Biogen, Danish company 
in patent spat worth billions

Biotech giant Biogen is locked in a fight with a Danish company over a crucial patent that protects a nearly $3 billion multiple sclerosis drug.

Cambridge-based Biogen is battling with Copenhagen-based Forward Pharma, and both have filed a patent for treating multiple sclerosis with daily doses of 480 mg of dimethyl fumarate. The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board declared an "interference" yesterday — signalling it will address overlapping patents filed by separate parties.

"It is essentially enormously important to have that protection," said Josh Lerner, a professor at Harvard Business School. "When you look at the price trajectory of what happens when you have drugs go off-patent, you typically get a dramatic drop in terms of price, in your ability to monetize the drug."

Forward Pharma's patent was filed in 2005. Biogen's patent was filed in 2012, and is the basis for Tecfidera, Biogen's blockbuster drug that was responsible for 
$2.9 billion in sales last year.

Still, the filing date of the patent is less important than when the actual invention was made. The PTAB will hold a hearing to determine which company invented the treatment first, and award them the patent.

Catherine Falcetti, a spokeswoman for Biogen, said the company's sales, along with its customers and patients, are not affected.

"Our ability to market it is not impacted, and patients can still get Tecfidera," Falcetti said. "We intend to aggressively defend 
this portfolio."

Forward Pharma's patent has led to the creation of its own MS drug, which is still in development.

"This is a key step in advancing our intellectual property in the U.S. covering the use of 480 mg per day of DMF in MS," said Peder Andersen, chief executive of Forward Pharma, in a statement. "We look forward to the start of the interference proceeding and additional progress with our five other pending patent applications in the U.S. and in Europe covering the 480 mg daily dose of DMF."

Lerner said the dispute will likely not reach a conclusion.

"In many of these cases, there's some sort of settlement reached," he said. "There's some sort of licensing deal and payments made."

Other industry analysts said an acquisition of Forward Pharma by Biogen or other companies is among the potential resolutions.

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nokia confirms acquisition of French telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent

Photo by: 

The Associated Press

FILE - This Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015 shows the Nokia head offices in Espoo, Finland. Nokia says it is in advanced discussions to acquire the French telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent. In a brief statement Tuesday, the Helsinki-based mobile technology concern said the two companies are in advanced negotiations "with respect to a potential full combination which would take the form of a public exchange offer by Nokia for Alcatel-Lucent." (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP, File) FINLAND OUT

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nokia confirms acquisition of French telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent

Photo by: 

The Associated Press

FILE - This Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015 shows the Nokia head offices in Espoo, Finland. Nokia says it is in advanced discussions to acquire the French telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent. In a brief statement Tuesday, the Helsinki-based mobile technology concern said the two companies are in advanced negotiations "with respect to a potential full combination which would take the form of a public exchange offer by Nokia for Alcatel-Lucent." (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP, File) FINLAND OUT

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asia shares meander as China GDP data disappoints

TOKYO — European shares rose early Wednesday on expectations that European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi will douse speculation over a possible early exit from the ECB monetary stimulus program that is due to last until September 2016. Shares fell in Asia, however, after China reported its economy grew at a 7.0 percent annual rate in January-March, the slowest pace in six years.

KEEPING SCORE: Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.4 percent to 7,106.24 and Germany's DAX climbed 0.6 percent to 12,299.74. France's CAC 40 gained 0.7 percent to 5,253.07. Wall Street's outlook for the day was mixed, with S&P futures down 0.03 while Dow futures were trading 0.06 percent higher.

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK: Despite glimmers of improvement on Europe's horizon, Draghi, the ECB head is expected to tell reporters the central bank for the 19-country region using the euro will stick with monthly bond purchases meant to raise inflation from an anemic 0.1 percent.

THE QUOTE: "Ahead of European trade, we are looking for mild gains in the major bourses," Stan Shamu, market strategist for IG, said in a commentary. He added that "Mario Draghi could make some positive commentary around signs of improvement in the economy."

CHINA DATA: China's economy cooled further as manufacturing and retail sales slowed in January-March, raising pressure on Beijing to keep the world's second-largest economy on track. Growth fell to 7 percent from the previous quarter's 7.3 percent, the weakest performance since it tumbled to 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009.

ASIA'S DAY: Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index fell 0.2 percent to 19,869.76. Hong Kong's Hang Seng recovered from early losses, gaining 0.2 percent to 27,618.82 and South Korea's Kospi gained 0.4 percent to 2,119.96. But the Shanghai composite index yoyo'd to end the day 1.2 percent lower at 4,084.16. In Australia, whose resource sector is vulnerable to fluctuations in Chinese demand, the S&P ASX/200 fell 0.6 percent to 5,908.40. Shares in Taiwan, New Zealand and most of Southeast Asia were also lower.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude rose 75 cents to $54.04 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose $1.38 to close at $53.29 a barrel on Tuesday. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, rose 57 cents to $60.38 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 119.57 yen from 119.45. The euro fell to $1.0575 from $1.0648.

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Housing, retail plan submitted for Allston site

A Cambridge firm is proposing to build 138 apartments and 8,000 square feet of new retail space at the site of a longtime bicycle shop in Allston, a project cast as answering Mayor Martin J. Walsh's call for more middle-class housing.

The Eden Properties project is proposed for 89-95 Brighton Ave. and 41 Gardner St., which are listed as contaminated "brownfield" sites, according to documents filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday.

"Allston Village is an important neighborhood that can benefit from a new mixed-use residential project that embraces a range of price points," Noah Maslan, one of Eden Properties' principles, told the Herald. "The project will improve an existing brownfields site, expand residential opportunities, enliven the streetscape with ground-floor retail and encourage alternate forms of transit."

For 45 years, the Brighton Avenue site was home to International Bicycle Centers, which closed in January. Eden Properties' filing says its project will "further the goals of the Boston 2030 Housing Plan by creating new housing for Boston's middle-class workforce."

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Ticker

BRA gets bids 
on garage project

Eight development teams submitted proposals to redevelop the city-owned Winthrop Square garage in Boston's Financial District by yesterday's due date.

The groups are Trans National Properties, Lend Lease Development Inc. and the Hudson Group, the Fallon Co., Millennium Partners, Accordia Partners, Trinity Acquisitions, Lincoln Property Co. and HYM Investment Group, according to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The Walsh administration in February issued a request for interest in the shuttered garage's redevelopment even after Trans National Group owner Steve Belkin — who originally planned a 1,000-foot tower at the site in 2006 — had reopened talks with the city about a scaled-down project.

Wage rally planned

Organizers expect thousands of low-wage workers and supporters to rally and march today through Boston as part of the "Fight for $15" movement.

The Wage Action Coalition of union, community, college and religious groups will kick off wage inequality protests set to start tomorrow in other cities here and abroad. The march starts at 4 p.m. on Huntington Avenue near Northeastern University and continues through downtown to Chinatown.

THE SHUFFLE

Blend Therapeutics, Inc. announced the 
appointment of Drew Fromkin as president, CEO and member of the Watertown biopharmaceutical company's board of directors. Fromkin previously served as president and CEO of Clinical Data Inc. until its acquisition by Forest Laboratories.

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Business Protocol: Lying a dangerous quality in workplace

Should Hillary Clinton be worried?

We all tend to embellish the truth, here and there. Some distort the facts. Others straight up lie.

Clinton, a newly declared 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, will face more withering attacks over her version of the truth about her private email server and other past scandals. How she responds may be the difference between winning and losing.

We're all not political candidates, but how you fess up can be pivotal to your career.

So the question is: When is it OK to lie?

Clancy Martin, an author and professor, has said "relationships last only if we don't always say exactly what we are thinking."

We go easy with the truth for altruistic reasons in order to make colleagues feel good, to be polite or to be a team player. Or maybe to just keep the peace.

But outright lies — especially at the highest levels — can be disastrous.

When then-President Richard Nixon said, "I am not a crook," it didn't save him. It wasn't water under the bridge, and history has not been kind to him.

When then-President Bill Clinton said he "did not have sex with that woman" — White House intern Monica Lewinsky — it didn't save him either.

Interestingly Nixon was driven out of office and Bill Clinton hung around and is now one of the highest-paid speakers in the nation. A jaded public, it appears, has come to expect politicians to disappoint.

But if your business is based on credibility and professionalism, embellishing the truth — as Brian Williams did — is a career-killing gamble.

Your reputation is all you have in business. Stretching the truth is part of human nature and maybe some will understand and forgive.

But why risk it?

Brian Williams is asking for a lot, and I'm not sure viewers can move on from his tall tales.

But will voters forgive Hillary Clinton? That question is going to be the story of this election cycle. If she can tell her story with conviction and own up to any stumbles, she'll be the first female U.S. president. That's a tall order.

For the rest of us, your reputation is all you have. Guard it, defend it, preserve it, honor it and others will, too.

Judith Bowman is president and founder of Protocol Consultants International and author of "Don't Take the Last Donut: New rules of Business Etiquette" and "How to Stand Apart @ Work … Transforming 'Fine' to Fabulous!" Email her at Judith@protocolconsultants.com.

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hearst taps Twitter's Periscope for live-video blast across 18 digital brands

Hearst is latching on to the recent craze for live-broadcasting video apps, with the media company planning to host live feeds on Twitter's Periscope Monday night across all of its 18 magazine and digital brands.

On Monday at 10 p.m. ET, Hearst will stream 18 simultaneous live broadcasts -- each pegged to the theme of "Bedtime Stories" -- on Periscope, promoted with the hashtag "#bedtimestory." The video content will feature editors, personalities and social-media influencers.

Some examples: Cosmopolitan's "resident shirtless hunk" CJ Richards is on board to read kids' classic "Goodnight Moon" while stroking a kitten; Redbook will feature "The Bachelor" season 17 contestant Sean Lowe reading an excerpt from his new book, "For the Right Reasons"; and Elle.com editor Leah Chernikoff will interview plus-size model Elly Mayday about her evening beauty routine.

Troy Young, president of Hearst Magazines Digital Media, said the "Bedtime Stories" stunt on Periscope is akin to "'Tonight Show' meets our magazine brands."

"It's an experiment in live programming," he said. "We're trying to learn about live and broadcast in this particular environment." Hearst is not generating any revenue, per se, from the Periscope broadcasts.

Hearst distributes content across multiple partners, including Microsoft's MSN, Young said. He cited Cosmopolitan's recently launched channel on Snapchat Discover as reaching more than 1 million people per day.

"We are aggressive on virtually every social platform, and (Periscope) is part of that," he said. "It's reflective of our embrace of all kinds of distribution channels."

As for why Hearst opted to go with Periscope, as opposed to upstart Meerkat or another live-broadcasting platform, Young cited Periscope's "intimate connection with Twitter." But, he added: "Obviously it's early in how this market is shaping up." Twitter bought Periscope for a reported $100 million and launched the app late last month.

How regularly Hearst expects to produce live Internet broadcasts in the future remains to be seen, Young said.

Hearst's other Periscope broadcasts set for Monday include: a chef from The Cheesecake Factory preparing a special, off-the-menu cheesecake for the Delish food site; author Benjamin Percy reading an excerpt from his new novel, "The Dead Lands," for Esquire; and Seventeen revealing its May 2015 cover image -- as announced by a puppy.

For February 2015, Hearst had 79.9 million unique monthly U.S. users across desktop and mobile platforms, according to comScore. That puts it in 24th place just behind Conde Nast (80.9 million) and BuzzFeed (81.7 million). The top three U.S. Internet properties for February per comScore were: Google (240.8 million), Yahoo (216.8 million) and Facebook (206.5 million).

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hospitals eye models to address disasters

Crisis plans that can take hospitals months to develop could be produced in seconds with the right mathematical modeling — cutting out much of the painstaking human analysis — according to Boston professors who hope to incorporate these algorithms into local protocol.

"What these models enable you to do is figure out a complex situation with a lot of interacting factors. The tools help you make the best decision," said Ozlem Ergun, an associate professor in Northeastern's Mechanical and Industrial Engineering department. "Boston is a very specific place, where almost all the big hospitals are research hospitals, so it could really benefit from this kind of thing."

According to Ergun, these systems can determine the most efficient way for hospitals to respond to incidents such as outbreaks of disease, natural disasters or tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombings, which cause an influx of patients concentrated in one area.

"If you're in a situation where many people need access to hospitals, there could be several issues — problems with transportation, congestion due to the number of people, access limitations for security reasons," she said. "There needs to be a plan for things like how to use certain EMS vehicles and where patients should be directed based on their needs."

Ergun, who is reaching out to local hospitals to team up on preparedness efforts, came to Northeastern from the Georgia Institute of Technology in September, and has worked on issues surrounding humanitarian crisis response for organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Jarrod Goentzel, founder and director of the MIT Humanitarian Response Lab, has been using these methods to help West Africa cope with the Ebola outbreak, and said the same approach could be used in Boston to create a central point among its cluster of large hospitals to house supplies needed in crisis situations.

"We have lots of hospitals here. In a panic mode, everyone is trying to procure supplies," he said. "Basic human nature is to hoard and hoard and be prepared. But the more centrally you stock things, the more risk that can cover."

Paul Biddinger, chief of emergency preparedness at Massachusetts General Hospital, said each local hospital conducts a yearly analysis using tools like FEMA flood maps, but that potential coordination among hospitals is not analyzed.

He added that predicting the frequency and severity of pandemics is tricky, and any resources that could shed light on those events "would be of use."

"Anything that will more accurately predict stressors on the system will help us know how to deal with those stressors," he said.

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Activists call for stricter checks of ride-hailing drivers

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women is urging ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar to come up with tougher background checks for their drivers.

Mass NOW spokeswoman Katie Prisco-Buxbaum said the companies have a responsibility to address safety concerns of women and other riders following reports of sexual and physical violence in the Boston area.

Prisco-Buxbaum said that while no screening is perfect, the companies should begin using the more rigorous methods like fingerprinting or other identification measures for drivers.

In February, Boston police charged an Uber driver with sexually assaulting a 30-year-woman. In December, an Uber driver from Boston was accused of driving a woman to a secluded location where he beat and sexually assaulted her.

The state is weighing new regulations for ride-hailing services.

18.38 | 0 komentar | Read More