2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003
FDA's cloning report exposes European dilemma
As the FDA inches toward approving food products from cloned animals, the EU stays mute, setting up another potential trade conflict.
Liberty Link rice raises specter of tightened regulations
The discovery of traces of unapproved genetically modified rice in United States exports once again put the spotlight on companies' failure to fully contain field trials.
South African GM label confusion
Most maize and soy products sold in South African food stores contain detectable amounts of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
New initiative would make fuel from biorefineries "practical and competitive within six years."
USDA approves the first plant-based vaccine
First market license ever issued to a veterinary vaccine produced in plant cells.
WTO finds 'undue delay' for GM import in Europe
A panel at the World Trade Organization ruled that many European bans on genetically modified crops and food products breached trade agreements.
French court: destroying field trials, a 'necessity'
Angry reactions to surprising acquittal of 49 activists who had demolished field trials of genetically modified crops.
The European Medicines Agency unveiled a new storefront targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises.
WTO gives poor states access to drugs
The World Trade Organization proposed to make permanent a 'temporary waiver' under its agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
Monsanto joins Greenpeace in opposing EU sperm patent
US agbiotech company Monsanto joined environmental group Greenpeace in opposing a patent granted by the European Patent Office.
EU proposal for tissue-engineered products
The European Commission proposed regulating tissue-engineering products as 'advanced therapies' rather than medical devices.
The European Commission kicks off a comprehensive research project on the coexistence and traceability of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops.
Negotiations on new documentation requirements governing cross-border transport of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) broke down in Montreal over objections to a proposal backed by 117 nations.
Saudi Arabia moves into biofuels
A London-based company betting on the worldwide, large-scale cultivation and processing of Jatropha curcas plants for biofuels, announced the placing of shares at the London Stock Exchange.
Scientists rail against Europe’s absence in AIDS research
Europe is squandering scant research funds available for AIDS vaccine research by having them managed by administrators rather than scientists, vaccine researchers charge.
For calculating their maximum patent extensions on drugs, companies should regard Switzerland as part of the EU, the union's highest court in effect has ruled.
US Supreme court strikes against frivolous litigation
The US Supreme Court helped biotech companies ward off future frivolous lawsuits by demanding investors demonstrate they lost money as a result of fraudulent actions.
Blueprint North America winds down
Blueprint North America, a Canada-based nonprofit that builds and operates globally used proteomic databases, laid off half of its staff.
Scientists charged with choosing publication over public health
Dutch researchers are being accused of aggravating an outbreak of lymphogranuloma venereum by not alerting authorities.
Future revenues of biotech companies are at risk because of new US government powers to lower the costs of drugs.
The European Commission proposed to raise fees for the authorization of pharmaceuticals.
Governments backing manufacturing to save startups
European governments see manufacturing as a vital next step toward developing a robust local biotech industry.
Universities weigh spin-offs versus licensing patents
With commercialization of academic research slowly rising, debate is brewing over whether spinning off young companies can become too much of a good thing.
Money, manpower missing from Europe's new agency
The long-awaited European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will in May open its doors in Stockholm, but some say the center may not be up to its task.
UN balks on therapeutic cloning; nations forge ahead
Starting April 1, researchers in Sweden will be able to legally clone human cells for therapeutic purposes, like their UK colleagues.
Incyte sells proteome databases
A small German company at once tripled in size by acquiring Proteome, a database subsidiary of Incyte.
The European Patent Office (EPO) dealt fresh blows to a controversial monopoly over diagnostic testing for mutations in a human breast and ovarian cancer gene.
The California Supreme Court reopened a legal battle between the City of Hope hospital and Genentech.
UK seeks to relax shareholder preemption rights
An advisor to the British government is due to publish a report on whether the UK should relax its rules on shareholders' preemption rights to help biotech companies raise cash.
Top managers in the biggest biotechnology companies collected bonuses in 2003 52% higher than the year before.
Database draws attention to not-so-Nobel intentions
A database of nomination letters explains the dominance of male winners of the Nobel Physiology and Medicine prize.
Europe fights 'brain drain' with new research grants
Cash awards have persuaded 25 promising scientists to settle in Europe, but barriers for bioentrepreneurs remain.
Edible vaccines not ready for main course
Edible vaccines, produced in genetically modified crops, promise cheap and effective protection against infectious diseases in the developing world. But vaccine manufacturers are not biting.
Swiss biotech lead linked to sluggish public support
In Switzerland, low levels of government funding may ultimately have created a stronger biotech sector.
Patenting costs cast a shadow on European biotech
German companies are filing more patents than ever before. But the recent growth is hampered by the burden of registering patents in many national languages.
Scientists rip US for cutbacks to global AIDS summit
In a move that has angered AIDS researchers worldwide, the US government has slashed its contribution to the 15th International AIDS Conference, to be held in July in Bangkok.
Newly expanded European Union faces growing pains
New members of the expanded EU could provide fertile breeding ground for low-cost clinical research. At the same time, they could see their best brains leave for even more fertile soil abroad.
Expanded EU presents promise and challenges
To speed up approval of new drugs in a growing European Union, the agency that evaluates them is getting a more central role.
Europe urged to step up applied cardiovascular research
Cardiovascular research in Europe urgently needs funds for continent-wide applied research projects, researchers argued at a conference in Brussels.
French researchers face winter of discontent
Entering a power struggle with their national government, more than 2,000 senior French researchers resigned from their managerial duties, protesting the "planned destruction of France's research capacity."
The European Parliament backed down from a proposed ban on therapeutic human cloning after the European Council declared it unacceptable.
Halted trial renews questions about cancer vaccines
Citing important methodological and formal flaws, Swiss authorities have ended a much-heralded cancer vaccine trial at Zürich University.
The Dutch government added new muscle to its promise of focusing the country's research and development efforts on genomics as one of a small number of key areas.
Monsanto and Bayer CropScience, two of the world's largest crop protection firms, agreed to bury a handful of intellectual property hatchets.
EP set to forbid human cloning
While the United Nations postponed a decision to ban therapeutic human cloning, a committee of the European Parliament (EP) moved to enact just such a ban in the EU.
EU struggles with rules on tissues and cells
Struggles within the European Union jeopardize a longawaited directive on the safety of donated human tissues and cells.
Europe's last research chimps to retire
Ending years of controversy, the Netherlands has handed over its last remaining research chimpanzees to a private animal rights foundation, effectively closing the door to new chimpanzee experiments in Europe.
Dutch biotech celebrates late arrivals
A new report shows that attempts by the Dutch government to grow its biotech sector have produced fresh start-ups. But will they survive?