Search

Despite their heightening popularity and potential individual and societal implications, little scientific attention has been given to the news coverage of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) kits (e.g. 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage). To accommodate, this study leverages the Analysis of Topic Model Networks to inductively develop a comprehensive overview of how major U.S. news media framed DTC-GT kits between 2009 and 2022, and then explicates the relationship of such coverage with kit sales between 2012 and 2019. We find four frames through which the news media talk about the kits: Utility, Scientific, Political-Economic, and Commercial. Further, as kit sales increase over time, news media maintain a strong emphasis on the utility of kits in their coverage, but also increasingly promote kits through product reviews. We find that this news coverage is influenced by―but does not influence―kit sales, and discuss implications pertaining to the DTC-GT industry and to biotechnology more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion Despite the progress in gene editing platforms like CRISPR/Cas9 with the potential to transform the standard of care for haemophilia, the language used to explain and discuss gene editing is not aligned across the haemophilia community. Here, we present the objective and rationale for developing a clear, consistent, and globally aligned gene editing lexicon to address these communication gaps.Effectively communicating complex gene editing concepts requires a clear and consistent vocabulary. Through collaboration with a diversity of haemophilia stakeholders, our main goal is to develop an accurate, informative lexicon which avoids overpromising or highly technical terminology. Using an innovative process, representatives from several patient and scientific haemophilia organizations and select biotechnology companies will develop and refine language concepts to be tested with approximately seventy participants across the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Germany. Participants will include lived experience experts (LEEs) and haematologists. The process will be overseen by the Lexicon Steering Committee of global experts from leading scientific and patient organizations in the haemophilia and gene editing fields.Initial feedback provided a robust foundation and rationale for building clear, consistent language around gene editing. This lexicon development framework will allow for increased understanding across the haemophilia community, including the development of valid informed consent and shared decision‐making materials.Results provide important building blocks for stimuli development and highlight the need for a novel gene editing lexicon. In the next phase, language stimuli will be tested with LEEs and haematologists to better understand audience preferences and help shape the final lexicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA and protein‐based therapeutics constitute almost half of recent drug approvals and receive considerable attention within biotechnology industries. Ensuring their stability and longevity in the context of heat, freezing, and lyophilization processes are paramount to a successful deployment. However, the advancement of formulations designed to achieve this goal is still in its nascent phase. To address these challenges, a new class of semi‐dendritic hydrophilic polymer with extended linear units is reported, which showcase very high hydration. These novel polymers demonstrated exceptional efficacy in preserving messenger RNA‐ (mRNA‐) and self‐amplifying RNA‐ (saRNA‐) lipid nanoparticles during freezing and lyophilization. Additionally, they have been found to protect therapeutic proteins against external stressors such as freezing, heat, and lyophilization. These polymers are non‐toxic, which enables their utilization at high concentrations and eliminates the requirement for removal prior to administration. It is found that their unique topology contributes to the high hydration. These excipients are anticipated to create new prospects in biotechnology, food science, and cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the ways in which the intellectual and political history of AIDS can assist in the chronological conceptualization of a pandemic such as COVID-19 as it is unfolding. It problematizes the idea of pandemic "beginnings" and "ends" to show that such definitions are shaped by the disciplinary location and thematic foci of relevant scholars. Central to this analysis is the notion that ethical and political contexts affect research on a pandemic in different ways at national and global levels at various points in its trajectory. The article develops this argument in relation to two main themes: firstly, with reference to the history of AIDS research in South Africa; secondly, with the philosophical concept of bioagency to understand the ways in which viruses and humans co-shape the course of epidemics over time. I first make the case for the development of historically informed, long-term ethnographic studies of COVID-19. Using bioagency as a point of departure to consider viruses as social actors, the essay then critiques the notion of bioinformationalism as catalyzing the widening accessibility of biomedical research. Instead, I discuss the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as protagonists in the operation of biocapital. I argue that the history of AIDS in South Africa can provide methodological and theoretical insights into how to interpret an unfolding epidemic, outlining an ambitious transdisciplinary research agenda for thinking about the temporality of a pandemic spanning the different, interconnected, scales of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-L-rhamnosidase (Rha) is ubiquitous in nature and has high feasibility in the food and biotechnology industries. A green and environmentally friendly method was used to improve the activity of Rha. Here, we show that the effects of ultrasound treatment on the Rha. Ultrasonic treatment at 80 W for 10 min yielded the highest enzyme activity. Treatment increased enzyme activity by 26.3% and half-life by 124 min. Further, treatment increased the catalytic efficiency of Rha and increased the substrate conversion rate by 33.88%. These results demonstrate that ultrasound increases the catalytic activity and stability of Rha. Thus, ultrasonic treatment of Rha is cost-effective on the industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma contamination of continuous cell cultures and collection viral strains remains a serious problem in the biotechnology industry and experimental research. The frequency of mycoplasma contamination of cultured cell lines and viruses is 15–35%, and in some cases up to 80%. Mycoplasmas cause various changes in cultures contaminated by them, including cell death. They have immunomodulatory properties and affect the yield of certain viruses propagated in cell cultures. Mycoplasmas do not have a cell wall, are able to pass through a bacterial filter, have the smallest genome (≈580 kb) among bacteria, and are capable of independent reproduction and existence. These microorganisms are resistant to most antibiotics commonly used in cell culture. Derivative groups of tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones (BM-Cyclin®, Ciprobay®, Baytril®, Plasmocin®, MRA) have shown certain effectiveness in decontaminating viral strains and cell cultures from mycoplasmas. Timely, highly sensitive detection and prevention of mycoplasma infection is of great importance. For routine scanning of mycoplasma infection of continuous cell cultures and viral strains, the methods of indicator cell culture (cytochemical) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are recommended, or for more accuracy, microbiological analysis of mycoplasma colonies on a special medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the acknowledged advantages of patent clearinghouses is that they favor the diffusion of technology. In traditional clearinghouses, patents are usually bundled in pools and sold at a pre-set price. Recently, in the biotechnology industry a new form of clearinghouse has been observed, where patent tariffs are instead bargained over by the clearinghouse members. Exchange is then guaranteed by arbitration agreements to which the negotiating parties are bound, should their bargaining reach a dead end. This paper assesses the effect on technology diffusion of this new type of clearinghouse. We show that such arbitration agreements, through their effect on the outside options, may reduce the incentives of a member of the clearinghouse to license to non-members. This result highlights the role of such arbitration agreements in the diffusion of technology outside the clearinghouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining cellulose from forest residues develops sustainable processes in the biotechnology industry, especially in producing biopolymers, which could replace or add petroleum-derived polymers. This research seeks to optimize the ideal conditions of the mixing process to maximize the efficiency in obtaining cellulose through a process consisting of two treatment media for pine sawdust, specifically evaluating the impact of three types of impellers (propeller, flat blades, and 45° inclined flat blades) at speeds of (150, 250 and 350 rpm). DIN 28131 was used for the design of stirred tanks. Simulations were carried out with a volume of 50 L. CFD and FSI simulations of the agitation behavior of forest biomass in a stirred tank reactor were performed. The ALE method was applied, and the models were solved using the LS-DYNA computer program. The results indicate that agitation with propellers and flat blades inclined at 150 and 250 rpm was the most efficient, minimizing cell damage and optimizing energy consumption. The impeller with flat blades inclined at 45° proved to be the best option for cellulose extraction. The novelty of this research is that not only the flow fields and the agitation behavior were found, but also the stresses in the impellers were found, and the force, moment, and power required by the motor in each simulation were revealed at a different speed. The power curves shown help to understand how energy consumption varies under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurial ecosystems in various geographical areas of the world are often compared in the context of entrepreneurship research. There are far fewer comparative studies on different types of ecosystems. In this study, a traditional entrepreneurial ecosystem based in Canada is compared with a digital entrepreneurial ecosystem specializing in life sciences, in Switzerland, bridging the gap between both and yielding previously unknown insights. The aim is twofold: to decipher both the differences and the similarities between the two models and to describe the predominant type of entrepreneurship in each case. The method consisted of a quantitative study of socio-economic data in combination with the administration of a qualitative analysis of interviews with—industry, government, and university—experts with links to one or the other ecosystem. The main findings showed that the traditional ecosystem had varied entrepreneurial support, public financial support, and collaborative networks between SMEs and start-ups, whereas in the specialized digital ecosystem, business support tended to be sector-specific with private financial support and networks emerging between multinationals and start-ups. Our study contributes to entrepreneurship research by showing that high-tech industries such as biotechnology and medical technology manage to go beyond a purely digital approach in digital ecosystems. The generic nature of the high-tech industries within the traditional ecosystem was the main driver of traditional entrepreneurship, while the sector-specific approaches of the industries within the specialized digital ecosystems were shown to drive innovative entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biotechnology company Grail developed a non-invasive blood test (Galleri test) which is claimed to detect 50 types of cancer at early and potentially curable stages. The initially promising results from prospective studies, and the anticipated financial success of Grail led the sequencing giant Illumina to purchase Grail for $8 billion (2021). Following this event, Grail collaborated with the UK National Health System to further clarify the test’s capability, in a 3-year prospective trial, along with the standard of care. At the end of the first year, UK-NHS announced that they will suspend the trial due to unsatisfactory clinical performance and until they analyze the data for the first year (which already enrolled 140,000 participants). Legal and financial issues between the interested parties are currently in flux. We previously expressed concerns about the sensitivity and specificity of the Galleri test. In this opinion paper, we revisit the hyped technology, and we provide new suggestions on the use of this test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of commercial autologous cell therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells requires complex manual manufacturing processes. Skilled labor costs and challenges in manufacturing scale-out have contributed to high prices for these products. We present a robotic system that uses industry-standard cell therapy manufacturing equipment to automate the steps involved in cell therapy manufacturing. The robotic cluster consists of a robotic arm and customized modules, allowing the robot to manipulate a variety of standard cell therapy instruments and materials such as incubators, bioreactors, and reagent bags. This system enables existing manual manufacturing processes to be rapidly adapted to robotic manufacturing, without having to adopt a completely new technology platform. Proof-of-concept for the robotic cluster's expansion module was demonstrated by expanding human CD8+ T cells. The robotic cultures showed comparable cell yields, viability, and identity to those manually performed. In addition, the robotic system was able to maintain culture sterility. Such modular robotic solutions may support scale-up and scale-out of cell therapies that are developed using classical manual methods in academic laboratories and biotechnology companies. This approach offers a pathway for overcoming manufacturing challenges associated with manual processes, ultimately contributing to the broader accessibility and affordability for personalized immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Perfusion cultures have been extensively used in the biotechnology industry to achieve high yields of recombinant products, especially those with stability issue. The WuXiUP™ platform represents a novel intensified perfusion that can achieve ultra‐high productivity. This study describes a representative scale-down 24-deep well plate (24-DWP) cell culture model for intensified perfusion clone screening. Methods: Clonal cell lines were expanded and evaluated in 24-DWP semi-continuous culture. Cell were sampled and counted daily with the aid of an automated liquid handler and high-throughput cell counter. To mimic perfusion culture, 24-DWP plates were spun down and resuspended with fresh medium daily. Top clones were ranked based on growth profiles and productivities. The best performing clones were evaluated on bioreactors. Results: The selected clones achieved volumetric productivity (Pv) up to 5 g/L/day when expressing a monoclonal antibody, with the accumulative harvest Pv exceeding 60 g/L in a 21-day cell culture. Product quality attributes of clones cultured in 24-DWP were comparable with those from bioreactors. A high seeding strategy further shortened the clone screening timeline. Conclusion: In this study, a 24-DWP semi-continuous scale-down model was successfully developed to screen for cell lines suitable for intensified perfusion culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the bidirectional relationship between collaboration network stability (CS) and technological innovation performance (TIP), and the moderating effect of knowledge network characteristics. Using patent data gathered from China's biotechnology industry between 1985 and 2022, we develop a simultaneous equation model and employ a three‐stage least squares estimation to explore the bidirectional relationship between CS and TIP, as well as to reveal the underlying moderating mechanisms. The results indicate that CS and TIP affect each other. The impact of CS on TIP has an inverted U‐shape, and TIP exerts a negative impact on CS. Knowledge network stability (KS) and diversity (KD) weaken the inverted U‐shaped influence of CS on TIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current hybrid work context, the significance of employee well-being and the enduring concern over job insecurity have become increasingly emphasised. However, our understanding of how the intricate interplay among the technology environment, individual behaviour, and personal characteristics impacts employee well-being and job insecurity remains incomplete. To bridge this knowledge gap, we have proposed a moderated mediation model grounded on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). This study delves into the impact of ubiquitous connectivity feature of technological environment (encompassing compatibility and presenteeism) on employee well-being and job insecurity. Additionally, we explore the mediating role of individual behaviour (i.e. Enterprise social media (ESM) enabled embeddedness), and the moderating role of personal characteristics (i.e. ESM self-efficacy) within these associations. By collaborating with a large biotechnology company in China, we conducted a two-wave survey. 189 responses from both study waves are used for final analysis using Partial Least Square (PLS) approach. The results revealed noteworthy mediation effects of ESM-enabled embeddedness and significant moderated mediation effects of ESM self-efficacy. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractCyclodextrin-glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) is a multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes many enzymatic reactions including cyclization, binding, disproportionation and hydrolysis reactions, playing an important role in the enzymatic synthesis of compounds that are widely used in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food, chemical and biotechnology industries. The present research is aimed to optimize the purification protocol for the extracellular CGTase of alkaliphilc bacterial strain Caldalkalibacillus mannanilyticus IB-OR17-B1 guaranteeing the enzyme homogeneity and its high yield. The improved combination of ultrafiltration and corn-starch (5% w/v) affinity sorption techniques resulted to mild and rapid isolation of electrophoritically homogenic enzyme at 18 × increase of its specific activity and yield 56%. The developed two-step procedure instead the practiced tree-step one using commonly ion-exchange chromatography as final purification technique highly contributes in advance of cost-effectiveness for industrial production and isolation of valuable CGTases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a personal account of one academic scientist who founded two biotechnology companies. Both companies were initially incubated within the walls of the university under a creative student incubator program whereby biology students could pursue their graduate academic degrees while gaining valuable biotechnology experiences. After the companies transitioned out of the university environment, the professor and his students pursued diagnostic and therapeutic drug development resulting in the completion of several clinical trials. The value of international scientific collaborations with colleagues at the University of Padova (Italy) is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Marmara University Social Sciences Institute / Öneri is the property of Marmara University, Institute of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The architecture, engineering, and construction industry is undergoing a significant shift, steering buildings away from resource‐intensive processes toward becoming instruments for climate mitigation. In this transformative landscape, integrating circular bio‐based alternatives and reducing emissions through biotechnological and enzymatic processes have significant potential. Specifically, mycelium‐bound composites have emerged as renewable alternatives for new materials and added‐value wood products. Despite their numerous advantages, integrating these materials into current engineering practices presents challenges deriving from the complex nature of the material´s production process and the transfer from the laboratory to the industrial scale. In this regard, the design and engineering of novel controlled environments are fundamental in maintaining optimal growth conditions during material production. This, in turn, influences the overall material performance and potential use in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on bioactive compounds is essential to improve human health; promote adequate nutrition; drive innovation in the food, agricultural and biotechnology industries; and contribute to the preservation of the environment. The genus Diplotaxis (Brassicaceae) currently comprises around forty species, some of which are edible, particularly Diplotaxis tenuifolia (wild rocket), Diplotaxis erucoides (wall rocket), Diplotaxis muralis (annual wall rocket), Diplotaxis viminea (perennial wall rocket), and Diplotaxis simplex. The leaves of these species are rich in fiber and essential minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Thirteen species have been characterized for their phenolic compounds, predominantly kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin glycosides. Furthermore, glucosinolate compounds were identified in nineteen species of the genus Diplotaxis. Many of the phytochemicals identified in Diplotaxis spp. demonstrated interesting biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, as well as cytotoxicity and antiproliferative properties. This article provides a review of the phytochemistry of the Diplotaxis genus, highlighting its importance in food, its biological properties, potential pharmacological applications, and the dearth of research on many of these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Contemporary Accounting Research is the property of Canadian Academic Accounting Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Through its fermentative capacities, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was central in the development of civilisation during the Neolithic period, and the yeast remains of importance in industry and biotechnology, giving rise to bona fide domesticated populations. Here, we conduct a population genomic study of domesticated and wild populations of S. cerevisiae. Using coalescent analyses, we report that the effective population size of yeast populations decreased since the divergence with S. paradoxus. We fitted models of distributions of fitness effects to infer the rate of adaptive (ωa) and non‐adaptive (ωna) non‐synonymous substitutions in protein‐coding genes. We report an overall limited contribution of positive selection to S. cerevisiae protein evolution, albeit with higher rates of adaptive evolution in wild compared to domesticated populations. Our analyses revealed the signature of background selection and possibly Hill–Robertson interference, as recombination was found to be negatively correlated with ωna and positively correlated with ωa. However, the effect of recombination on ωa was found to be labile, as it is only apparent after removing the impact of codon usage bias on the synonymous site frequency spectrum and disappears if we control for the correlation with ωna, suggesting that it could be an artefact of the decreasing population size. Furthermore, the rate of adaptive non‐synonymous substitutions is significantly correlated with the residue solvent exposure, a relation that cannot be explained by the population's demography. Together, our results provide a detailed characterisation of adaptive mutations in protein‐coding genes across S. cerevisiae populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Supreme Court held human genes to be unpatentable subject matter in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. The implications from this decision were, and to a large extent still are, unclear. However, in the decade since this decision, a number of studies have begun to shed light on the fallout of Myriad. This Note examines such studies and finds that they suggest a decline in investment and innovation in the biotech industry. In order to promote research and innovation in the field of genetics, this Note then advocates for legislative action to reestablish the validity of gene patents. This Note concludes by proposing a novel solution to the question of gene patent eligibility, suggesting that a narrowly tailored grant of patent eligibility to mutant variants of genes can strike the right balance of incentive and innovation for gene patents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotechnology students entering the workforce often struggle in their application of textbook knowledge to build the solutions that we see in science and health fields today. Some students may be naive to what a job in the biotechnology industry can encompass. Students should graduate having a firm grasp of the prospects of their field and have the confidence to begin contributing to the growth of the industry. For this, it is necessary for students to be able to start practising applications in their coursework before they graduate. A competition titled "Biotech BioBrawl" was incorporated in the University of Central Florida's Methods in Biotechnology (MCB4721C/MCB5722C) course agenda during the semester of Fall 2021. This competition challenged students to harness innovation and applied science in a group setting that led to the development and pitch of an original idea to a panel of judges with various biotechnology industry experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods for the enrichment of microorganisms rely on growth in a selective liquid medium or on an agar plate, followed by tedious characterization. Droplet microfluidic techniques have been recently used to cultivate microorganisms and preserve enriched bacterial taxonomic diversity. However, new methods are needed to select droplets comprising not only growing microorganisms but also those exhibiting specific properties, such as the production of value-added compounds. We describe here a droplet microfluidic screening technique for the functional selection of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms, which are of great interest in the bioremediation and biotechnology industries. Single bacterial cells are first encapsulated into picoliter droplets for clonal cultivation and then passively sorted at high throughput based on changes in interfacial tension in individual droplets. Our method expands droplet-based microbial enrichment with a novel approach that reduces the time and resources needed for the selection of surfactant-producing bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerning China's growth in biotechnology, the research on biotech start-ups in China yields significant implications. However, studies have not given enough attention to hospitals, which are critical players in the biotech industry. Because of the hospital-centric healthcare system, public tertiary hospitals in China are important partners for biotech start-ups. This study investigates the geographical relationship between public tertiary hospitals and biotech start-ups in Chinese cities. The findings suggest evidence of collocation, which reflects their alliances. This research thereby contributes to the existing knowledge of the biotech industry by integrating the healthcare system into the location of biotech firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present a shift in thinking in terms of implementing the systems and practices needed to transition to a regenerative approach in tourism. The article aims to provide concrete ways to change thinking and move towards a regenerative paradigm in the tourism industry. Design/methodology/approach: This viewpoint paper defines regenerative tourism, explores its principles and the possibilities for driving transformational change in tourism. It outlines what a conscious approach to regenerative tourism entails and outlines working principles for regenerative tourism. The article concludes with a discussion of new regenerative thinking and practices. Findings: Transitioning towards regenerative tourism requires a change in systems, thinking and practice. Regenerative tourism requires a change in socio-ecological awareness in terms of both awareness of the financial benefits to the tourist destination, local society, and the owners of tourist facilities. For tourism must be managed as a complex adaptive system and overcome the challenges of polarisation, which is even more acute in times of economic, political, and social crises. Regenerative tourism requires a deeply committed bottom-up approach that is destination-based, community-centred and environmentally focused. Research limitations/implications: The article presents a point of view; it is not a typical research article. Nevertheless, it provides a rich field for future research in the implementation of regenerative tourism activities. Practical and social implications: After indicating the scientific basis of regenerative tourism, the article provides recommendations and courses of action that can be used by tourism entrepreneurs. It can also be confidently used by entrepreneurs in other industries. Originality/value: This paper is based on both the literature on the subject and the reflections and recommendations of female researchers who share their long experience from different perspectives - economics, environment, and biotechnology - both academically and from business practice. As a result, the study identifies not only recommendations but also good practices that tourism entrepreneurs can apply to run their business in a regenerative way, while taking care of society, the economy, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the impact of information on biopharmaceutical stock prices via an event study encompassing 503,107 news releases from 1,012 companies. We distinguish between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and apply three asset pricing models to estimate their abnormal returns. Acquisition-related news yields the highest positive return, while drug-development setbacks trigger significant negative returns. We also find that biotechnology companies have larger means and standard deviations of abnormal returns, while the abnormal returns of pharmaceutical companies are influenced by more general financial news. To better understand the empirical properties of price movement dynamics, we regress abnormal returns on market capitalization and a sub-industry indicator variable to distinguish biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and find that biopharma companies with larger capitalization generally experience lower magnitude of abnormal returns in response to events. Using longer event windows, we show that news related to acquisitions and clinical trials are the sources of potential news leakage. We expect this study to provide valuable insights into how diverse news types affect market perceptions and stock valuations, particularly in the volatile and information-sensitive biopharmaceutical sector, thus aiding stakeholders in making informed investment and strategic decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel mass spectrometry (MS) based analytical platforms have enabled scientists to detect and quantify molecules within biological and environmental samples more accurately. Novel MS instrumentation starts as a prototype and, after years of development, can become a commercial product to be used by the larger MS community. Without the initial prototype, many MS‐based instruments today would not be produced. Additionally, biotechnology companies are the main drivers for research, development, and production of novel instruments, but the tools for prototyping instrumentation have never been more accessible. Here, we present a tutorial on prototyping instrumentation through the case study of developing the Next Generation IR‐MALDESI source to show that an engineering degree is not required to design and construct a prototype instrument with modern hardware and software. We discuss the prototyping process, the necessary skills required for efficient prototyping, and information about common hardware and software used within initial prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the collaboration success in the biotechnology industries through green ambidexterity innovation, pro-activeness and the dynamic capabilities. The mediating role of market turbulence has been observed in this regard. By implementing a quantitative research design and collecting data through questionnaires, the researcher effectively analyzed 237 questionnaires through SPSS. Results depicted that proactiveness insignificantly impacts the collaboration, whereas green ambidexterity innovation and dynamic capabilities significantly impacts the collaboration. Market turbulence played an insignificant mediation role in this regard. The present study holds various theoretical and practical implications. The study extends literature regarding the association between concerned variables which have not exclusively studied before. Practically this study provides insights to the professionals and policy makers of biotechnology industry regarding the significance of collaboration. The research limitations and future research indications have also been addressed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to reveal the contribution mechanism of various types of intrafirm networks formed among inventors to firms' searching for new knowledge. This study also intends to show how this mechanism is influenced by the geographic dispersion of inventors and the external alliance of firms. Design/methodology/approach: This study develops an analytical framework building on social network theory to explain the collective search among inventors within the firm. The authors validate the hypotheses using the data from 316 publicly traded biotechnology firms in the USA. Findings: As demonstrated by the findings, intrafirm network clustering facilitates the search for new knowledge. The geographic dispersion of inventors' location has a negative moderating effect on this relation, whereas the number of alliance partners has a positive moderating effect on this relation. By contrast, the search for new knowledge is hampered by the intrafirm network average path length. The geographic dispersion of inventors positively moderates this relation, whereas a firm's alliance partner number negatively moderates this relation. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the joint effect of intrafirm networks, inventors' geographic locations and external alliances on the new knowledge-searching process. This study points out that new knowledge acquired through inventors' geographic locations and alliance partners is internalized efficiently according to different types of internal networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives set in the European Green Deal constitute the starting point of this review, which then focuses on the current implementation gap between agro-industrial wastes as resources for large-scale bioprocesses (e.g., baker's yeast, bioethanol, citric acid, and amino acids). This review highlights the current lack of sustainability of the post-harvest processing of grapes and apples. In light of the European Green Deal, industrial biotechnology often lacks sustainability as well. We reviewed the recent progress reported in the literature to enhance the valorization of grape and apple pomace and the current failure to implement this research in technical processes. Nevertheless, selected recent papers show new perspectives to bridge this gap by establishing close collaborations between academic teams and industrial partners. As a final outcome, for the first time, we drew a circular flow diagram that connects agriculture post-harvest transformation with the industrial biotechnology and other industries through the substantial valorization of apple and grape pomace into renewable energy (solid biofuels) and sugar extracts as feedstock for large-scale bioprocesses (production of baker's yeast industry, citric acid, bioethanol and amino acids). Finally, we discussed the requirements needed to achieve the successful bridging of the implementation gap between academic research and industrial innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Numerous biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms have undergone considerable changes and adapted to the challenge of developing sustainable products and services. However, few studies have explored the factors that contribute to the success of external innovation and value co-creation strategies adopted by biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms. The purpose of this study is to examine how biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries use value co-creation strategies to obtain external resources. Design/methodology/approach: This study developed a conceptual framework based on the relevant literature. The study applied a resource-based approach, dynamic capability theory and a qualitative multiple-case study design to investigate several research questions; semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from 11 biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms in Taiwan, and the data extracted from the interview content were axially coded. Findings: This study revealed that factors such as dynamic marketing capabilities and process optimization contributed to the success of the aforementioned strategies; several propositions were also developed on the basis of the literature review and coded data, thereby providing insights regarding the relative efficacy and propriety of various external innovation and value co-creation strategies and models in various situations and contexts. Firms and technology providers might enter a technology licensing agreement, establish a joint venture company; participate in a merger/acquisition depending on their size, research and development capabilities; or goals and time- and cost-related factors. Originality/value: The main original contributions of this study are the proposed conceptual framework and the insights provided regarding the relative efficacy and propriety of different external innovation and value co-creation strategies and models in different situations and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]