Adeline Siew, PhD

The report highlights a need for greater third party certification to ensure GMP vigilance.

Seattle Genetics could potentially receive approximately $500 million in fees, milestones and royalties.

Amgen and Zhejiang Beta Pharma have signed an agreement to form a joint venture to commercialize Amgen's Vectibix (panitumumab) in the Chinese market. The aim is to quickly and efficiently deliver Vectibix to patients in China. Vectibix is a fully human anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody approved by FDA for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Amgen and Zhejiang Beta Pharma have signed an agreement to form a joint venture to commercialize Amgen's Vectibix (panitumumab) in the Chinese market. The aim is to quickly and efficiently deliver Vectibix to patients in China. Vectibix is a fully human anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody approved by FDA for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Genentech announced that FDA has approved Actemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) in children aged two years and older.

Pharmaco-Kinesis Corporation (PKC) announced that it is developing the first nanodrug combination of Merck's temozolomide and Celgene's thalidomide (in a 50:50 ratio) for the treatment of gliomas and other cancers. PKC will collaborate with the University of California, San Diego's department of nano-engineering at the Moores cancer centre to develop the nanodroplet formulation.

Bayer announced that it has signed a merger agreement with US-based birth-control specialist Conceptus.

BioOutsource, a contract testing services provider to the biopharmaceutical industry, has opened a new facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The facility marks the company's first North American offices, which were opened in response to increasing demand for the company's bioanalytical and biosafety services, particularly in the field of biologic and biosimilar characterisation.

AstraZeneca and BIND Therapeutics have formed a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialise BIND's Accurin, a targeted and programmable cancer nanomedicine, based on a molecularly targeted kinase inhibitor developed and owned by AstraZeneca.

Regeneron, a biopharmaceutical company based in New York, has announced plans to expand its corporate headquarters and laboratories in Westchester. This expansion will create more than 400 new highly skilled jobs and further cement Hudson Valley's reputation as an emerging epicenter for biopharmaceutical growth.