The difference in the patenting landscape between the United States and Europe used to be characterized as freewheeling versus cautionary; expansive versus patchwork. Think of Diamond v. Chakrabarty‘s “anything under the sun that is made by man” versus the long battle to finally allow the patenting of stem cells in Europe. Read more
On Monday I attended the panel “The BIOethics of drug development: you decide.” … Read more
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Convention begins next week in Philadelphia. Running from June 15-18 this year, the conference is historically the industry’s largest gathering. The last time Philly played host (2005), the conference was slightly larger than today’s expected version, with more than 18,000 attendees. There were also more protesters than we see today – enough, in fact, for a group to clash with police, leading to, somewhat indirectly, the death of a cop. Read more
I wrote about the first day of the conference here. Read more
Oxford Nanopore Technologies invented the MinION device – a pocket-sized DNA/RNA sequencer that is based on protein nanopores set in an electrically resistant polymer membrane. It works by passing an ionic current through the nanopores, creating a specific disruption pattern in the current that is used to identify the molecule. This is similar to the antennae of insects, and it fascinated me. So, I wrote to Oxford Nanopore expressing my wish to join its MinION Access Programme (MAP). Read more
For two years, Nature Biotechnology has supported Index Ventures with the VC firm’s flagship Playground event in London. On February 11, 2015, the event is moving to Paris. Read more
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