Features in 2009

J. Craig Venter reflects on an effort spanning decades to create a living cell from chemically synthesized building blocks.

As the market for DNA on demand continues to grow, increases in the scale and efficiency of new genome engineering approaches promise to accelerate product discovery and even open up new commercial opportunities.

Despite the global economic slowdown, biologics managed single-digit growth in 2008, driven mainly by continued high growth in sales of antibodies and insulins. Novel biologics in development look promising, but crowding, pricing and reimbursement are emerging as longer-term concerns.

Dozens of companies are trying to leverage social networking and other software tools to accelerate trials and reduce their cost.

A survey of Canadian biotech firms reveals that their biotech collaborations with developing countries are not only significant but also increasingly reciprocal in terms of the exchange of financial resources and technological know-how.

The sour global economy has left many small public firms gasping for air.

Nature Biotechnology talks to some of the leading characters behind the Genentech legend.

Undercapitalization and overgenerous boardroom compensation for management have been major contributors to the poor performance of UK biotech.

Despite a challenging business environment, entrepreneurial health biotech companies in South Africa are finding ways to succeed.

Although fewer antibody fragments have entered the clinic than full-length monoclonal antibodies, proof-of-concept studies for these therapeutics remain the main hurdle.

The Obama administration looks to be a welcome shot in the arm for the scientific endeavor, but the current economic crisis is likely to keep several issues of key interest to biotech firmly on the back burner.

The cancer vaccine field is littered with promising products that failed to show clinical efficacy. Could it finally be on the verge of a first US approval?