Anergis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel allergy vaccines, today announced the appointment of Jacques-François Martin, Chairman and CEO of vaccine company Mymetics, as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Anergis develops allergy vaccines based on its proprietary technology of “Contiguous Overlapping Peptides” (“COPs”). Anergis’ lead allergy vaccine, called “AllerT”, is in clinical Phase IIb development and is designed to provide ultra-fast and safe desensitization to birch pollen allergy, a widespread condition in developed countries. Anergis’ vaccines are designed to provide long-term protection against allergies with a 2-month treatment.

Jacques-François Martin is Chairman and CEO of Mymetics Corporation. Previously, he was CEO of Chiron Vaccines (now Novartis) from 1991 to 1993 and CEO of Pasteur-Mérieux (now Sanofi-Pasteur) from 1988 to 1991. In addition, he held leadership positions with not‐for‐profit organizations dedicated to the development of vaccines for debilitating and life-threatening diseases in both developed nations and third world countries. Among others, he was the first President and CEO of The Vaccine Fund (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) from 2000 to January 2005 and a member of the Board of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) from November 1997 to June 2003. He started his executive career as Chief Executive Officer of Rhône-Poulenc Pharma in Hamburg, Germany, in 1970. Mr. Martin is a member of the French Academy of Technologies and an officer in the French Order of Merit.  » Read more...

bubbles & beyond, a technology company focusing on customized intelligent fluids®, today announced that the company will present its current product portfolio and business strategy for 2012 at the upcoming nanotech 2012 conference in Tokyo, Japan (Feb. 15-17).

Intelligent fluids® are customized phase fluids, which are primarily designed for cleaning, separating and protecting surfaces. They significantly outperform competitive products in terms of efficiency and eco-friendliness. The technology platform is suitable for functional cosmetics, healthcare and industrial cleaning applications (construction, microelectronics, industrial solutions, print rolls, etc.). Products and processes based on intelligent fluids® are free from risky or dangerous substances and offer completely new application areas, significantly enhanced product characteristics and considerable process optimization in industrial settings.

In 2011, bubbles & beyond has reached major milestones, including the launch of its enpurex® cleansing product line for the printing industry, an important global distribution agreement with Rolf Meyer GmbH for the enpurex® line, and a development collaboration with JNC-CHISSO to create advanced cleansing solutions for the microelectronics sector. In addition, bubbles & beyond has established an advisory board of seasoned industry experts.

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Micromet, Inc. (NASDAQ: MITI) today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amgen will acquire Micromet, a biotechnology company founded inGermany with its research and development (R&D) center in Munich and headquarters in Rockville, Md., for $11 per share in cash. The transaction, which values Micromet at approximately $1.16 billion, was unanimously approved by both the Amgen and Micromet Boards of Directors.

The acquisition includes blinatumomab, a Bispecific T cell Engager (BiTE) antibody in Phase 2 clinical development for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blinatumomab is also in clinical development for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and could have applications in other hematologic malignancies.

Read more here.

- Transaction creates new Nanohale subsidiary named Formycon GmbH -

Scil Technology GmbH and Nanohale AG today announced that Nanohale has acquired the entire R&D, contract development and manufacturing organization of Scil Technology GmbH in an asset deal, effective December 31, 2011. Employees and inventory of Scil Technology GmbH have become part of Formycon GmbH, a fully-owned subsidiary of Nanohale AG. The rights to the tissue regeneration projects, which were out-licensed by Scil Technology to Medtronic, Inc. and Sanofi, will remain with Scil Technology GmbH, which will be sustained as an independent company to manage its existing collaborations. Financial details have not been disclosed.

Scil Technology recently out-licensed its cartilage regeneration program for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteochondral defects to Sanofi. The company has strong expertise in protein drug development, formulation and analytics, which is highly complementary to Nanohale´s existing protein formulation platform and will enable Nanohale to strengthen its biopharmaceutical development expertise.

Christian Nafe, CEO of Scil Technology, who was responsible for the transaction together with Klaus Binder (COO), said that the agreement creates an excellent exit opportunity for Scil Technology´s investors at BioNet Holding.  » Read more...

- Innovative cleaners for the printing industry now available worldwide -

bubbles & beyond, a technology company focusing on customized intelligent fluids®, today announced that Rolf Meyer GmbH has acquired the exclusive global sales and distribution rights for the enpurex® print industry cleansing products, effective January 1, 2012.

At present, the enpurex® product portfolio comprises various special cleansing agents for specific demands of the printing industry. The cleansers are water-based, non-flammable, free from aggressive chemicals, biodegradable, and thereby constitute an entirely new, sustainable and eco-friendly product generation. In addition, they are superior to existing products in terms of efficacy. Based on bubbles & beyond’s novel, proprietary intelligent fluids® approach, the products offer significant process cost savings, excellent compatibility of materials, optimum efficacy and operating safety.

Initially, sales activities will focus on the areas of flexo and gravure printing, in particular packaging, label and tissue printing. Product solutions for offset, screen and digital printing are under development.

In addition, the cooperation with Rolf Meyer GmbH provides bubbles & beyond with the opportunity to sell industrial cleansers, e.g. highly effective special cleansing agents for industrial flooring and machinery as well as industrial hand cleaners.  » Read more...