A mouse reference library called the Collaborative Cross (CC) provides data on genetic variation contained in hundreds of specially bred mice. Researchers said that the publicly available CC mice have much more genetic variation than normal lab mice, and thus more closely mirror the genetic complexity found in humans (G3 2012;2:153–6).
Oxford Nanopore Technologies has presented DNA sequence data using its nanopore “strand-sequencing” system, which is said to deliver ultra-long-read-length single-molecule sequence data with real-time results and competitive accuracy. The Oxford, UK–based company says that next year a high-end version of its scalable systems will be able to deliver a complete human genome in 15 minutes.
Duke Cancer Institute celebrated the opening of the new Duke Cancer Center in February. The 7-story, 267,000-square-foot structure, designed to fully integrate cancer care and research, will include dedicated spaces where patients can speak with research nurses about available clinical trials.
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma of Osaka, Japan will buy Boston Biomedical Inc. (BBI) of Norwood, MA, for $200 million, plus development milestones up to $540 million and commercial milestones up to $1.89 billion. BBI's BBI608 and BBI503 oral compounds may become the first drugs in the world targeting cancer stem cells.
NIH's National Center for Biotechnology Information has unveiled the Genetic Testing Registry, which collects voluntary submissions of genetic test information by providers.
A study by Italian and Swiss researchers estimates that 1.3 million people in the European Union (EU) will die from cancer in 2012. That figure would constitute a drop in the rate of cancer deaths of 10% in men and 7% in women compared with 2007 statistics (Ann Oncol published online 2012 Feb 28).
Despite FDA actions, cancer drug shortages “will remain for the foreseeable future,” says Jack Muckstadt, professor of engineering at Cornell University and the former director of Cornell's School of Operations Research and Industrial Engineering. “Simply put, there are no financial incentives for increasing capacity within or between manufacturers.”
For more news on cancer research, visit Cancer Discovery online at http://CDnews.aacrjournals.org.
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