BlackBerry founder bets on quantum tech in life sciences
Ex-BlackBerry chief and co-founder Mike Lazaridis has given life to a $97 million fund to advance quantum technology, which has major implications for computing, medicine and other fields.
NextDocs and Microsoft pushing clinical trials to the cloud
Like a good tech partner should, NextDocs has stuck close to Microsoft and its software platforms for years.
UPDATED: Astellas Pharma taps supercomputer for IT-driven drug discovery
One of Japan's largest pharma outfits has commissioned one of the world's largest supercomputers to aid efforts to overcome one of the largest global heath threats. Astellas Pharma's big idea is to hunt down drugs against illnesses caused by dengue virus, a major tropical disease without therapeutic answers.
Biotech data merges onto UC San Diego's Big Data 'freeway'
A bugaboo in the Big Data world has been the capacity of networks to transport large amounts of data from genomics and other studies. To tackle the problem, the University of California, San Diego has turned on a new optical computer network that can handle the massive data sets with which its scientists and their distant collaborators work, the New York Times blog reported.
AstraZeneca IT chief talks up Big Data amid R&D turmoil
In her comments at a Big Data meeting, Chief Technology Officer Angela Yochem highlighted how large-scale data collected from genomic and other studies are advancing more precise attacks on disease.
Merck slashes data-management costs with China site
While it's not a needed blockbuster approval, Merck's clinical crew has claimed a modest victory on the off-shoring front with a reduction in data-management expenses.
Fierce's top 5 feats in life sciences 'gamification'
Welcome to the "gamification" of life sciences research, where all you need is an Internet-connected device and a few minutes to play a part in advancing science. It's a growing trend within the open innovation and crowdsourcing movements sweeping the biopharma world. Check out the full report >>
Vivus dials up iPhone app to boost Qsymia sales
Weight-loss apps have become popular, so why not a weight-loss app for a weight-loss drug? Qsymia maker Vivus figures it is worth a try.
BioClinica CEO: No cuts planned after CoreLab merger, private equity sale
After a pair of deals to go private and merge with another company, BioClinica aims to expand its clinical trials software and services business in Asia without cutbacks--at least for now, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. And the newly privatized company's chief executive expects to capitalize on pharma giants' race to develop new drugs to replace those fallen off patent.
CRO buys chunk of mobile outfit behind virtual Pfizer trial
Mytrus has found a new patron as the startup advances mobile apps for clinical trials. InVentiv Health, a contract research organization (CRO) for pharma and device companies, has snapped up an equity stake in Mytrus and plans to partner on commercializing the startup's mobile apps.
Novartis eyes cancer patients with two mobile apps for iPhone, Android
Novartis Oncology has unleashed a pair of mobile phone apps that cater to patients or doctors, building on the pharma giant's digital outreach efforts that already include multiple offers on app stores from Google and Apple.
Spiral Genetics scores $3M VC round from major backer
After advancing a set of DNA data analysis tools to market, Seattle startup Spiral Genetics has latched onto some serious venture money, nailing down a $3 million Series A round from DFJ.
Genomic analysis startup scores VA contract for major study
Personalis emerged from the crowd of new genomic analysis outfits with news of a contract from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Brown U. marries brains and computers
Brain-computer interfaces at Brown University have taken another step forward. And the key this time is to go wireless and rechargeable.
After IBM dust-up, AstraZeneca reboots IT outsourcing
As software providers know well, AstraZeneca has been one of the most prolific users of information technology in the pharma world. So the drugmaker's IT preferences and activities garner attention, including the messy court showdown between the company and IBM.
Buzz: Pharma software outfit Veeva seeks IPO
After besting rivals such as Oracle in the pharma market, Veeva Systems aims to complete an initial public offering that values the cloud software provider at $2 billion, sources told Bloomberg.
U.S. and Israeli groups team to sync medical, clinical trials software
A lot of people think joining digital patient records and clinical trial databases could save time and money, but efforts to combine the two have stalled or died. Now Target Health and LifeOnKey have embarked on a collaboration to at least do this with their own software offerings.
Microsoft's web-search mining uncovers side effect of drug pairing
Web search records could provide early signals of harmful drug interactions. And thanks in part to consumers' inability to resist going online to learn about their symptoms, researchers found a wealth of data to triangulate the interactions of two widely used drugs and an undesirable side effect.
Facebook goes biotech for new board member
Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg has sought out a top Genentech alum for the social media giant's board of directors.
Boehringer Ingelheim boosts social networking site for 'orphan' lung disease
Boehringer Ingelheim has expanded its reach in the world of digital healthcare via a new collaboration with the patient-focused social networking outfit PatientsLikeMe. The alliance is expected to "enhance" PatientsLikeMe's online community for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an orphan lung disease without a known cause or cure.
