose of advancing scientific and medical knowledge, with the next generation of employees and future biopharma leaders."

Margarita Hunter, head of Marketing and Communications at Wolfe Laboratories commented, "The partnership between the biotech industry and Massachusetts’ future workforce is extremely important to Wolfe Laboratories, so we are thrilled to participate in the first-ever statewide Biotechnology Job Shadow Day. We will give Boston Latin students the opportunity to observe our world-class scientists developing breakthrough therapeutics that improve human health, to pique the students’ interest in the life sciences.”

The companies and schools participating are:

Abbott Labs (Worcester) Marlborough High School

Avecia (Milford) Bellingham High School

AstraZeneca (Waltham) King Philip Regional High School (Wrentham)

Bristol-Myers Squibb (Devens) Bellingham High School

Cubist Pharmaceuticals (Lexington) Lexington High School

EMD Serono (Rockland) Milton High School & Norton High School

Formatech, Inc. (Andover) Somerville High School

MicroTest (Agawam) Agawam High School

Millipore (Bedford) Nashoba Regional High School (Bolton)

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Natick High School & Fenway High School
Company (Cambridge)

Shire (Lexington) Brighton High School

Wolfe Laboratories (Watertown) Boston Latin

O2h to provide discovery support to Karyopharm therapeutics, INC.

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

O2h (Ahmedabad, India) is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc. (Newton, Massachusetts, USA) under which O2h will provide Karyopharm discovery services to advance Karyopharm’s lead small molecule program toward the nomination of a development candidate.

Dr. Sharon Shacham, cofounder and CSO of Karyopharm, said “O2h has an excellent reputation as an efficient and high quality discovery services provider. We look forward to working with the O2h team to further the progress of our first program as we continue to build our proprietary expertise developing drugs targeting the nuclear pore complex machinery.

Sunil Shah, CEO of O2h, said “It has been a pleasure working with Dr. Shacham as she is one of the most dynamic and focused drug discovery leaders that I have met. Leveraging Dr. Shacham’s proprietary and proven approach to drug discovery, I’m optimistic that Karyopharm will be a great success.”

About Oxygen Healthcare Ltd
O2h is a 5 year old discovery services company co-located in Cambridge, UK and Ahmedabad, India. The Indian operations provide a high level of chemistry expertise while the UK office provides project management support. Current clients of O2h include several top 20 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US, Europe and Japan. O2h adheres to the highest standards of performance with a particular emphasis on rapid interactive communications and delivery speed. Services provided by O2h include FTE-based synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, full services lab-units and ADME. Further information on O2h can be found at www.o2h.com.

About Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc.
Karyopharm is the first company to focus on discovering and developing therapies by targeting the nuclear pore complex machinery. The company is rapidly advancing small molecules that modulate the activity of critical pathways in cancer, viral and inflammatory diseases. IND enabling studies of its first program targeting CRM1 will begin this year. For more information please visit karyopharm.com.

30 days left to apply for the 2010 Life Sciences Tax incentive Program

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

There are just 30 days left for interested companies to apply for tax incentives under the Massachusetts Life Science Center's 2010 Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program.

Applications can be submitted on-line via the Life Science Center's web site, http://www.masslifesciences.com/taxincentive.html, with a deadline of July 2, 2010 at noon.

Last year the Center awarded $24.5 million in tax incentives to twenty-six life sciences companies, out of a pool of eighty-five applicants.The companies that received tax incentive awards in 2009 committed to creating more than 800 new jobs in the Commonwealth this year. The incentives went to companies both large and small, in numerous regions of the state.46% of the awardees had less than 100 employees.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative provides for nine different tax incentives, which address the significant capital expenditures associated with the life sciences R&D cycle and the high costs of translating research into commercially viable products.To qualify, companies must receive certification from the Center and must demonstrate both the scientific and economic merit of their expansion plans. The primary goal of the program is to incentivize life sciences companies to create new long-term jobs in Massachusetts.

You can learn more by:

Visiting the Life Science Center website.
Attending a public information session at the MLSC's offices in Waltham on June 10th at 8:30 a.m. To RSVP for the session, email arodricks@masslifesciences.com.
Contacting Peter Abair at MassBio at 617-674-5100 or peter.abair@massbio.org.

MassBio Investors Forum goes global!

Thu, 27 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The BioPharm America 2010/MassBio Investors Forum will be held on September 15-17 at the Copley Marriott in Boston, MA.

In partnership with BioPharm America, the MassBio Investors Forum will bring together companies from across the globe to partner and invest in Massachusetts most innovative companies.

MassBio and EBD Group will make this combined North America’s premiere partnering events -- creating a unique, high powered business exchange that unites the international life sciences community.

Robert Langer will provide the opening keynote remarks for this event and our panels will tackle the most critical issues facing the industry today, including:

Building a Sustainable Business in Biotech
Financing for Phase I/II Assets
Bridging the Valley of Death: Who will Finance Innovation?
Strategic Investments and Alliances: Is Corporate Venture Replacing Traditional Venture Capital?
(Global) Collaborative Business Models
Serial Entrepreneurs: What Makes Them Do It Again, and Again, and Again?
Driving Personalized Medicine: The New Business Model Among Rx, Dx, Medtech and Payors

Who should be there?

Biotech Companies—engage in private meetings, networking activities and company presentation opportunities with potential investors from around the world.

Pharma companies, disease foundations and venture capitalists—meet new potential partners, catch up on current relationships, and see company presentations featuring the best, most cutting-edge technologies.

BioPharm America 2010/MassBio Investors Forum promises to be a must-attend event where life science leaders engage in discussion and collaboration to take our industry through the next decade and beyond.

To register, visit http://www.ebdgroup.com/bpa/.

Aspiring Biotech Entrepreneurs Chosen for New Mentoring Program

Thu, 27 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

MassBio launches MassCONNECT, matches researchers with seasoned mentors to spur commercialization and new company creation

Eleven Massachusetts scientists and budding entrepreneurs have been chosen for a new mentoring program that pairs them with seasoned biotechnology professionals for evaluation and advice.

MassCONNECT, a program launched this week by MassBio, aims to enable everything from better licensing deals to new company start-up through individualized mentoring and industry networking.

“MassBio’s 2015 Report highlighted the disconnect between academia, where some of the great ideas live, and industry, which has the expertise to commercialize,” said Imran Nasrullah, Chief Business Officer at MassBio and the head of MassCONNECT. “We are thrilled to be able to convene a network of industry experts in order to help new entrepreneurs get their technologies or platforms off the ground.”

The applicants chosen for the first round of mentorship are:

Vincent Fusaro, Ph.D., Mark Boguski, M.D., Ph.D., Larry Istrail and Adam Marcus
Application: PhotoCalorie™ is a new Apple iPhone application that can be used for visual diet journaling. Simply by taking a picture of a meal or snack, and after entering a short description, PhotoCalorie will estimate the calorie and nutritional content of the snack or meal and produce daily summaries of the calories and nutrients consumed.

Adam Wolfberg, M.D., MPH
Application: Preview Diagnostics (www.previewdiagnostics.com) helps obstetricians, midwives, and family practice physicians improve the quality of prenatal care and prenatal diagnostic services they provide to their patients. Preview Diagnostics' software collects information from pregnant women through tablet- and web-based interfaces, provides interactive counseling about screening options for heritable conditions (such as Down syndrome), and applies decision-support algorithms to guide clinicians toward evidence-based care.

Adam Wolfberg, M.D., MPH, Gari Clifford, Ph.D., Jay Ward and Jim Robertson
Application: MindChild Medical Inc. is focused on making obstetric care safer and less expensive through the use of revolutionary fetal electrophysiological monitoring. MindChild’s Meridian monitor will enter the market in 2011 through the FDA 510(k) process. More reliable than Doppler ultrasound-based technology, and introducing the safety of ST-segment evaluation without the need for an invasive electrode, MindChild’s Meridian monitor will fundamentally change fetal evaluation. MindChild’s Meridian monitor will replace existing technology with a reliable, cost-effective, comfortable system for fetal heart rate and fetal ECG monitoring.

Fatemah Mojtabai, Ph.D.
Application: Novatarg is a pharmaceutical drug discovery and diagnostic company focused on developing specialized membrane protein targeted products that address significant unmet needs for a wide range of serious and debilitating diseases including cancer, cardiac disorders, diabetes, allergy, inflammation as well as Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative and central nervous system disorders. Novatarg will manufacture and commercialize membrane protein targeted therapies and companion molecular diagnostic devices.

Lisa Ganley-Leal, Ph.D. and John Connor, Ph.D.
Application: Epsilon Therapeutics was founded in October 2009 on the principle that understanding mechanisms for immunological homeostasis will lead to effective therapeutics not only to treat, but also to prevent, chronic inflammatory disease. Epsilon Therapeutics will harness the mechanisms used in cross-talk between the human immune system and parasitic worms to develop effective and safe treatments for chronic disease.

Each of the mentee groups will be paired with a team of 5-6 mentors with expertise that fits their need. The mentors and mentees will meet several times over the next two months to collaborate on a business plan for the proposed new technology or platform. The program culminates with mentee groups making their first pitch to a small group of venture capitalists and other possible investors.

Applications were reviewed by industry experts from various sectors of the biotechnology ecosystem, including representatives from venture capital, angel capital, and biotechnology and pharma business development. Screeners evaluated applications on a scale of "business readiness".

MassCONNECT is open to life sciences-based, pre-seed and seed stage opportunities arising from New England based laboratories. The venture must involve the development of a new products, services, applications, or process in the life sciences area. Typically, these will include new diagnostic tests, pre-clinical therapeutic molecules, platform technologies, and/ or instrumentation. The program is run with generous support from KPMG as a founding sponsor.

For more information, or to apply to be a mentor or mentee, visit http://www.massbio.org/membership/innovation_services/massconnect.

THANK YOU TO MassCONNECT SPONSORS!

KERRY: DEADLINE SET FOR SMALL LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES TO APPLY FOR INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

MassBio and Senator John Kerry today announced that the U.S. Treasury Department has released guidance and set a deadline for small life science companies to apply for the Therapeutic Tax Credit, which was championed by Kerry and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and passed as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Therapeutic Tax Credit creates a two year temporary tax credit for small life science businesses. The credit aims to encourage investments in new therapies to prevent, diagnose and treat acute and chronic diseases. Businesses with 250 employees or fewer are eligible to apply for this credit, but must act quickly. The U.S. Treasury Department, which was tasked with putting the program in place, announced that the application process for the credit begins on June 21 and closes on July 21, 2010, and applications will receive a determination no later than October 29, 2010. The overall cap is set at $1 billion nationwide.

“This tax credit will help Massachusetts companies create and sustain high-quality jobs in life, biological and medical sciences. Their work will give us greater resources to prevent and treat diseases and will help our life science companies compete in a rapidly expanding field. I strongly urge every company that’s eligible to apply for this credit and to contact me if we can be of any assistance,” said Senator Kerry.

“This new Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit, on which MassBio worked closely with Senator Kerry, could not come at a better time, nor could it be focused on a better target. This provides an appropriate opportunity for our small biotechnology companies to access much-needed capital to sustain their R&D programs. Due to the vision and commitment of leaders like Senator Kerry, this program has the potential to result in new treatments, new therapies, and life-saving cures for patients around the world,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio.

The company will be provided with a 50 percent credit for investments in "qualifying therapeutic discovery projects." The legislation defines a therapeutic discovery project as one that is designed to do one of three things:

Treat or prevent diseases or conditions by conducting pre-clinical activities, clinical trials and clinical studies, or carrying out research protocols for the purpose of securing federal government approval by the FDA.
Diagnose diseases or conditions or to determine molecular factors related to diseases or conditions by developing molecular diagnostics to guide therapeutic decisions.
Develop a product, process or technology to further the delivery or administration of therapeutics.

To reach FAQs, presentations and other resources on the program, visit http://www.massbio.org/public_policy/federal_issues/therapeutic_discovery_tax_credit_program.

House passes Co-Pay Assistance Legislation

Thu, 20 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation allowing Massachsuetts patients to use coupons, rebates and discount programs to help lower the cost of their prescription medications in a session yesterday.

The legislation (H4689, formerly H4320, also known as the Co-Pay Assistance or Coupon Bill) has been a MassBio legislative priority in this legislative session.

"In the current economy, it serves Massachusetts well to ensure all barriers to patient access (including one's out-of-pocket costs) are removed," MassBio President & CEO Bob Coughlin said in a letter hand-delivered to legislators just prior to the debate. "H4689 provides an important safety valve for patients who are struggling to afford the cost of the care they so desperately need."

MassBio will now turn attention to moving the legislation through the Senate.

Download the full text of the letter to legislators.

Now accepting applications for company presentations!

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

New in 2010-- the MassBio Investors Forum teams up with BioPharm America for company presentations.

Presenting companies will have access to an even larger and more global audience of potential investors, strategic partners and big pharma representatives.

Click here to submit an application to present.

Applications are due May 21, 2010. A panel of industry experts will select the presenting companies. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by mid-June.

EBD Group and MassBio Forge Alliance to Change the Face of Biotech Partnering in North America

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:04:00 EDT

CARLSBAD, Calif. & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EBD Group and MassBio today announced the formation of an alliance that creates the foundation for one of the largest and most productive partnering events in North America. Under this agreement, MassBio will fold its premier partnering conference, the MassBio Investors Forum, into EBD Group’s BioPharm America™ 2010 conference, to be held September 15–17 at the Marriott Boston Copley Place. As a result, BioPharm America continues its growth as an unrivalled business exchange in North American for the global life science industry, specifically designed to help companies raise capital, form in- or out-licensing agreements, and enter co-development deals. In addition to pulling together the large and active participation of the Massachusetts-based life science community, BioPharm America 2010 features partneringONE®, the industry’s most advanced partnering system, and a top notch program that includes the Defined Health Therapeutic Insight track. Working together, these powerful elements create a singular platform where companies can efficiently identify and meet with potential partners from across the biotech value chain, and gain the intelligence needed to make better decisions and better deals. “For most life sciences companies today, strategic partnering is a pre-requisite for long term success,” said John Maraganore, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. “The upcoming BioPharm America 2010 event aims to bring together the decision makers from across the biotech industry value chain to engage in one-to-one meetings and create the collaborations driving the industry forward.” Carola Schropp, President of EBD Group, said, “We are excited to work with MassBio towards building the most productive biotech partnering event in North America. We believe that working with allies like MassBio will put BioPharm America on a trajectory to match our European events, BIO-Europe and BIO-Europe Spring®, in both size and partnering activity.” EBD Group’s most recent event, BIO-Europe Spring 2010 in Barcelona, Spain, saw over 1,700 delegates from 1,061 companies engage in over 9,000 one-to-one meetings. Robert K. Coughlin, President and CEO at MassBio, said, “By folding the MassBio Investors Forum into the BioPharm America conference we are creating a unique, high powered business exchange that unites the international biotech partnering and financial communities. Boston is the crossroads of innovative biotechnology companies, top-tier venture capital, and big pharma research and development. This is a stellar combination that will help ensure that BioPharm America is the place where successful partnerships get started.” MassBio estimates that nearly 1,273 biotechnology drugs were being developed in Massachusetts in 2009, representing almost 8 percent of the global drug pipeline. In 2009, Massachusetts companies garnered more than 22 percent of all of the biotechnology venture capital funding in the United States. About MassBio http://www.massbio.org MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services. About EBD Group EBD Group is the leading partnering firm for the global life science industry. Since 1993, biotech, pharma and medical device companies have leveraged EBD Group’s partnering conferences, technology and services to identify business opportunities and develop strategic relationships essential to their success. EBD Group’s conferences are run with the support of leading corporations and international trade associations, and include: BIO-Europe and BIO-Europe Spring®, Europe’s largest life science partnering conferences, supported by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) BioPharm America™, the fastest growing partnering event in North America EuroMedtech™, EBD Group’s partnering event for the innovative medical technology industry BioEquity Europe, the investor conference co-organized with BioCentury Publications and BIO ChinaBio® Partnering Forum, the first dedicated biotech/pharma partnering conference in China, co-produced with ChinaBio® LLC Biotech Showcase™, a unique forum in San Francisco for presenting to investors and business development executives, co-produced with Demy-Colton Life Science Advisors EBD Group’s sophisticated web-based partnering service, partneringONE®, is used as the partnering engine at numerous third-party events around the world. Outside of the conference format, EBD Group’s consultants provide hands-on assistance for firms seeking to in- or out-license products and technologies. EBD Group has offices in the USA and Europe. For more information visit www.ebdgroup.com

IMARC AND MASSBIO LAUNCH NEW WEB SITE

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Upgraded tools, features benefit the Biotech community

iMarc LLC and The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio) announced today the launch of a newly designed web site, www.massbio.org.

MassBio and iMarc collaborated to develop a new website architecture and new design based on MassBio's new branding, using iMarc's powerful and flexible SiteManager content management system. The new site has:

New visual design and branding, including a promotional area on the homepage
Online member services
- Webcast and video of meetings
- Member Profile management
- Committee information
- Dues information
- Other company contacts
Member portal integration with MassBio’s CRM system
Sponsorship tools to enable MassBio to sell and manage sponsorship panels
Event Calendar Tool, which includes online event registration options
News and press room
Careers section for members and non-members to advertise life science related jobs

“With the completion of the final phase of the project, MassBio is now fully empowered to deliver member services and do more of their important outreach online” said Nils Menten, President of iMarc, “It’s been an excellent collaboration with the entire team at MassBio and we’re really excited to see the result of everyone’s hard work reflected in the increased activity on the web site”

“Not only has the new site shown us a 10 percent increase in traffic to the site since launch, it has also engaged 2,300 members who have created online profiles to register for a meeting, post a job or access members-only content,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio. “On the back end, the SiteManager tool and integration with our member database has made our member communications more efficient, saving us staff time and money.”

About iMarc LLC

Founded in 1997, iMarc LLC, is a privately held integrated web development and interactive marketing firm located in historic downtown Newburyport, MA. iMarc combines creative brand-building power with leading software development to create powerful, engaging web sites that combine creative design, leading technologies and rigorous optimization to build strong brands, and improve relationships with customers, employees and partners. iMarc has deep experience in Life Sciences, having produced sites for Cubist Pharmacueticals, Strem Chemicals and Harvard Clinical Research Institute, among others. For more information please go to www.imarc.net.

About MassBio

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, founded in 1985, is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. MassBio provides services and support to foster the biotechnology industry in Massachusetts and sustain our position as a world leader. There are more than 600 members in MassBio representing all facets of the industry. Our membership includes biotechnology companies, businesses related to the industry, major teaching hospitals and world-leading academic institutions. For more information please go to www.massbio.org.

New MassBio.org Features!

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

We've done it again-- we've upgraded www.MassBio.org to give you more features and even more great content!

MassBio members can post your own events on the online calendar!

Looking for lab space? Office space? Check out the new Real Estate section, complete with property listings!

Read more about the patients our members help in The Patients section.

We've also added an online membership application for new members, and the opportunity for non-members to post life science job listings for a fee.

We invite you to visit the new and improved www.MassBio.org, where you will find more to see and do.

Don't forget to register to get full access to the website!

By registering online, members can:

Watch live webcasts of committee meetings, or choose video on demand to watch when you have time.
Update your profile or contact information.
Manage your Committee membership and email subscriptions.
Post a job or internship opening at your organization.
Register for Committee meetings and other events.

Not registered on the new site? Visit http://www.massbio.org/members to sign up!

Forgot your password? Visit http://www.massbio.org/login/reset_password.

Gearing up for Bio 2010

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Listen to Bob Coughin, MassBio President & CEO, talk about what's on tap at the 2010 Bio Convention in Chicago!

Download the podcast here.

Couldn't make the Vendor Expo? See the industry's key vendors here!

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Couldn't make the Vendor Expo at the 2010 MassBio Annual Meeting? No worries.

Check out the products and services from the area's most exciting and cutting-edge vendors right here. Feel free to reach out to vendors directly for more information!

Absorption Systems	Mettler-Toledo
Acurian	Microfluidics
Airgas	Microtest Labs
Alert Scientific	Millipore
AMRI	MIT Professional Education
Anderson Packaging	Mouse Specifics
Ash Stevens, Inc.	Next Level Promotions
BD Biosciences	Novozymes
Bel-Art	OSM, Inc
Bingham	PCI Synthesis (PCI)
Biocair	pION INC
Boston Analytical	Piramal Healthcare Ltd
BrandTech Scientific	PriceSpective
Caliper Life Science	Quanticate
Cambridge Biomedical	Safety Partners
Clinquest	SBH Sciences
Corning	sciQuest
Emmanuel College	Seahorse Bio
Eppendorf	SourceOne
Essential Life Solutions	Synomics Pharma
Fisher Safety	Thermo Fisher Global Chemicals
Fisher Scientific Life Sciences	Thermo Fisher Scientific - Chromatography and Environmental Laboratory
GE Healthcare	Thermo LCD
Heidolph Instruments	Thermo LED
Huntingdon Life Sciences	Thermo Scientific Pierce Protein Research
iMarc	Thermo Scientific HyClone
Indigo Insurance	Thermo Scientific UV/Vis and Electrochemistry
Kimble Chase	Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University (TCSVM)
Lancaster Labs	UPS
L.E.K. Consulting	Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions
The Linde Group	W.B. Mason Company
Linguistic Systems, Inc.	Wheaton Science Products
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)	World Courier
Meridian Life Science

Absorption Systems is a contract research organization founded in 1996 by Patrick M. Dentinger and Ismael J. Hidalgo, Ph.D. Patrick, President and CEO, handles the business side of the company, while Ismael is the Chief Scientist, responsible for all things scientific. We help pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies decide which drugs to advance into clinical testing. Originally focused only on drug absorption (hence the name), in particular the Caco-2 cell model that Ismael pioneered along with Dr. Ron Borchardt, his postdoctoral advisor at the University of Kansas, Absorption Systems has since expanded its portfolio of services to include all aspects of the ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion) properties of small-molecule drugs. In addition to broadening its focus from A to ADME, Absorption Systems goes deep into each of those areas, offering in vitro, in situ and in vivo models to assess the properties in question. The scientific discipline of pharmacology can be conveniently divided into pharmacodynamics (the effects of a drug on the body) and pharmacokinetics (the effects of the body on a drug); our services are limited to the latter.

Richard Egolf
Business Development Manager
sales@absorption.com
www.absorption.com

Acurian is the leading provider of clinical trials patient recruitment solutions for the life sciences industry. The key to Acurian's success is the ability to work efficiently with sponsors, sites, and patients on recruitment, enrollment and trial management. Acurian has assisted more than 100 companies, recruited for more than 425 protocols in numerous therapeutics areas, and supported 4000+ investigator sites. Our patients have a higher enrollment rate because of our ability to identify, recruit, pre-screen and refer to sites only the most high-qualified patients. Acurian offers performance-based pricing, allowing us to share with customers the risk and motivation to succeed.

Leah Zilla
Account Director
508-685-8788
leah.zilla@acurian.com
www.acurian.com

Airgas provides a complete line of cryogenic solutions, high purity analytical gases, and precision blended gas mixtures, supported with the required handling equipment. Our technical, design, and safety expertise will meet your needs at a single research facility or at multiple manufacturing sites. We have the right solutions whether you're a new start up, existing group with a need to expand, or just looking to improve your enterprise's bottom line. Consistency and reliability make us the first choice in analytical, research and process operations. Give us a call to find out how we can help you with proven process and supply solutions.

Kevin Frazier
Account Manager
978-663-0222
Kevin.Frazier@Airgas.com
www.airgas.com

Alert Scientific provides specialized services to scientists, researchers, QA/QC managers, facilities mangers, and others who insist that their lab equipment and instrumentation functions at peak efficiency. Alert Scientific, an ISO-9001 certified company, provides factory authorized repair service, preventative maintenance and calibration service, and validation service in the form of temperature mapping and profiling, for many different types of lab equipment and instrumentation. With location in Boston, MA, East Hartford, CT, and Princeton, NJ, Alert Scientific is able to provide customers with both onsite service and emergency service that is available 24/7.

Nicholas Langione
Director of Business Development
781-828-4766
nicklangione@alertscientific.com
www.alertscientific.com

AMG - The all-in-one EVOS® digital inverted microscope is unlike any other - powerful yet easy-to-use, ergonomically designed and fully integrated. Its unique all-inclusive design features patented LED illumination technology (up to 4 channels) with exceptional output intensity, custom-engineered precision optics, a high-sensitivity digital camera, an integrated computer and imaging software, and a high-resolution 15-inch LCD display. All the features and component you can imagine precisely engineered and assembled into one powerful versatile unit - it's the future of microscopy.

Sam Solloum
425-368-0433
631-987-9300
sam.salloum@amgmicro.com
www.amgmicro.com

Founded in 1991 as Albany Molecular Research, Inc., AMRI (NASDAQ: AMRI) provides scientific services, products and technologies focused on improving the quality of life. The company has steadily evolved, with global facilities now in the United States, Europe and Asia. Its 1,300+ employees have the experience and commitment necessary to provide customers with a wide range of services, technologies and cost models. AMRI performs services including drug discovery, pharmaceutical development, and manufacturing of active ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates for many of the world's leading healthcare companies.

Steve Gagnier
Associate Director Business Development
518-512-2331
steve.gagnier@amriglobal.com
www.amriglobal.com

Anderson Packaging- AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group Company is a leading provider of global Clinical and Commercial Contract packaging services. Supporting i-iv development, we provide Clinical Trial services including Packaging, Storage and Distribution, Returns Management, as well as Laboratory Services. We support commercialization through contract packaging services featuring 8 state-of-the-art facilities totaling over 1 million square feet, conveniently located in Rockford, IL, just west of Chicago's O'Hare Airport. We offer automated packaging solutions supporting parenterals including vials and syringes labeling, transdermal pouch labeling, kit assembly, custom device assembly, blistering, pouching, bottling, and secondary packaging including walleting and child resistant compliance packaging solutions.

Justin Schroeder
Director, Marketing & Business Development
815-484-8973
jschroeder@andpkg.com
www.andersonpackaging.com

Ash Stevens, Inc. (ASI) is an established contract pharmaceutical manufacturer that offers comprehensive small-molecule drug development and cGMP manufacturing services. Services offered by Ash Stevens include; process development and scale-up, cGMP.manufacturing, the development and cGMP manufacture of highly potent APIs, comprehensive analytical capabilities (including method development, stability studies and qualification of reference standards) and regulatory support for all phases of drug development and manufacturing. Ash Stevens delivers on time and in budget.

James Hamby
V.P. Business Development
734-282-3370
jhamby@ashstevens.com
www.ashstevens.com

BD Biosciences is a world leader in bringing innovative clinical diagnostic and research tools to life scientists, clinical researchers, laboratory professionals, and clinicians who are involved in basic research, drug discovery and development, biopharmaceutical production, and disease management.Advancing the science and applications associated with cellular analysis, BD Biosciences products help isolate, grow, and analyze living cells and tissue to aid in drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and scientific investigation.

Stephanie Ventullo
District Manager
800.451.4557x1713
Stephanie_Ventullo@bd.com
www.bd.com

Bel-Art Products offers a broad range of racks, spinbars, bottles, wash bottles and a variety of unique items to help you in the laboratory. Ricca Chemical Company offers a wide variety of analytical standards and solutions along with a listing of USP/EP chemical solutions.

Gary Coia
Northeast Territory Mgr
gcoia@belart.com
www.belart.com

Bingham McCutchen is an international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 12 offices spanning the United States and abroad. Our Life Sciences Industry Group is one of the largest in the country. We represent numerous public and private biotechnology, medical device, pharmaceutical and healthcare services companies in a wide range of activities. We also represent investment banks, venture capitalists and other debt and equity providers investing in the life sciences sector. By leveraging our backgrounds in science education, the life sciences industry and the law with our particular understanding of intellectual property, corporate finance, commercial transactions, and litigation, we assist our clients to optimize the return on their investments in research and development.

Gail Sobha
Marketing and Business Development Manager
(617) 951-8607
gail.sobha@bingham.com
www.bingham.com

Biocair are a specialist logistics courier for the transportation of biotech, pharmaceutical and medical research material. Biocair is a global organization, with main offices in Cambridge, UK, Boston, USA and Osaka, Japan. We are able to transport material internationally and are particularly skilled in shipping in and out of the main biopharm clusters in UK, Europe, USA, Japan, China, India, Russia and South America. We specialize in giving up to date advice on classification and regulatory requirements of hazardous material. We apply the correct procedures, supply all packaging and documentation and fulfill every legal requirement, while planning the most efficient transport routes globally, including clinical trial logistics. We offer full temperature control including dry ice, refrigerated, ambient, warm and liquid nitrogen. Material can include infectious, toxic, biological, genetically modified and radioactive.

Kathy McKenna
Business Development Executive, East Coast
617-284-2103
kmm@biocair.com
www.biocair.com

Boston Analytical is a premier pharmaceutical testing laboratory providing high quality analytical testing services to Pharmaceutical and Bio-pharma product industries worldwide. Boston Analytical, an FDA registered and cGMP compliant contract testing laboratory with over 25 years of experience, remains dedicated to customer satisfaction and our ability to provide fast, accurate and timely analysis of products set for release and distribution. Our 15,000 square-foot facility provides a state-of-the-art environment that supports Boston Analytical's customers and their businesses. The services we currently offer are aimed at providing both technical and project management support as a compliment to our quality analytical testing.

Shannon Turner
Marketing Program Manager
508-258-3229
sturner@alphalab.com
www.bostonanalytical.com

BrandTech Scientific offers a complete line of laboratory tools and equipment for Life Sciences including: BRAND® liquid handling products; VACUUBRAND® oil free, vacuum pumps; VITLAB® plastic labware and BOCHEM stainless steel laboratory support jacks. Featured products include Transferpette® single, multichannel, manual and electronic pipettes; HandyStep® Repeating pipettes; accu-jet® pro motorized pipette controllers for cell/tissue culture; Dispensette III bottletop dispensers; PCR tubes, strips and plates; disposable UV-Cuvettes for DNA/RNA; BRANDplate multi-well plates available untreated and treated for immunology and cell culture applications; VITLAB® Class A Volumetric plastic labware; VACUUBRAND® BVC21 biofluid aspiration system.

Joseph Serra
Sales Representative
860-767-2562
jserra@brandtech.com
www.brandtech.com

Caliper Life Science - Display of Calipers Microfluidic Technology workstations:

Caliper LabChip XT - Isolate and collect DNA fragments instantly! The LabChip XT is the first automated solution for fast, accurate, and high resolution fractionation. The XT builds on the proven separation technology of the
LabChip GX and adds the ability to collect fractions for sequencing. Size resolution of +/- 5% for collections < 1kb, and ability to handle several micrograms of starting material. Applications include microRNA sequencing, transcriptome analysis, SNPs, and de novo sequencing.
Caliper LabChip GX/GXII Electrophoresis System Instrument analyzes DNA, RNA and Protein. A single sipper microfluidic chip aspirates samples directly from 96- or 384-well plates. The instrument optics detects samples by laser-induced fluorescence. System software automatically analyzes the data and provides sizing and quantitation using ladder and marker calibration standards. Digital data results are immediately available for review or reporting in virtual gel, electropherogram graph, or table summary.

Marsha Paul
Senior Sales Specialist-New England
508-497-3344
marsha.paul@caliperls.com
www.CaliperLS.com

Cambridge Biomedical is a specialized CRO that partners with pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical and medical device companies to assist in their clinical development efforts and clinical testing requirements. Our services include biomarker essays, clinical assay development, validation, specimen testing and kit manufacturing. We are CLIA certified, CAP accredited and GLP compliant.

Kyle F. Conley
Inventory Specialist
(617) 456.0700
kconley@cambridgebiomedical.com
www.cambridgebiomedical.com

Clinquest- Healthcare Product Development Service provider specializing in: pharmacovigilance services for investigational and marketed products, medical information, drug and medical device development consulting, clinical trial implementation, data management and biotstatics. There is an ever-increasing focus on safety and risk-assessment/management. For over a decade, Clinquest's well trained, experienced professionals have been providing clients with pre- and post-marketing drug and medical device safety and vigilance service for many different therapeutics. Clinquest offers a variety of Pharmacovigilance and medical Information services, and being local, offers the ability to directly integrate our professional staff into a company's existing teams.

John Naples
CFO
(978) 568-8880 x142
jnaples@clinquest.com
www.clinquest.com

As a leading developer, manufacturer and global supplier of scientific laboratory products for more than 90 years, Corning is the trusted partner of researchers seeking new approaches to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and compress timelines in the drug discovery process. Using our unique expertise in the combined fields of optics, materials science, surfaces, and biology, we provide a full range of innovative solutions that improve productivity and enable breakthrough discoveries. In addition to being a global leader in consumable glass and plastic laboratory tools for life science research, Corning continues to lead the way with the development and production of the Corning® Epic® System for label-free detection, the HYPERFlask ® Cell Culture Vessel for increased cell yields, and novel surfaces such as Ultra-Low Attachment, and the Corning® CellBIND® Surfaces for enhanced assay performance.

Amy Debroczy
District Manager
508-439-9220
debroczyae@corning.com
www.corning.com/lifesciences

Emmanuel College offers a graduate certificate and master's degree in Biopharmaceutical Leadership. Scientists working the biopharmaceutical industry require leadership and management skills that are often not part of their academic preparation. Through a rigorous curriculum jointly created by biopharmaceutical industry scientists and management experts, Emmanuel College responds to the unique needs of these scientists by providing opportunities to earn an academic, graduate-level credential and expand professional networks. The programs examine critical aspects of leadership, management and business in the biopharmaceutical industry and provide focused content in: project management tools and processes; aligning sciences and business; research in the global environment; intellectual property and the pharmaceutical regulatory approval process; leadership, organizational behavior and ethics.

Kathryn Mackintosh
Director of Employer Partnerships
617-735-9815
mackika@emmanuel.edu
www.emmanuel.edu

Eppendorf is a biotech company which develops, produces and distributes systems for use in life-science research laboratories worldwide. Its product range includes pipettes, dispensers and centrifuges as well as consumables such as micro test tubes and pipette tips. In addition, Eppendorf provides instruments and systems for cell manipulation, automated devices for liquid handling, complete equipment for DNA amplification and biochips. A series of complementary products manufactured by ourselves and other companies round off this product range.

Bill Albro
albro.w@eppendorf.com
www.eppendorf.com

Essential Life Solutions, Ltd has been serving the preparative and semi-preparative chromatography market since 1998. We offer a full range of HPLC and FPLC columns and hardware in glass and acrylic and stainless steel in diameters from 5mm (.196") Labscale up to 2 meter process columns; many are available for shipment from inventory. We are a Massachusetts based company and therefore able to service our customers better than our competition.

E. Daniel Yukon
President
617-894-0255
edyukon@essential-life.net
www.essential-life.net

Fisher Safety - Our commitment to safety is evident in our diverse portfolio of over 65,000 products from more then 1,000 of the world's leading manufacturers. This portfolio contains products for the laboratory, animal research, cleanrooms, industrial facilities as well as fire and preparedness. We are committed to developing supply chain planning and inventory management systems, continuing to expand our distribution centers and delivery systems, and upholding a state-of-the-art e-commerce Web site, www.fishersafety.com. Through the strength of our trusted suppliers, products, services and especially our employees, we will continue to strive to bring you quality products with the choice and convenience you expect from Fisher Safety.

Kristin Ford
978-417-9677
kristin.ford@thermofisher.com
www.fishersafety.com

Fisher Scientific Life Sciences

Grace.Bruning@fishersci.com
www.fishersci.com

GE Healthcare - A world leader research supplier for protein separations, genomics, proteomics, bioassays, informatics, cellular analysis, gene expression, genetic sequencing, nucleic acid analysis, and spectrophotometry.

Danielle Morin
617.543.5083
danielle.morin@ge.com
www.gelifesciences.com/trynanovue

Heidolph Instruments, founded in 1938 as a manufacturer of precision drive motors and engineering, is a manufacturer of High Quality laboratory equipment, specializing in rotary evaporation, shakers, overhead stirrers, peristaltic pumps, and magnetic hotplate stirrers. Heidolph Brinkmann was formed as our North American headquarters and includes exclusive partnerships for Tuttnauer^TM autoclave sterilizers, Radleys^TM synthesis solutions, and AirClean^TM laboratory ventilation solutions. Our Chicago area office provides National Customer Service, Product Repair, Technical Support, Warehousing, and Field Sales Management. We make research easy.

Michael Ward
Sales Specialist - New England
224-265-9600
mward@heidolph.com
www.heidolph.com

Huntingdon Life Sciences' goal is to provide a comprehensive range of integrated development services which are recognized to be of superior value by our customers in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, chemical, crop protection, veterinary and food industries; to do so by enhancing regulatory acceptance, speed to market and return on investment of their products.

Melanie Hann
508-826-2990
HannM@Princeton.Huntingdon.com
www.huntingdon.com

iMarc provides web strategy, branding, marketing, design and development for discerning clients in the life sciences, healthcare, financial, high tech, professional services and non-profit spaces. Our award-winning websites feature easy to use content management systems, great design, expert service and support, backed by comprehensive hosting and maintenance plans. We use standards compliant, open-source web technologies that do not require ongoing license or maintenance fees. Founed in 1997, we've completed hundreds of successful projects for clients across the US and Europe, including Cubist Pharmaceuticals, MassBio, Peptimmune, Motorola, Strem Chemicals and more!

Kim Jackson
Business Development
978-462-8848
kim@imarc.net
www.imarc.net

At Indigo Insurance, we believe that employees' needs are unique and that their insurance coverage should be too. Our options help employees become prepared for life's unexpected events. That gives the employees peace of mind, and provides business owners with comprehensive benefits that set them apart from the competition. We offer life and disability plans that are flexible, attractive, and affordable-plans supported by excellent customer service, fast claims payments, and the financial strength of an industry leader.

Crystal Holmes
Ancillary Sales Consultant
(617) 246-8239
crystal.holmes@bcbsma.com
www.indigo-insurance.com

Kimble Chase is your global resource for scientific laboratory glassware. Our wide selection of quality products for chemistry, life sciences, chromatography, environmental science and educational are now manufactured in seven, strategically located facilities in order to bring you the best products and services.

Peter Kephart
District Manager
603-821-1315
p.kephart@kimble-chase.com
www.kimble-chase.com

Lancaster Labs is the trusted leader in innovative biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical scientific solutions. LL partners with clients from lab services to monthly reports to 24-hr online data access. Harmonized services at US and Ireland sites and FTE and Professional Scientific Staffing options enable global clients to better manager drug development processes.

Suzanne Bizot
sbizot@lancasterlabs.com
www.lancasterlabspharm.com

L.E.K. Consulting is a global strategy consulting firm that specializes in corporate strategy, transaction services, and performance improvement. Founded in 1983, L.E.K. currently employs more than 850 professionals in 20 offices worldwide. Global clients include Fortune 500, FTSE 100, Eurotop 300, and many of the largest firms in Asia-Pacific. With a reputation for solving the most complex issues, L.E.K. collaborates with business leaders to accelerate the pace and precision of strategic decision-making.

Alex Wallace
Marketing Communications Manager
617.951.9507
A.Wallace@lek.com
www.lek.com

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

Chuck Tower
Account Manager
781-258-1093
chuck.tower@linde.com
www.linde.com

Since 1967, Linguistic Systems, Inc. (LSI) has had one single mission - resolving clients' language translation needs by providing a customized strategy that helps our clients efficiently accomplish both short and long-term objectives. By successfully delivering on the promise, LSI has grown to be one of the largest Total Language Service Solution Provider companies in the United States. LSI has provided translation services to over half of the Fortune 500 companies and most of the Fortune 100. LSI has a talent pool of more than 4,000 translators who translate into their native languages. These translation experts include highly trained lawyers, 'scientists, engineers, and other bilingual professionals. We have translated into more than 115 languages.

Bill Lawson
Director of Marketing
(617) 528-7435
wlawson@linguist.com
www.linguist.com

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a ten-year, $1 billion initiative that was signed into law in June of 2008. The Center's mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and commercialization as well as building ties between sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community.

Andrea Rodricks
617-921-7749
arodricks@masslifesciences.com
www.masslifesciences.com

Meridian Life Science is a leading manufacturer and supplier of antibodies, viral antigens and critical assay reagents. We provide contract biologic R&D and manufacturing services to the diagnostic manufacturers along with cGMP biologics manufacturing for the biopharmaceutical market. We have been providing innovative life science solutions and building trusted partnerships for over 25 years. Our focus is to offer products and services that help to advance the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Contract manufacturing of proteins and other biologicals for biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in research for new drugs and vaccines is an example of significant new product applications built from Meridian Life Science's existing expertise in manufacturing bulk antigens and reagents using cell culture techniques. This business focuses on cGMP contract manufacturing of materials that will be used in Phase I and II clinical trials.

Shirley Torrence
513.271.3700 ext. 259
Shirley.Torrence@meridianbioscience.com
www.meridianbioscience.com

Mettler-Toledo -Weighing instrumentation including precision balances, analytical balances, and microbalances. Electrochemistry products including pH and conductivity meters/probes. Quantos automated powder dosing system.

Robb DeCosta
781-812-7464
robert.decosta@mt.com
www.us.mt.com

Microfluidics: From the gentle disruption of cultured cells for virus isolation to the challenging disruption of yeast cells, Microfluidizer processors meet the variable and demanding needs for cell disruption. The Microfluidics technology provides exacting process control, thus permitting highly reproducible results. It delivers more effective cell breakage and higher disruption efficiencies than any other means while keeping temperatures under precise control to prevent denaturing. Microfluidizer processors work effectively with a wide range of biotechnology applications including yeast, mold, E.Coli, penicillium, algae, meningococcal cells, mammalian cells, bateria, fungi and insect cells.

Kris Sarajian
Senior Marketing Manager
617-969-5452 x233
ksarajian@mfics.com
www.microfluidicscorp.com

Microtest Labs is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Founded in 1984, the company's expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, speed time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. Microtest's unique single-source capability to provide testing and manufacturing solutions allows the company to support a full pharmaceutical or medical device product release. For example, we can integrate fill-finish production with stability and testing services for a complete solution that lowers cost, improves quality, and accelerates time to revenue.

Joseph T. McGranaghan
Director, Sales & Marketing
413-786-1689
jmcgranaghan@microtestlabs.com
www.microtestlabs.com

Millipore has products that support research in the areas of cell biology, stem cell biology, protein research, cell signaling, drug discovery and development. New products include the SNAP iD Protein Detection System for Western Blotting and the Scepter Automated Hand-Held Cell Counter which is the first of its kind. Information will also be available on our latest Laboratory Water Systems.

Karen Chaput
603-930-5921
Karen_chaput@millipore.com
www.millipore.com

MIT Professional Education is the gateway to lifelong learning from MIT's renowned faculty, whether in a Cambridge classroom or at your company site. MIT Professional Education programs can place you in regular MIT academic courses or in industry-focused short courses. Individuals can build skills to reenter their professional fields and companies can benefit from custom programs designed to meet their specific business needs. MIT Professional Education brings MIT to the world.

Tavish Baker
Marketing Manager
617.258.8831
Tavish@mit.edu
http://professionaleducation.mit.edu

Mouse Specifics provides innovative life sciences instrumentation for in vivo study of animal models of human diseases, emphasizing non-invasive testing. MSI's DigiGait Imaging System, the "gold standard" for gait analysis, identifies and quantifies motor dysfunction in animal models of pain and neurodegenerative disease. The ECGenie records electrocardiograms at baseline and after novel therapeutics, without anesthetic, surgery, or implants. Applications include arrhythmia detection, health monitoring, and drug effects in genetically modified animals as young as 1-day old. These elegant solutions for functional metrics in preclinical animal models are advancing the understanding and treatment of diseases.

Thomas Hampton, PhD
CFO
617-821-6687
hampton@mousespecifics.com
www.MouseSpecifics.com

Next Level Promotions is a promotional marketing agency. We use branded promotional items to help our clients gain visibility and keep their name and message in front of their clients, prospects and employees. We have strong expertise in the area of promotional items which are compliant with the PhRMA and AdvaMed codes of conduct."

Gail Paul
Managing Partner
(781) 933-4660
gpaul@wesellvisibility.com
www.wesellvisibility.com

Novozymes offers recombinant human albumin (recumbumin and albucult) and recombinant hyaluronic acid (Hyacare) which are used in drug manufacturing for half-life extension, drug targeting and as micro and nanoparticles for drug delivery. In formulation, these products ensure stability and solubility of biotherapeutics; and for medical devices, they improve biocompatibility of artificial surfaces, reduce pressure drop in coated devices and formation of matrices in wound healing products. Albufuse provides a molecular fusion of albumin to protein drug candidates for improved half-life and bioavailability. Novozymes S. cerevisiae based expression system is the proven choice for high yielding, animal-free protein production.

Anne Moschella
603-463-7376
amml@novozymes.com
www.novozymes.com

OSM, Inc is committed to bringing natural and environmentally preferred products ot the global marketplace. We offer highly effective, biodegradable cleanres, hand sanitizers and horticultural products that will complement any "green" initiative program. Many of our products are USDA BioPreferred designated. We will be exhibiting our products at the EXPO.

Chris McEvoy
Sales Representative
chris@osm-inc.com
www.osm-inc.com

PCI Synthesis (PCI) is a custom chemical manufacturer of new chemical entities (NCE's), generic API's, and other specialty chemical products. PCI operates two facilities in the greater Boston area. The company's headquarter and cGMP manufacturing facility is located in Newburyport, MA while its small scale manufacturing and R&D facility is located in Devens, MA. PCI offers a turnkey solution for all the steps needed to develop a final API including: process research, process development, analytical method development and validation, process validation, stability studies, regulatory support, and FDA filing.

Melissa T. Huang
Director, Business Development
617-910-8374
Melissa.Huang@pcisynthesis.com
www.pcisynthesis.com

pION INC offers a range of instruments and Biopharma analytical services that improve lead generation, optimization and selection. All of our solutions include API-sparing techniques designed to measure and predict the critical physicochemical properties of target molecules.Determination and predication of solubility, dissolution, permeability is pION's core business.

Dana Lipp
Product Specialist
781-935- 8939
dlipp@pion-inc.com
www.pion-inc.com

Piramal Healthcare Ltd, a Piramal Group company, is a globally integrated healthcare company that fulfills unmet medical needs across the world. It has a growth track record of above 29% CAGR since 1988. Piramal Healthcare had consolidated revenues of US$ 656 million in FY2009. PHL is currently ranked 4th in the Indian market with a diverse product portfolio spanning several therapeutic areas. It is also one of the largest custom manufacturing companies with a global footprint of assets across North America, Europe and Asia. At Piramal Healthcare, our core values of Knowledge, Action and Care propel us to improve the quality of lives by democratizing healthcare. We aim to attain leadership in market share, innovation and profits by: Partnering the medical fraternity; Building strong capabilities to deliver product and process innovations; Attracting and developing the best in class talent.

Jason Lowden
Manager - Business Development
(905) 727 9417
jason.lowden@piramal.com
www.piramal.com

PriceSpective is a global value strategy consultancy specializing in innovative strategies to identify, capture and communicate value for companies in the biopharmaceutical arena. We are uniquely positioned to deliver expert guidance in integrated global pricing, reimbursement and market access strategy, and business development and licensing due diligence by leveraging our depth of experience and the active engagement of our senior leadership. Of particular interest to MassBio members is our ability to rapidly execute projects that generate credible commercial value assumptions across multiple markets based on primary research to support your partnering efforts.

Dan Ross
Director
858-997-6358
dross@pricespective.com
www.pricespective.com

Quanticate, with headquarters in London and Boston, is a specialist biometrics company with full service clinical trial capabilities. Quanticate delivers scalable on-site and off-site data management, statistical programming and analysis, medical writing and pharmacovigilance services. Additionally, Quanticate provides strategic resourcing solutions through a recruitment team combined with Quanticate people. With resources spanning three continents, Quanticate is renowned for its dedication to clients, world-class service and superior results. Working closely with biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, Quanticate prides itself in being a seamless extension of its customers' internal teams offering the flexibility to adapt to any technology environment EDC and ePRO.

Andrew MacGarvey
President, US Operations
857-998-6860
andrew.macgarvey@quanticate.com
www.quanticate.com

Safety Partners is an EHS (Environmental, Occupational, Health and Safety) company providing consulting services to the life sciences and high tech communities. We offer a comprehensive list of services including permit/license applications with follow through reporting and documentation; EHS design for facility expansion; tailored EHS required manuals and detailed implementation for biohazards, chemicals, radiation hazards, lasers, respirators, machine shops, animal facilities; Job Safety Analysis for hazardous materials and processes; emergency preparedness; new employee and annual safety training; decommissioning and ergonomics. Safety Partners' staff includes Consulting Safety Officers, Certified Industrial Hygienists, Certified Biosafety Professionals and Radiation Physicists.

Denise Aronson
President
781-718-5330
daronson@safetypartnersinc.com
www.safetypartnersinc.com

SBH Sciences is a well-established, profitable, and expanding Biotechnology Service Provider company. We provide comprehensive preclinical process development services to the biopharmaceutical, diagnostics and biotechnology industries including cell culture (mammalian and insect cell), protein purification, cell-based assays, ELISA Development Kit, Multiplex Analysis, Cell Labeling and PEGylation services. Our array of cytokine bioassay service is the most comprehensive in the US and includes over two hundred bioassays that can accelerate discovery and biopharma development programs. Moreover, our proprietary processes have achieved commercial production of thirty monoclonal antibodies and over twenty-four highly purified recombinant cytokines, currently sold to the scientific community worldwide. A few of our most popular products include: Activin A, BMP-7, HGF, human and murine Interleukin 12 (IL-12) and TGF-b1. SBH Sciences is also offering many in vitro Cytotoxicity Testing using normal, cancerous or primary cells to determine anti-cancer (toxicity) activity. These pre-clinical models are added value to traditional animal-based toxicity testing.

Raphael Nir
President
508-650-6218 x214
rnir@sbhsciences.com
www.sbhsciences.com

sciQuest's procurement automation and supplier enablement solutions empower leading organizations to realize the potential of strategic procurement. The company's specialized knowledge, on-demand software, and service-first approach enable public and private enterprises across the global to manage spend, drive ROI, and advance their critical missions. sciQuest's deep understanding of its served vertical markets combine with a broad supplier network and intuitive, online shopping experience increase user and contract adoptions while improving operational efficiencies. Through software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment, organizations can quickly implement the right eprocurement solution to augment existing ERP investments or fully enable all aspects of purchasing from sourcing to settlement.

Stephanie Blackwood
Events Specialist
(919) 659-2239
sblackwood@sciQuest.com
www.sciQuest.com

Seahorse Bio's instruments are the new standard in cell-based metabolic assays and process development. The award-winning Seahorse XF Analyzer measures cellular bioenergetics -the processes by which cells produce and consume energy- critical to drug discovery programs in cancer; aging, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders plus safety toxicity studies. The SimCell system incubates, agitates, analyzes, feeds, pH balances and samples up to 1200 micro-bioreactors over 14 days. The novel Bioreactor Cards -microplate-sized disposables containing six 700uL culture chambers, mimic bench-scale bioreactors. The SimCell speeds optimization of biologic drug manufacturing for clone selection, media optimization and determining optimum process conditions.

Cynthia Egan
Marketing Manager
978-671-1610
cegan@seahorsebio.com
www.seahorsebio.com

SourceOne is a unique company that will serve as your private utility who will help you sort out fact from fiction when it comes to energy. SourceOne offers strategic advice and secures solutions for your power needs.

Kevin Burchill
Sr. Business Development Manager
617-399-6126
kburchill@s1inc.com
www.s1inc.com

Synomics Pharma, a Smithers Group company, provides bioanalytical, stability, product chemistry, and analytical testing services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer healthcare industries. Synomics Pharma delivers a broad portfolio of services, including formulations, in support of drug development through production, and works with clients to develop focused solutions to their complex issues. As a leading global Contract Research Organization (CRO), Synomics Pharma specializes in customized, full-service compliance solutions. Based in Wareham, Mass, Synomics maintains the highest standards of regulatory compliance, and the company's quality management system has been globally recognized by authorities as an industry benchmark.

Hope Aubin
508 295-2550
Haubin@smithersmail.com
www.smithers.com

Thermo Fisher Global Chemicals Division -Thermo Fisher Global Chemicals Division represents 4 well-known brands: Fisher Chemical, Fisher Bioreagents, Acros Organics and Maybridge. We will feature a comprehensive portfolio of chemicals and reagents from bench scale, to pilot, to production. The products to be highlighted are the new line of LC-MS solvents and reagents, extra dry chemicals in the new Acroseal packaging and the extensive line of Bioreagents for life science applications.

Mark Silva
774-312-3632
Mark.Silva@thermofisher.com

Thermo Fisher Scientific - Chromatography and Environmental Laboratory Consumables - (Hypersil Gold LC columns, Trace Gold GC columns, National Scientific vials/caps/syringes/filters/web-seal, Sun-Sri vials/caps, I-Chem certified vials/bottles/containers, EP Scientific Critical Environment, Pierce chromatography reagents/reacti-therm units)

Ed Papcoda
203-213-5995
edward.papacoda@thermofisher.com
www.thermo.com

Thermo LCD

Kenny Drew
Kenny.Drew@thermo.com

Gary Messina Gary.Messina@nalgenunc.com

www.thermo.com

Thermo LED

Moira Maloney
moira.maloney@thermo.com

www.thermo.com

Thermo Scientific Pierce Protein Research Products include kits and reagents for sample preparation; protein detection and quantitation, purification, interaction, and function studies; and custom antibody and peptide services. Pierce Human in vitro Protein Expression Kits, protein assays, electrophoresis and Western blotting products are essentials tools for efficient life science research.

Stephen Geary
stephen.geary@fisherbiosci.com
www.fisherbiosci.com

Thermo Scientific HyClone Products - High quality Fetal Bovine Serum, Classical and Serum Free Media, BioProcessing Containers, Cell Culture Reagents, Custom Media and Buffer formulation services

Cathy Riney
978-502-9805
cathy.riney@thermofisher.com

Thermo Scientific UV/Vis and Electrochemistry - UV/Vis Spectrophotometers and Spectrofluorometers; from cuvettes based models to the NanoDrop. Accumet and Orion - pH, conductivity and dissolved Oxygen meters, electrodes and accessories.

Brenda Tierney
617-694-9071
brenda.tierney@thermofisher.com

Founded in 1978, the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University (TCSVM) is the only veterinary school in the six-state New England region. The school's pioneering academic programs, high-quality clinical care services and original research have brought Tufts University national and worldwide acclaim. Research is central to the work of Tufts University and is at the very heart of academic life. The Cummings School is recognized for faculty contributions to: the study of zoonotic infectious diseases, research in reproductive neurosciences, hepatic and gastrointestinal diseases, pulmonary diseases and nutrition, participatory disease surveillance and community-based disease control to fight against avian influenza in Indonesia,sustainable animal agriculture, wildlife conservation and public health.

Gail Zamarchi
508-877-4736
gail.zamarchi@tufts.edu
www.tufts.edu/vet/research

Founded in 1907 as a messenger company in the United States, UPS has grown into a $49.7 billion corporation by clearly focusing on the goal of enabling commerce around the globe. Today, UPS is a global company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in the world. UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. UPS manages the flow of goods, funds, and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Kathleen Norton
Area Sales Manager
877-593-1053x3336
knorton@ups.com
www.ups.com

Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions provides a complete range of services for customers needing disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous and industrial waste. Our nationwide network of service, treatment and disposal facilities can provide you with solvent recycling, incineration, laboratory chemical packaging, electronics recycling, fuels blending and on-site services. Our mission statement is 'We deliver preferred solutions that protect people and improve the environment'. Our goal is that by doing this everyday we will achieve our vision, 'To be the company trusted by all to protect and improve the environment'.

Gerry Beland
District Sales Manager
(508) 804-4805
Gerry.Beland@veoliaes.com
www.veoliaes.com

Founded in 1898 by William Betts Mason, W.B. Mason Company has grown to become the largest privately owned and family operated office supply company in the United States. Today, W.B. Mason Company operates in 11 states servicing 120,000 customers providing them dynamic customized solutions. W.B. Mason offers customers a comprehensive line of office products, environments, furniture, extensive coffee service programs and custom printing. Free Same-Day and Next-Day deliveries are made on a large fleet of W.B.Mason trucks by dedicated uniformed drivers. Local support by Customer Service and Sales Representatives insures quick and effective service when required.

Jason Hartley
Account Executive
508-958-0491
jason.hartley@WBMASON.COM
www.wbmason.com

Wheaton Science Products is a fully integrated business offering a large product portfolio of consumable and leading-edge products and services. Our products include bar coded high recovery storage vials, chromatography vials, bar coded cryo vials, glass and plastic bottles, precision pipettes, cell culture equipment, and customized packaging. Our products are used in the initial stages of R&D and later in full scale production. As a global company, we represent our business by selling our products through a worldwide distributor network.

Al Lancto
Regional Manager
603-897-5705
al.lancto@wheaton.com
www.wheatonsci.com

\World Courier is your partner in Clinical Trials Logistic and management with over 7500 successful trials completed throughout the world. Since 1969 we have been setting the gold standard in reliability and quality in the scientific community. As cold chain shipments excursions face increased scrutiny from regulators around the world, it is more important than ever before to get it right the first time. World Courier is the sole truly global premium logistics provider to offer a cold chain transport service. World Courier is the one company relied upon for shipments requiring the utmost in speed and care. For the special demands of the Medical, HighTech, and Automotive industries we provide the highest level of service.

Tim Redmond
Director, Regional Accounts
(978) 623-3331
tredmond@worldcourier.com
www.worldcourier.com

MassBio Investors Forum to be held in conjunction with BioPharm America 2010

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Save the Date!

MassBio is partnering with the EBD to put on this year's Investors Forum in conjunction with BioPharm America 2010.

September 15-17, 2010
Boston, MA

BioPharm America^TM is where biotech industry partnerships get started. Meet face-to-face with biotech and pharma executives from around the world to identify and enter strategic relationships. Equipped with partneringONE^®, the world's leading web-based partnering system for the life science industry, BioPharm America is the only event in North America based on the same reputable formula as EBD Group's acclaimed European events BIO-Europe and BIO-Europe Spring^®.

Stay tuned to www.massbio.org for more information!

MassBioEd names Bellingham High School as "Innovative School of the Year"

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Foundation will recognize local high school at MassBio's annual meeting

March 23, 2010 (CAMBRIDGE, MA) - The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education (MassBioEd) Foundation today announced it will honor Bellingham High School as its "Innovative School of the Year."

MassBioEd will recognize Bellingham High's first-rate biotechnology education program at a luncheon at MassBio's Annual Meeting on March 31^st at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.

"Bellingham High School has set an excellent example for local schools looking to strengthen the presence of biotech education in the classroom by actively participating in initiatives such as BioTeach and the Life Science Career Development Program," said Lance Hartford, Executive Director of MassBioEd. "Through building teams of teachers, guidance staff and administrators that work with life science business and higher education partners, Bellingham High has shown its dedication to enriching its students' exposure to the biotech field."

Other ways Bellingham High has enhanced its outreach to students through biotech education include developing co-curricular and informal learning models to enhance students' classroom experiences and providing two levels of extra curricular opportunities to students while extending the program intervention from one year to two or more years of activities.

Bellingham High also developed a strategic plan for institutionalizing career development work in their schools' science classes and guidance programs.

Representing Bellingham High at the luncheon will be Principal Edward Fleury, Guidance Head Peter Marano, Guidance Counselor Dr. Janice Chiappone , science teacher Forest Henderson, and students Kahley Gerrior and Jacqueline Bousquet

This is the first time MassBioEd will recognize a local school for its achievements in incorporating biotech education into its science curriculum.

###

About the MassBioEd Foundation
http://www.massbioed.org

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd), founded in 2001, is a nonprofit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning. Serving as a link between education, industry, and government, MassBioEd is working to ensure Massachusetts' biotechnology sector, has an appropriately trained work force to meet the growing employment needs. MassBioEd's BioTeach program provides professional development to over 500 teachers in their biotechnology curricula and provides grants and lab equipment to 179 schools across the Commonwealth. In addition, MassBioEd's BioTech Learning Center offers professional development courses for employees in the biotech sector to advance their professional skills.

MassBio Announces New Collaboration with UPS

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council today announced its collaboration with the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, UPS.

UPS was chosen as a Primary Supplier in the MassBio Purchasing Consortium to provide MassBio member companies with access to national carrier shipping at discounted rates.

"In this economy, we know MassBio members are looking for ways to cut operating costs so they can focus on funding the live saving research they're doing every day," said Robert K. Coughlin, MassBio President & CEO. "This new partnership will show member clear savings while providing best-in-class customer service."

The MassBio Purchasing Consortium leverages the power of the collective membership to negotiate contracts with vendors that save member companies significant amounts of money. Current consortium contracts include bulk gases, packaged cylinder gases, chemical and biomedical waste removal, lab supplies, office supplies, lab equipment maintenance, travel services, life & disability benefits and energy & natural gas procurement.

For more information, click here.

Cubist President and CEO Michael Bonney Named MassBio Innovative Leadership Award Recipient

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

LISTEN TO MIKE BONNEY'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Commitment to industry, growth, participation in Massachusetts cited in announcement

March 15, 2010 (CAMBRIDGE, MA) - Michael Bonney, President & CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, has been chosen for this year's MassBio Innovative Leadership Award, the association announced today.

The award, which recognizes Bonney's leadership and commitment to the Massachusetts biotechnology supercluster, will be given at a luncheon at MassBio's Annual Meeting on March 31^st at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.

"Mike has been truly committed to supporting each and every aspect of the biotechnology ecosystem here in Massachusetts," said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio. "From his work in STEM education and workforce development, to his passion for policy and advocacy, Mike is a shining example of the values behind the biotechnology industry."

To be considered for the MassBio Innovative Leadership Award, an individual must represent a company that has a strong presence in and commitment to growing in Massachusetts, have demonstrated leadership on issues of patient advocacy and must participate in community affairs and have made a contribution to the public policy dialogue.

Other criteria include support of community-based organizations and educational efforts like the MassBioEd Foundation. Finally, candidates must exhibit exemplary leadership to employees and families by creating a positive work environment.

This is the second year MassBio will present the award. The first recipient was Fereydoun Firouz, EMD Serono's President & CEO.

We want YOU for the MassBio Patient Advocacy Task Force

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

The new MassBio Patient Advocacy Task Force is looking for members!

If you are tasked with patient advocacy within your company, we'd love you to participate.

The task force will:

Raise the profile and awareness of the strategic impact of Bio/Pharma Industry Patient Advocacy Leaders on Patient Care and Policy
Provide a forum for Industry Patient Advocacy Leaders to network and collaborate
Develop Best Practices Guidelines for Industry Patient Advocacy Leaders
Identify and engage Patients who are Advocates and Ambassadors for other Patients to join the Task Force

The first task force meeting will be held Monday, April 5^th from 8 to 10 a.m. at the MassBio Offices, One Cambridge Center, 9^th Floor, Cambridge.

To register, click here.

National Cancer Institute SBIR and STTR Funding Support Various Stages of Cancer Therapeutics, Device, and Imaging Development

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

The NCI SBIR & STTR Programs are one of the largest sources of early-stage technology financing in the United States. MassBio members are encouraged to apply for funding opportunities!

Funding is currently available through the following vehicles:

NCI SBIR Phase II Bridge Award
As NCI's newest funding initiative, this award is designed to augment previously funded NIH-wide SBIR Phase II projects that require additional funding in order to achieve key technical and regulatory milestones along the path toward commercialization. The NCI intends to commit up to $10 million (up to $3M per Small Business Award) in fiscal year 2010 to fund up to ten applications. Applications are due: March 1, 2010. More information can be found at: http://sbir.cancer.gov/funding/phase2bridgeaward.asp.

NCI SBIR Grant Funding for Image Guided Cancer Interventions
Grant funding is available to eligible small businesses for the development and commercialization of novel image-guided interventions to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. Applications are due on the following dates: April 5; August 5; December 5, 2010. To learn more, visit: http://sbir.cancer.gov/funding/grants.

SBIR & STTR Omnibus Solicitation
U.S. small businesses with the research capabilities and technological expertise established in the Omnibus solicitation are encouraged to submit investigator-initiated grant applications. High-priority research areas under the National Cancer Institute are listed below. Applications are due on the following dates: April 5; August 5; December 5, 2010. For more information, visit: http://sbir.cancer.gov/funding/omnibus.

Research topics of interest:
- Anti-Cancer Agents
- Health Communication
- Molecular Pharmacodynamic Assays
- Bioinformatics
- Early Detection and Risk Assessment
- Nanotechnology
- Biospecimens
- Epidemiology and Genetics
- Proteomics
- Cancer Biomarkers
- Health Information Technology
- Radiation Research
- Cancer Imaging
- Human Genomics Enabling Personalized Medicine
- Tumor Biology and Metastasis
- Cancer and Nutrition
- Immunology

For more information about NCI SBIR & STTR Program and to sign-up to receive e-mail notifications when new funding announcements are released, please visit: http://sbir.cancer.gov.