Mobious, which is developing molecular resonance sequencing technology, joined the X Prize competition last year (see IBO 12/31/07). Covaris entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Applied Biosystems for its S2 sample preparation instrument system for use with Applied Biosystems’ SOLiD DNA sequencer. Microfluidics developer RainDance Technologies appointed Christopher McNary president and CEO. He […]

New Orleans, Louisiana, played host to the 59th annual Pittsburgh conference and exhibition (Pittcon), which was held March 1–7 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Although Pittcon took place against a backdrop of escalating fears of a US recession, one would have never known it. Companies were upbeat about future business prospects and the […]

Fourth quarter 2007 Life Science Index sales rose 14.4% to $2,419 million, while operating profit jumped 29.8% to $445 million. Operating margins improved 220 basis points to 18.4% of revenues. Year-over-year Life Science Index sales increased 12.5% to $8,651 million. Operating profit grew 23.2% to $1,357 million, and operating margins increased 140 basis points to […]

TraceGuard Technologies signed a letter of intent with Smiths Detection to cooperate in marketing its CompactSafe Automated Trace Extraction system. TraceGuard Technologies appointed Avi Kostelitz CEO in January. He was formerly CEO of the Israel Airports Authority. As part of a management buyout, Midwest Research Institute made a $1.3 million investment in biological detection firm […]

Atomic Spectroscopy Applitek, a Belgian firm, debuted the eXaminer a portable/handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument, which should begin shipping in August or September at a “competitive” price. In November 2007, Brooks Rand began shipment of the Merx methyl mercury system, which uses GC and its AFS mercury analyzer to make a direct measurement of methyl […]

St. Louis, MO 3/7/08—Sigma-Aldrich and Oxford Biomedica have settled their patent litigation against Open Biosystems (see IBO 6/15/06). Under the confidential settlement, Open Biosystems will acquire certain license rights for use of Oxford BioMedica’s LentiVector gene delivery technology in research activities. Other details were not disclosed.

Hopkinton, MA and San Diego, CA 2/26/08—Caliper Life Sciences has entered into a settlement agreement with AntiCancer, resolving the patent infringement suit that AntiCancer brought against Xenogen in 2005. Caliper acquired Xenogen in 2006 (see IBO 2/15/06). Under the settlement, Caliper acquired the right to sublicense AntiCancer’s fluorescent protein optical imaging patents, and AntiCancer acquired […]

Blossom Associati and Assobiotec report that since 2000 the Italian biotech industry has grown 7% on average, adding about 15 new companies per year. Sales of Italian biotech products and licensing operations have reached $5.5 billion, or 0.04% of the Italian GDP. From 2006 to 2007, the value of the country’s biotech market increased 19.3%. […]