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The big pharmaceutical companies are increasingly withdrawing from the fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Biotech companies have taken a step to replace them but they may not have enough experience of developing new drugs to provide the next generation of antiinfectives.
A new ruling which forces US companies to account for stock options as expenses could penalize biotech companies. Until now, stock options have been an incentive to recruit top managers who would otherwise prefer larger companies.
Increasing reliance on a single gene in growing a variety of crops to make them resistant to bollworms could be dangerous, warn experts. Resistance is looming large among Bt crops in India.
In the wake of its accession to the World Trade Organization, China is changing its legislation to open up its market to foreign competition. This could be an opportunity for increased partnering among biotech companies to exploit complementary technologies.
Imagine a world in which biotech could satiate every human desire and correct every human imperfection. Margaret Atwood's latest novel paints a picture and it's not all that rosy.
With the Kyoto treaty demanding reductions in greenhouse gases and the loss of forests outpacing their renewal by natural means, could it be time to start planting genetically engineered forests? Stephan Herrera investigates.
States have identified biotech as an engine to economic prosperity. The obstacles for achieving success, however, especially for upstarts, may be considerable.
