Saturday, November 13, 2010

Fuad El-Hibri and the International Biomedical Research Alliance

The International Biomedical Research Alliance (IBRA) is a philanthropic organization that is dedicated to the support of the NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, which strives to establish the highest standards of excellence in training biomedical researchers, advance groundbreaking biomedical research, enrich the pool of leaders in the field, and eliminate barriers which frustrate the transfer of a broad spectrum of knowledge to the next generation of researchers.

Along with colleagues from industry, education, and government, Fuad El-Hibri is a member of the IBRA Board of Directors. The Alliance helps provide opportunities for students to build and develop important elements of scientific leadership, giving students the opportunity to grow into exceptional biomedical research leaders. IBRA firmly believes in the ability of outstanding researchers to transform today’s promise of cures and treatments into available therapies, drugs and prevention measures that enhance the world’s health.

Since its inception in 2000, the Scholars program has recruited gifted, inquiring, creative and dedicated minds for a uniquely designed doctoral program of training and investigative, exploration to challenges some of the worlds greatest minds to achieve IBRA’s main goal to create the premier PhD and MD/PhD program.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Emergent BioSolutions Completes Acquisition of Trubion Pharmaceuticals

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct 28, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., following a majority vote to approve the merger by Trubion stockholders at a special meeting conducted at Trubion’s Seattle headquarters on October 28, 2010. The acquisition provides Emergent with multiple, advanced stage candidates in the key disease areas of oncology and autoimmunity as well as access to novel and versatile protein therapeutic platforms. Trubion’s platforms have been designed to address the limitations of monoclonal antibodies and complement Emergent’s existing antibody therapeutic capabilities.

“Emergent’s acquisition of Trubion helps achieve our goal of diversifying beyond infectious diseases and marks an important step towards being a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company,” said Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions. “We look forward to growing our presence in the state’s vibrant biotech community building on the strengths of the Emergent Seattle team in the field of biotherapeutics.”

Emergent will maintain research facilities in Seattle, Washington and the location will become a therapeutics-focused product development site.