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Cell Infected By Virus Viewed For The First Time By MSU Scientists
The June cover of the Journal of Virology features a photograph of the unusual effects on a cell infected by a virus. Montana State University researchers were the first to view the virus, which they collected from a boiling, acidic spring in Yellowstone.
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Lawsuit Filed Over Gene Patent
A group of cancer patients, genetic researchers and professional pathologist organizations has filed a lawsuit against Myriad Genetics and the U.S. Patent Office over the patent of two genes associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, the New York Times reports. According to the Times, the government more than 10 years ago granted Myriad the patent on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as well as the company"s genetic test that measures a patient"s risk for the cancers.The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and is believed to be the first of its kind, the Times reports. The lawsuit challenges the decision to grant patents on genes to Myriad and companies like it. The plaintiffs say that patents on genes restrict medical and research efforts, while companies like Myriad have said that the patent system supports innovation by giving them a temporary monopoly after they make a discovery, thereby rewarding prior investment in research and development.Wendy Chung, the director of clinical genetics at Columbia University and a plaintiff in the case, said, "With a sole provider, there"s mediocrity." The plaintiffs say that BRCA testing would improve with market competition. Furthermore, some plaintiffs argue that certain natural materials cannot be patented. Jan Nowak, president of the Association for Molecular Pathology and a plaintiff in the case, said, "You can"t patent my DNA, any more than you can patent my right arm, or patent my blood."To date, two government panels, including the National Research Council, found no evidence that gene patents result in significant impediments to research or medical care (Schwartz, New York Times, 5/13).
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Epeius Biotechnologies' Rexin-G Receives FDA Fast Track Designation For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer
Epeius Biotechnologies announced that its lead product, Rexin-G, has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a second-line treatment for advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The FDA Fast Track program, like Priority Review and Accelerated Approval, was implemented to facilitate the development and expedite the review of potentially important new drugs. The Fast Track Product designation, in particular, is granted following a critical evaluation of the "seriousness" or life-threatening nature of the unmet medical need, namely pancreatic cancer, and the potential of Rexin-G and its progressive clinical development to address this unmet need.
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Siemens Corporate Research Develops RAPID2 System For Fast Discovery Of Discriminative Pathogen Signatures

Siemens Corporate Research (SCR), Inc. announced that it developed the RAPID2 system to speed the biomarker discovery process for the development of rapid diagnostic tests. This system marries the power of information technology with today"s improved genomic sequencing to quickly identify genomic signatures unique to the set of organisms to be detected. These signatures are the foundation for a new generation of molecular diagnostic tests for the rapid detection of healthcare-associated infections such as the potentially deadly Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Gayle Wittenberg, Program Manager at Siemens Corporate Research"s Princeton, New Jersey-based research and development center, along with her Princeton and Erlangen, Germany colleagues, have been utilizing complex information technology models to focus on genetic targets that quickly identify pathogenic bacteria. "The advantage of our RAPID2 system is that it provides an efficient framework for quickly identifying new biomarkers based on the genomic sequence of a particular pathogen," says Dr. Wittenberg. "In the event of a pandemic, such as the recent H1N1 Flu outbreak, our system would enable a rapid response with the development of a strain-specific diagnostic test. This would help medical professionals manage an outbreak more effectively from the outset." SCR used its new system recently to quickly discover a DNA barcode for detecting the H1N1 Flu after they received the genomic sequences of the virus isolated from infected patients from the National Institute of Health (NIH). In addition to applications related to healthcare-associated infections and disease outbreaks, SCR"s RAPID2 system is suited for use within the food and water industries where products are tested for microbial contamination, as well for discovering genetic targets for cancer diagnostics. About Siemens Corporate Research Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. (SCR), based in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, is one of several Siemens Corporate Technology research and development centers worldwide. Since it was founded in 1977, its employees have transformed research into practical, innovative solutions and services to support Siemens broad range of businesses. Launched in 1999 as an SCR subsidiary, Siemens Technology-To-Business Center (TTB) LLC, located in Berkeley, California, is chartered with discovering and launching emerging technologies into profitable businesses. SCR is an integral part of the Siemens family. With 428,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $116.6 billion in fiscal 2008. Siemens


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