April 2007

The treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer often represents a therapeutic challenge. As the most common malignancy in men and the second-leading cause of cancer death in the US, the number of patients requiring posthormonal therapy is increasing.

Companies in the news: 1) AVAX and CTCA Collaborating for Cancer Therapies 2) Full Speed Ahead for GPC Biotech's Satraplatin 3) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company / Adnexus Therapeutics: Collaboration for New Oncology Compounds 4) Graffinity and Amgen in Drug Discovery Agreement 5) Roche Suspends Enrollment in CERA Phase II Oncology Trial

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (www.oecd.org) "is a group of 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. Best known for its publications and its statistics, its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation."

The Academy delivers the latest news on biotechnology and oncology research, providing a link between the clinical world of cancer care and the university researchers who are pushing farther into knowledge and discovery. In this issue: 1) Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute 2) Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 3) University of Leicaster (UK) 4) Purdue University 5) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 6) MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

This month's Fed Focus highlights such topics as Medicare reimbursement for cancer care and NCI budget cuts that affect cancer research. From "The State House" and Justice Department, we cover the HPV vaccine mandate and a governor under fire as well as state laws requiring colon cancer screening coverage. Reimbursment, NCI budget cuts, and more

This month we report on presentations made at the BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization)CEO & Investor Conference (February 11-14, 2007, New York, NY).

Physicians' Financial News focuses on news-making and/or notable companies in the oncology/biotechnology sector. In this issue: 1) Avalon Could Earn More Than $200M in Deal with Merck & Co. 2) OXiGENE Sets Fiscal 2007 Priorities 3) Genentech Shares Fall Nearly 3% on Avastin Study 4) Start-Up Biotech Firm VentiRx Acquires $26.6 Million in Venture Capital Financing to Develop New Cancer Drugs 5) Vion Reports Fourth Quarter Loss of $6.1 Million 6) Somanta Acquisition Enhances Access Pharmaceuticals Cancer Focus 7) Stemline In-Licenses Compound that Targets Leukemia Stem Cells

The Clinical Trials reported in this issue include: PHASE I: 1) Cell Genesys and Medarex Remain Positive on Combination Immunotherapy Study 2) Active Biotech Achieves Success with TASQ for Prostate Cancer PHASE II: 1) Myriad Initiates Evaluation of Brain Cancer Drug that Crosses the Blood-Brain Barrier 2) Second Lung Cancer Trial Adds Data to Novel Therapy PHASE III: 1) Nexavar Could Soon Add Primary Liver Cancer to its Label 2) Point Therapeutics Provides Clinical Update for NSCLC Studies

News reports featured in this issue: 1) Breast Cancer Spotlight 2) Expert Cancer Centers Cost-Effective for Managing Ovarian Cancer 3) New Breathalyzer "Smells" Lung Cancer in Early Stages 4) PSA Adjusted for Prostate Size is Possible Identifier of Men at Risk for Developing Life-Threatening Cancer

A study was commissioned by the Board of Directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to assess the supply and demand for oncology services through 2020.

With FDA approval for their advanced breast cancer drug Tykerb�®, GlaxoSmithKline is poised to reposition itself as a major player in the oncology business.

We are privileged to bring you such stories as the shrinking oncology workforce and the exciting news about Tykerb (GSK's advanced breast cancer drug) as we continue evolving our publication both in style and content.