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DNA SEQUENCING FOR 900 USD? We have been talking about this possibility for years. Harvard's George Church is at the heart of another major advance. This GAME CHANGER is going to have enormous consequences. DNA sequences are going to be at the dining room table, under furious debate by ethicists, and at the forefront of disease gene mapping. The Genie is out of the bottle now, and the only question is how we wisely use this knowledge to create healthier societies, and at last enter the practice of PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE. http://lnkd.in/pDSXqm View in LinkedIn

THE EUROPEAN LEAD FACTORY OF SHELVED DRUG CANDIDATES is an historic initiative. Previously bunkered, many of these molecules have been tested for safety in man. They were developed because they were potent biological modifiers. Opening the repurposing door to academia and industry is valuable. This is one of a number of initiatives that Big Pharma is taking to remedy a broken discovery model. Everyone wins. http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/02/12/the_european_lead_factory.php View in LinkedIn

SCREENING DRUGS IN CULTURED PATIENT TISSUES HAS ADVANTAGES, as it is well known that animal trials can be misleading. This article summarizes the case in mouse models of inflammatory disease. http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/02/13/mouse_models_of_inflammation_are_basically_worthless_now_we_know.php View in LinkedIn

LEGAL REFORM IN THE US IS OVERDUE. If the system had the party who lost paying legal fees, and more, frivolous class action suits would be reduced. A country where lawsuits are a gravy train for a few unscrupulous players, is destined to be hamstrung until it is reformed. No other country is so litigious, or cowered by greedy lawyers. http://lnkd.in/NGrvDk View in LinkedIn

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES HAVE MADE CHINA A LEADING PATENT FILER. This beautiful Infographic shows the power of incentives in stimulating innovation, as well as the sheer size of the society. Harness the two together, and you create an unstoppable machine. Most interesting of all is that this also signals a new era where China may recognize IP rights and behave more equitably over patent violations. A hopeful sign in one of the world's largest markets. http://ipinsiders.com/m/blogpost?id=2599317%3ABlogPost%3A43638 View in LinkedIn

MAKING IP MORE ACCESSIBLE by methods like rating systems is a worthy cause. IP is a critical driver of investment in innovation. Out of the approximately 7 M patents in the USPTO, I estimate (from experience not empirically) that less than 15% are actually licensed and used to develop products. This is a goldmine for new product ideas, even when you discard the one third that are either impractical or just academic. http://lnkd.in/zGnei8 View in LinkedIn

EUROPE'S INNOVATIVE MEDICINE INITIATIVE with 1 billion € from the private sector, and 1 billion € from the public sector, is one of the largest healthcare discovery initiatives. This remarkably innovative enterprise is the ultimate public-private venture, and aimed at getting small innovative companies to discover new uses from abandoned Pharma drug libraries. Remarkable by any standards, an act of real leadership in the face of the Crisis. http://www.worldpharmanews.com/development/2341-196-million-pan-european-drug-discovery-platform-launched View in LinkedIn

NEW EARLY STAGE BIOTECH FUND. View in LinkedIn

THE NEED FOR A COLD CHAIN FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES VACCINES is a significant obstacle for healthcare initiatives. It also contributes about 80% of the cost. Remember that Next Generation DNA VACCINES do not require a cold chain, and can be delivered nasally, making delivery significantly less challenging. View in LinkedIn

CHINA'S INTEREST IN BIOTECH DRUGS IS SPURRING INVESTMENTS. Capable of implementing very long-term and well-funded initiatives, China is becoming an influential player in world investment markets. The JPM breakout session a couple of years ago featured Chinese Pharma companies talking about brand drugs. This was a significant sea change, because it meant that they would enforce patent protection. Watch this space. http://lnkd.in/Swa-RQ View in LinkedIn