Samsung Biologics has announced plans to break ground on a fourth manufacturing plant, the 'P4 Super Plant', this year and that it is in negotiations with local officials to purchase additional land for its second bio complex. The total size of the two investments is expected to be roughly $2 billion. Adding 256KL capacity to its site, Plant 4 is scheduled to commence manufacturing activities in the second half of 2022. The land under negotiation for Samsung Biologics' second bio complex measures 330,000 square meters. The company plans to create an Open Innovation center to foster biotech companies and build a global R&D facility in addition to securing space for future plants within the new complex. Learn More
Inspired by llamas’ Unique Antibodies, Scientists Create a Potent Anti-Coronavirus Molecule
Inspired by a unique kind of infection-fighting antibody found in llamas, a research team at the UCSF has synthesized a molecule that they say is among the most potent anti-coronavirus compounds tested in a lab to date. Called nanobodies because they are about a quarter of the size of antibodies found in people and most other animals, these molecules can nestle into the nooks and crannies of proteins to block viruses from attaching to and infecting cells. The lab-made one created by the UCSF team is so stable it can be converted into a dry powder and aerosolized, meaning it would be much easier to administer than Covid-19 treatments being developed using human monoclonal antibodies. Learn More
Ligand Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Fellow San Diego biotech Pfenex for Up to $516M
Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Pfenex are only about an eight-minute walk away from one another in San Diego's Sorrento Valley. And now, the two biotechs are about to get even closer. Ligand announced this week that it plans to acquire Pfenex for $438 million and will pay Pfenex shareholders an additional $78 million if Ligand hits an undisclosed milestone before December 2021. Ligand will now also have access to Pfenex's signature technology, which uses a special strain of bacteria to churn out complex proteins. Pfenex currently has 16 active partnerships, including collaborations with Merck, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and the Serum Institute of India. Learn More
Former FDA Chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb Wary of Safety of Russia’s Coronavirus Vaccine: ‘I Wouldn’t Take It’
Dr. Scott Gottlieb is wary of the safety and effectiveness of a new coronavirus vaccine touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world's first drug approved to prevent Covid-19. "I wouldn't take it, certainly not outside a clinical trial right now" where patients are closely monitored, Gottlieb said this week. "They're claiming that it's fully approved, but it's not fully approved." Russia plans to begin its first large-scale, phase three trials of its vaccine today even though health officials have already cleared it for public distribution. Researchers have yet to publish any data on the vaccine trials thus far, including information on the safety, efficacy or possible long-term side effects. Learn More
Solve Compliance, Integration & Process Challenges Using Rich Data from Your Instrumentation
As biotechnology processes evolve, so too does demand for protocols capable of delivering rich data at high speeds. This new eBook by Brooks Instrument offers clear insight on digital communications devices, such as mass flow controllers (MFCs), equipped for maximum information density in your process system. This biotechnology eBook was created specifically to help biotechnology OEMs and biotechnology end users understand how digital communications bring new capabilities and greater control to their process systems. Learn More
Can you direct me to a stackable container for single-use bags?
I would urge you to take a look at the RoSS product from Single Use Support. More than just a stackable container, it offers a number of engineered features designed for optimum storage of both your single use bags as well as the associated connectors and hoses. I have included a link below for your reference;
BioProfile FLEX2 and BioProfile FLEX Linearity, Precision, and Comparability
This report summarizes linearity, precision, and comparability of the new generation BioProfile FLEX2 to the previous generation BioProfile FLEX cell culture analyzer. As part of the internal validation for BioProfile FLEX2, sample replicates for all measurable parameters (pH, pCO2, pO2, glucose, lactate, glutamine, glutamate, ammonium, sodium, potassium, and calcium) were analyzed across the full analytical range on both BioProfile FLEX2 and BioProfile FLEX. Twenty replicate samples of control material were also analyzed consecutively on BioProfile FLEX2 to determine precision. BioProfile FLEX2 provided a high degree of precision, accuracy, and comparability against BioProfile FLEX analyzer. BioProfile FLEX2 exceeded all validation criteria for release. Learn More
Webinar: Efficient and Rapid Purification of E. coli Expressed Toxin Recombinant Protein Fragments
Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
Presenter: Andrew Lees, PhD
Founder and Scientific Director
Fina Biosolutions
In this brief webinar, Dr. Lees will present a case study on a purification process for rTTHc using polymeric chromatography resins. rTTHc was expressed at high levels as a soluble, properly folded intracellular protein in Fina Bio proprietary Escherichia coli strain. The protein has a molecular weight of 50 kDa with pI ~6. Multiple resins were screened using an automated chromatography system. Nuvia Q anion-exchange (AEX) resin (120 µm) was selected as the capture step and Macro-Prep Methyl hydrophobic-interaction chromatography (HIC) resin selected for polishing step. This two-step purification protocol was optimized for scale-up, resulting in >98% pure purified target protein.
Inexpensive, Accessible Device Provides Visual Proof that Masks Block Droplets
In a proof-of-concept study, researchers at Duke University report that a simple, low-cost technique provided visual proof that face masks are effective in reducing droplet emissions during normal wear. They found that the best face coverings were N95 masks without valves -- the hospital-grade coverings that are used by front-line health care workers. Surgical or polypropylene masks also performed well. Hand-made cotton face coverings provided good coverage, eliminating a substantial amount of the spray from normal speech. But bandanas and neck fleeces such as balaclavas didn't block the droplets much at all. Learn More
Coated Cell Culture Apparatus and Methods of Use
A U.S. Patent for "Coated Cell Culture Apparatus and Methods of Use" was awarded to Worcester Polytechnic Institute on August 4th, 2020. The present invention is a device, and methods of using or making the device, for engineering cells in vitro are disclosed. In some aspects, a cell culture device comprises at least one glass or polymer surface configured for incubating cells in a culture medium; a charged molecule electrostatically bound to the surface; and a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) electrostatically bound to the charged molecule, the PEM comprising one or more bi-layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, and the PEM having a sufficient thickness... Learn More
1990 Skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex Discovered
On this day in 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota. They turn out to be part of the largest-ever Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, a 65 million-year-old specimen dubbed Sue, after its discoverer. Amazingly, Sue's skeleton was over 90 percent complete, and the bones were extremely well-preserved. Learn More
If you could choose, which would you rather?
Live a Long Life but Struggle
Live a Shorter but Comfortable Life
Why “Biofabrication” is the Next Industrial Revolution
What if we could "grow" clothes from microbes, furniture from living organisms and buildings with exteriors like tree bark? TED Fellow Suzanne Lee shares exciting developments from the field of biofabrication and shows how it could help us replace major sources of waste, like plastic and cement, with sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Learn More
Eisai Pharmaceuticals to Occupy Iconic Tower at On3, Prism’s Next-Generation Life-Science and Lifestyle Campus in Nutley, New Jersey
Eisai is the latest firm to call Prism's On3 campus home. The Japanese firm will occupy the iconic 15-story International style tower that anchors the life-science campus straddling the border of the Township of Nutley and City of Clifton in New Jersey. Presently based in Woodcliff Lake NJ, the company will relocate its headquarters and up to 1200 corporate staff and research and development activities to Nutley by the end of 2021. According to Prism, this state-of-the-art building and campus will ultimately bring all of Eisai's New Jersey-based employees together in one place to foster extensive employee engagement and collaboration. Learn More
The Movie Top Gun was the First Full Collaboration Between Hollywood and the US Military
The idea was to both enhance the US military's image after the Vietnam war and attract new Navy recruits. It surpassed all expectation, increasing recruitment by 500%. Learn More