Chugai started phase III clinical trial of Actemra for COVID-19 pneumonia in Japan
On Apr. 8, 2020, Chugai Pharma announced that it is working to start a phase III clinical trial…
Amgen established Amgen Astellas BioPharma as wholly-owned affiliate In Japan
On Apr. 1, 2020, Amgen announced it had consummated the purchase from Astellas of 49% of shares of…
Fujifilm announced start of phase III clinical trial of influenza antiviral drug ‘Avigan Tablet’ on COVID-19 patients
On Mar. 31, 2020, FUJIFILM announced initiation of a phase III clinical trial to evaluate the safety and…
Ampligen to be tested by Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases as potential treatment for SARS-CoV-2
On Mar. 8, 2020, AIM ImmunoTech announced that the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) in Japan will…
US DoD exercised option for IXIARO vaccine for Japanese encephalitis with Valneva
On Jan. 14, 2020, Valneva announced that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) had exercised an option to…
Amgen acquired worldwide rights to psoriasis drug Otezla (apremilast) For $13.4 Billion
On Aug. 26, 2019, Amgen acquired worldwide rights to Otezlaﾮ (apremilast), the only oral, non-biologic treatment for psoriasis…
CDC published ACIP recommendations on use of Japanese encephalitis vaccine
On Jul. 19, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published recommendations from the Advisory Committee…
Takeda Pharmaceutical acquired Shire
On Jan. 8, 2019, Takeda Pharmaceutical announced the completion of its acquisition of Lexington, Massachusetts-based Shire for a…
Bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate) published
On Mar. 11, 2016, Japanese scientists announced they had discovered a species of bacteria that was “eating” its…
BioCryst’s RAPIVAB(TM) (peramivir injection) received FDA approval for treatment of influenza in adults
On Dec. 22, 2014, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved RAPIVAB (peramivir…
OHSU, partners Kineta, U of Washington, VGTI Florida awarded $10 million NIH contract to develop new vaccine adjuvants
On Oct. 20, 2014, Oregon Health & Science University’s Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (OHSU) announced it was…
CDC published new recommendations for use of Japaneseﾠ encephalitis vaccine in children
On Nov. 15, 2013, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to extend existing recommendations for use…
Biotechnology | COVID-19 | Diagnostics | Disease | Genomics | Therapeutics
The Human Genome Project was completed
On Apr. 13, 2003, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium announced the completion of the Human Genome Project…
Sanford Health acquired Hematech
On Jan. 4, 2013, Sanford Health announced the acquisition of Sioux Falls-based biotech company Hematech, a subsidiary of…
Tomato genome was published in Nature
On May 31, 2012, the tomato genome was published in Nature, culminating years of work by the Tomato…
Japan Approved GM papaya Seed resistant to the Ringspot-Virus
On Dec. 1, 2011, Rainbow Papaya from Hawaii was approved for commercial shipments to Japan. This announcement marks…
Merck announced it was closing its Rosetta Research Center
On Oct. 22, 2008, Merck announced it was closing its Rosetta Research Center and would layoff 300 employees…
The International Tomato Genome Sequencing Project was launched
On Jan. 28, 2004, the International Tomato Genome Sequencing Project was begun by an international consortium including participants…
The Genome Sequencing Center at Washington University – St Louis completed sequencing of one third of the human genome
On Dec. 2, 1999, an international team of researchers at the Sanger Centre near Cambridge, England; University of…
Here’s the Beef: Japan Clones Adult Cows
On Oct. 8, 1998, a team from Kinki University reported the first successful cloning of adult cows. To…
Hematech relocated to Sioux Falls
In 1998, Hematech was co-founded by University of Massachusetts researcher Jim Robl, relocated to Sioux Falls. Dr. Robl…
Tumor blood vessel growth inhibitor compound was produced
In 1989, researcher Judah Folkman and his team from Boston Children’s Hospital produced a synthetic compound that inhibited…
The first major DNA sequence databases were established in the U.S. (GenBank) and Germany
In 1982, the first major DNA sequence databases were established in the U.S. (GenBank) and Germany. GenBank ®…
The first use of artificial blood in a patient takes place at the University of Minnesota Hospital
On Nov. 20, 1979, Dr. Robert Anderson from the University Hospital injected Fluosol, a blood substitute developed in…
Satoshi Ōmura Discovered the pioneering Wonder Drug drug ivermectin
In 1973, Satoshi Ōmura discovered the extraordinary microorganism that produces the avermectins (from which ivermectin is derived) that…
First large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by FDA
In 1954, first large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when…
Shell Chemical Company’s Aldrin used by the US government to attack the Japanese beetle in the Midwest
In 1950, Shell Chemical Company’s Aldrin, one of the deadliest chemicals available, was used by the U.S. government…
An outbreak of influenza occurred in Japan and Korea in American troops
In late 1946, an outbreak of influenza occurred in Japan and Korea in American troops. It spread in…
U.S. military adviser in Japan sent Norin 10 (dwarfing gene) to the U.S.
In 1946, D.C. Salmon, a U.S. military adviser on duty in Japan, sent home Norin 10 – the…
Mike Mansfield elected to represent Montana in US Congress
In 1943, Mike Mansfield served Montana as Representative and Senator in the U.S. Congress for thiry-four years, and…