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You will notice something different aboutthis edition—most significantly that its namehas changed. MassBio News was redesigned aspart of an organization-wide rebranding andrepositioning initiative. Welcome to the newMassBio.
We are confident our new name moreappropriately captures who we are and what wedo. We will be more accessible, which iscrucial as we continue to position theorganization-- and the Massachusetts cluster--as world leaders in the biotechnology industry
and is reflective ofthe evolution of theindustry inMassachusetts andbeyond.
The new logorepresents ourstrength as anorganization, inconnecting andconvening, inbringing togetherindustry leaders toteach and to learn.Most importantly, itrepresents the future
of the industry and the hope it creates forpatients around the world.
The new look is not just about a name and alogo. In 2010, we will celebrate our 25thanniversary as the voice of the biotechnologyindustry. We have expanded our PurchasingConsortium, and our professional developmentand networking opportunities.
We have created Signature Events, includingthe highly regarded MassBio Investors Forumtaking place this year on Oct. 6. Working withthe MassBioEd Foundation, we have
We have spent the last year
streamlining yourtrade association
so that ourprograms and
services meet theneeds of each and
every member of MassBio.
SSeeee RREEBBRRAANNDDIINNGG PPaaggee 66
Vol. 2, No. 3 | A publication of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council | Fall 2009
Sponsor Sarah Noble of the Canadian ConsulateGeneral speaks with Mustapha Hamidi at last year’sInvestors Forum.
BY MEAGHAN CASEY
Through the lens of collaboration and globalization, the 11th annualMassBio Investors Forum aims to outline a new direction and businessmodel for the Commonwealth’s biotech community.
The event, which will be held Oct. 6 at the Sheraton Boston hotel, isconsidered to be New England’s largest biotechnology investor forum,designed to facilitate interactions and dialogue among regional biotechcompanies and the investor community. In this challenging economiclandscape, MassBio’s efforts to build relationships and drive investment aremore critical than ever.
“We’ve been working hard to involve more investors this year and offeran exciting set of panels on how to survive in these tough economic times,”said Lauren Laidlaw, MassBio director of member services.
SSeeee FFOORRUUMM PPaaggee 66
MassBio President and CEO Robert K. Coughlin, front center, joinedbiotech executives from New York and New Jersey to ring the closingbell of the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York August 17.SOUND THE BELL
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW LOOK:
Page
s 4-
5
Investors Forum willhave an international feel
AA PPUUBBLLIICCAATTIIOONN OOFF::MMaassssaacchhuusseettttss BBiiootteecchhnnoollooggyy CCoouunncciill
One Cambridge CenterCambridge, MA 02142
617-674-5100www.massbio.org
Robert K. Coughlin, President and CEOImran Nasrullah, Chief Business Officer
John HeffernanVP of Policy and External Affairs
BBooaarrdd ooff DDiirreeccttoorrssMark Leuchtenberger, ChairGeoffrey F. Cox, Vice Chair
Michael W. O’Hara, TreasurerGlenn Batchelder, Clerk
Mike Webb, Immediate Past Chair
GRANT COMMUNICATIONS
CONSULTING GROUP
Boston/New York781-598-8200
e-mail: [email protected]
PRODUCED BY:
2—— MassBio News FFaallll 22000099
One month ago, our nation, our state and our industrywere forever changed with the passing of SenatorEdward M. Kennedy.
On behalf of MassBio’s member companies and theCommonwealth's biotech cluster, I think I speak for usall when saying we have lost a friend, a leader and achampion of the life sciences.
For more than four decades, Sen. Kennedy devotedhis life to serving the American people. He advocatedfor education, healthcare and equality. In May 2008, thelegendary fighter took on a different battle. Despite hisdiagnosis of cancer, he continued to press on and lay thegroundwork for national healthcare reform in 2009.
During his tenure, Sen. Kennedy worked tirelessly tosecure Massachusetts’ role as a leader in biotechnology.He understood the life-changing potential of our
industry, and encouraged the talent and innovative spiritof our workforce. He was also one of the strongest, mosteffective advocates for biomedical research.
Thanks to Sen. Kennedy's efforts, legislation waspassed in 1971 that quadrupled the amount of fundingfor cancer research and prevention, and created theNational Cancer Institute. Among the many otherlandmark laws enacted under his leadership are the RyanWhite Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Actof 1990, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Revitalization Act of 1993 and the Food and DrugAdministration Modernization Act of 1997. He foughtfor increased NIH research funding between 1998 and2003, during which time the NIH’s budget doubled from$13.6 billion to $27 billion. He also worked tirelessly topass the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of
2008, allowing people to take full advantage of thepromise of personalized medicine without fear ofdiscrimination. And earlier this year, Sen. Kennedyintroduced the 21st Century Cancer Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment(ALERT) Act, a bill to provide funding for promisingresearch to prevent and detect cancers at an early stage.
It was his dream to improve the health, welfare andquality of life of all Americans. The realization of thatdream will live on for centuries to come.
Our thoughts are with Sen. Kennedy’s family and themillions of families whose lives he touched. He will bedeeply missed, but his remarkable legacy will never beforgotten.
Robert K. Coughlin is President and CEO of MassBio.
Robert K. Coughlin
We’ve lost a friend and a leader
Mark R. BamforthJeff Elton
Erroll De SouzaStephen Faraci
Fereydoun FirouzScott Gillis
Steven GilmanJohn K. Hennessy
Timothy HuntPeter Isakson
Edwin M. Kania Jr.Michael Kowolenko
Laurie Bartlett KeatingGeoff MacKay
David ReifSteven G. Richter
Amit SachdevFrank ThomasCharles Wilson
Lawrence S. Wittenberg
One Cambridge Center | Cambridge, MA 02142 | P: 617.674.5100 | [email protected]
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Linguistic Systems, Inc.Morgan Scientific Inc.MS&L WorldwideTradition EnergyStem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International
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MassBio welcomes our newest members
Biotech employment in Mass. on the rise
Industry snapshot
Despite the faltering economy, the biotechnology industry continued to add jobs in Massachusetts through 2008, according to analysis done by the team at MassBio.
There were 45,905 jobs in the biopharma industry inMassachusetts in 2008, up about a thousand from theyear before.The industry has seen 42.6 percentgrowth between 2001 and 2008. Compare that tooverall Massachusetts employment, which declined 1.7 percent during roughly that same period.
Contrary to popular perception, biopharmamanufacturing employment growth outpaced that ofthe industry as a whole, increasing 43.6 percentbetween 2001 and 2008.
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 1932-2009
BY MEAGHAN CASEY
The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council hasannounced a new partnership with SourceOne, aBoston-based energy-services provider.
The company was chosen as a primarysupplier in the MassBio Purchasing Consortiumin an effort to provide member companies withcomprehensive energy-management and power-solution services.
“In the past few years, we have heard frommembers that they want the opportunity to bettermanage energy costs,” said MBC President andCEO Robert K. Coughlin. “We’ve also heardfrom members seeking to conserve energy and to
plan for a sustainable future. This partnershipwith SourceOne will allow them to meet both ofthose goals.”
“We are excited to have been selected as thestrategic energy partner to the MassachusettsBiotechnology Council to assist their members inmanaging their energy needs,” said SourceOneCEO Brian Casey. “We share the council’scommitment to energy efficiency and we arepleased to play a role in reducing energy use atmembers companies’ existing facilities, alongwith providing future recommendations forincorporating sustainability measures to helpthese facilities operate in the healthiest, most
environmentally sound manner possible.”Reflecting the unique requirements of
MassBio members, SourceOne will use acompetitive power-supply procurement approachfor individual members, assuring best provider,product and price available in the marketplace.SourceOne can also assist MassBio memberswith energy-efficiency initiatives,renewable/clean energy sourcing and carbonquantification and reduction strategies. Finally,SourceOne will assist the MassBio economicdevelopment team engage prospect companiesby providing guidance on energy issues.
Visit www.MassBio.org for more details.
Partnership with Source One energizes MassBio
BY MEAGHAN CASEY
Fisher Scientific, a new primarysupplier in MassBio’s PurchasingConsortium, is helping members to reel insavings – all while maintaining theirinnovative edge.
A part of Waltham-based Thermo FisherScientific Inc., Fisher Scientific partneredwith MassBio in April to provide memberswith a complete portfolio of discountedlaboratory equipment, chemicals, suppliesand services. Jeannie Deegan, MassBio’saccount manager at Fisher Scientific,estimates that more than 80 percent ofMassBio’s membership has since beenworking with Fisher Scientific to discuss
and review the benefits of the agreement.“The response has been very good, and
the process very informative for bothorganizations,” said Deegan. “We’velearned so much more about theirmembers and they’ve learned so muchmore about Fisher Scientific. This changehas made all the buyers take a look atwhat they were doing and say, ‘Wow, lookat what MassBio has done for us. Let’sdiscuss this and see if it’s to ouradvantage.’”
Through the contract, MassBiomembers can access more than 800,000products and save from 35-50 percent offof list price averages, with the highest
savings on the consumable products line.Fisher Scientific also offers a price-matchguarantee and free shipping. Deegan urgesany member companies that have nottaken advantage of the savings to learnmore.
“Give us the opportunity,” she said.“Let us show you how we can bring yousavings, and if you have uniquerequirements, let’s talk about them.”
To further open up communicationlines, Fisher Scientific hosted Innovation’09 – an event that featured technicalseminars and a vendor show. Thirty ofFisher Scientific’s more than 6,000suppliers were on hand on Aug. 27 to
showcase new products and cutting-edgetechnology. MassBio members also hadthe opportunity to network with theirFisher Scientific sales team. According toDeegan, the event is expected to becomean annual one.
“The motivation was to work withMassBio and present the benefits of ourrelationship,” said Deegan. “This isn’t justabout pricing. Pricing is probably evenmore important than ever in the economictrend that we’re in right now, but that’s notall that the relationship is about. It’s aboutbringing innovation and sharing sciencewith our researchers and end-users.”
From left, Eppendorf representative Sam Cramer shows Dong Wei and Ron Huang of Biogen Idec an electronic pipetteduring the Innovation ’09 event. PHOTOS: SEAN BROWNE
Fisher Scientificoffers discounts toMassBio members
Pei Jin of Novartis Biologics, left, speakswith BD Biosciences representative JackiNasuti during the event.
We are excited to have been selected as the
strategic energy partner to the Massachusetts
Biotechnology Council to assist their members
in managing their energy needs.
SourceOne CEO Brian Casey
“
Scientific savingsMassBio News FFaallll 22000099 —— 3
MassBio News FFaallll 220000994 — MassBio News FFaallll 22000099 — 5
Thank youto our
sponsors
Golf tournament
raises $100,000 for
biotech education
From far left:Gregory LoConte of SyntaPharmaceuticalshits a long drive; BobCoughlin, right,speaks with PaulLevy, President &CEO of Beth IsraelDeaconess MedicalCenter; DavidGoggin, Joe Kim,Doug Saffran andRyan White ofAmgen eye a putt.
The annual MassBio Golf Classic featured 18holes at Stowe Acres Country Club, food, drinks,networking and fun — all for an excellent cause,raising $100,000 for the MassBioEd Foundation.
MassBioEd’s BioTeach program strives toprovide every public high school in Massachusettswith the skills and tools that are necessary to teachbiotechnology. Since 2005, BioTeach has engagedhigh school students with hands-on lab experiencesthat inspire scientific curiosity, understanding, and,for many students, a career in the life sciences.
To date, the program has reached more than 100high schools, trained hundreds of teachers andtouched thousands of students.
Teeing off fore MassBioEd
Clockwise from left: MassBioEdExecutive Director Lance Hartfordthanks the crowd for coming at apost-tournament reception; BobCoughlin and AstraZeneca’s JohnHennessey, a MassBio board member, share with golfers theimportance of the MassBioEdFoundation to industry.
PHOTOS: SEAN BROWNE
Golfers from Corning Incorporated line up a putt.Golfers sign in at the registration table.
GOLD SPONSORSAirgasMDS PharmaLinde
SILVER SPONSORSCovance MUSA TechnologiesFisher ScientificIndigo Insurance
Services
BRONZE SPONSORSVeolia EnvironmentalServicesEdvotekMillenium
Pharmaceuticals
BASIC SPONSORSCBS RadioPatriot PartnersCubistAlert ScientificiMarcWorld Courier
HOLE SPONSORSAstraZenecaParexelDENS Facility ServicesFinnegan, Henderson,
Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
The Bostonian GroupColumbia InsurancePalatucci Executive
Search
6—— MassBio News FFaallll 22000099
The forum will also feature a greater inclusion ofinternational companies and foreign delegation members.Some of the forum participants will hail from nations suchas Canada, England and Brazil.
“No one organization, regardless of its resources, canrely solely on its own innovation,” said Dr. Reid J.Leonard, executive director licensing and external research,for Merck & Co., Inc. “Sure, there are many things we as acommunity can do on our own, but there’s no reason whywe should limit ourselves to thinking that way. There’smuch greater potential for bringing products forward if weall think globally.”
Leonard is serving on the steering committee for thisyear’s forum and fully supported the push to attract talentfrom other parts of the globe.
“There’s a tendency for biotech clusters to think ofourselves as being self-contained or self-sufficient,” saidLeonard. “That’s because within this geographic region wecontain academic institutions, medical centers, venturecapitalists, start-up companies and large pharma andmedical-device companies. But that fact, while it certainlypromotes productivity and growth in our region, is notsufficient to ensure long-term health of the industry. Weneed to be presenting ourselves with open arms to the restof the world.”
In addition to his planning efforts, Leonard will also beserving as moderator for a panel on strategic alliances. Asecond panel — Disease Foundations and Venture Capital:Can the two play in the same sandbox? — will look at howdisease foundations are investing and how biotechcompanies are collaborating with both venture and
foundations, a concept that was fully instituted at lastyear’s forum.
The event will also feature a plenary session on thealignment of pharma, biotech and venture capital.Company presentations will run throughout the day.Keynote speakers include Gary Pisano and G. StevenBurrill.
Pisano is a professor of business administration atHarvard Business School, and the author of “ScienceBusiness: The Promise, The Reality and The Future ofBiotech.” Since joining the Harvard faculty in 1988, hehas taught both MBA and executive level courses ontechnology and operations management, operationsstrategy, competitive strategy, product development and themanagement of innovation. A widely published author,Pisano has more than 25 research papers in print. He isalso the author of six books and has written case studies oncompanies such as BMW, ITT-Automotive, IBM, Intel, JetBlue, Merck, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Teradyne. He iscurrently writing a book on the management of science-based enterprises.
Burrill is chief executive officer of Burrill & Company,a San Francisco-based global leader in life sciences withprincipal activities in private equity, venture capital,merchant banking and media. In 2008, Burrill received theBayBio Pantheon 2008 DiNA lifetime achievement awardfor his worldwide biotech leadership. He has devoted hiscareer to helping life-science companies launch theiroperations and sustain their growth in the face of a rapidlychanging environment.
For more information or to register for the MassBioInvestors Forum, visit www.MassBio.org or contact LaurenLaidlaw at [email protected] or 617-674-5100.
FORUM: from Page 1
Investors Forum set for Oct. 6
Genzyme drug aids in
cancer patient’s recovery
committed to improving workforce development inMassachusetts. And, we’ve added our newest initiatives,Pharma Days and Innovator Roundtables, to addressspecific needs identified in our recently released 2015Report.
The new MassBio reflects all of that growth and ourcontinued commitment to serving all facets of thebiotechnology industry.
We also invite you to visit the new and improved Website — www.MassBio.org — where you will find a lotmore to see and do. Check out our popular committeemeetings from the comfort of your own office. We’renow Webcasting all committee meetings live and willarchive the footage and presentations so you can still seethe programming even if you’re busy when it takes place.
Members will also be able to post events, job listings,news stories and other content through a new memberportal. Check it out today.
We have spent the last year streamlining your tradeassociation so that our programs and services meet theneeds of each and every member of MassBio. We areheading into 2010 with a renewed focus on scientificcollaboration and innovation, capital formation andproviding business services to help our members growand thrive.
MassBio is proud to be the trade association for themost vibrant, robust life sciences cluster in the world.Here’s to the next 25 years!
REBRANDING: from Page 1
A new lookfor MassBio
cell transplant. He participated in aclinical trial of Mozobil, a drugdeveloped by Genzyme to help mobilizestem cells in non-Hodgkin’s lymphomaand multiple myeloma patients. In doingso, he was able to harvest more than 7million stem cells and serve as his owndonor.
“After going through with the clinicaltrial, I was so glad I did,” saidSchatzkin. “I’m part of the living proofof some of the work that companies likeGenzyme have done. Where would webe without them, without all thesevarious pieces – the medical staff, thepharmaceuticals and the biotechcompanies?”
Following the successful stem cellharvest, Schatzkin underwent 24 hoursof chemotherapy for three days, causinghis blood count and immune system toplummet to zero. After the treatment, hereceived an infusion of the blood-forming stem cells and went into athree-week period of recuperation torebuild his immune system.
“You have no energy, just getting upis like running a marathon,” he said.“But after the three weeks, you do whatyou can to keep active. Every day Iwould get on the exercise bike, even if itwas just for a few minutes. I didn’t want
to be a victim. No matter how sore ortired I was, I got out of bed.”
Schatzkin has been cancer-free for 3½years. He has continued to pursue aphysically active lifestyle, mountainclimbing and participating in walks forcancer research.
“It changed my life in every way,” hesaid. “When you go through this processand witness the kindness, love andsupport – even from complete strangersand all the doctors and nurses – it wasincredible. Now it’s my turn to give itback.”
This year, Schatzkin was able to ridein the Pan-Mass Challenge, the 140-mile bike-a-thon for cancer research andtreatment.
“Just to be part of that was amazing,”said Schatzkin. “I was riding, not onlyfor myself, but in memory of or inhonor of at least 10 people. It wasbeyond emotional.”
Since his recovery, Schatzkin has alsoserved as an online mentor to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients, offeringadvice and sharing his personal story onseveral message board sites.
“They’re often overwhelmed andhave thousands of questions, but theydon’t know what to ask,” he said. “Ithelps to hear from others who have beenthrough it already and are doing well. Itjust gives you that sense of hope.”
SCHATZKIN: from Page 8
MassBio News FFaallll 22000099 —— 7
Among the targeted investments in the LifeSciences Initiative were a number of UMasscapital projects related to life sciences. What is thestatus of these projects and how will they impact
Massachusetts life sciences?
The $500 million in funding for capital projectsprovided by the Life Sciences Initiative will supportinfrastructure that is crucial for the Commonwealthto be able to compete. While a number of UMass
projects are still in the pipeline, one of our most substantiveprojects, the Advanced Therapeutics Cluster (ATC) at theUMass Medical School, is currently up for review at the Mass.Life Sciences Center (MLSC), and we are confident thatapproval will be forthcoming in the very near future. This willbe a $400 million facility - with $90 million to be provided bythe state - that will house the RNAi Institute (where NobelPrize recipient Craig C. Mello, Ph.D., and a team of hiseminent colleagues conduct their research), the Center forStem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and the GeneTherapy Center. UMass Medical School already has a stemcell bank and registry in operation, developed with generoussupport from the MLSC and connecting with researchers inindustry and academia. Also among our highest priorities is anew Life Sciences Building at UMass Amherst. The currenteconomy and budget will present some challenges to realizingour aspirations for a robust capital infrastructure on thetimeline we had hoped, but we continue to advocate for thisinvestment. It is a down payment on our economiccompetitiveness in the future.
What opportunities exist for biotechnologycompanies to take advantage of those investmentsin future years?
The goal of each capital investment at UMass andother research institutions is to create facilities andstructures that facilitate faculty members developingnew scientific advances that can be transferred to
industry. The Advanced Therapeutics Cluster is a perfectexample of the university providing opportunities for buildingpartnerships with companies. The purpose of the ATC is totake the work of our outstanding faculty members andaccelerate the process of commercialization, getting basicscience research from the bench to the bedside. The stem cellbank at UMass Medical School is up and running andavailable for researchers around the world to use. In thefuture, we have plans for developing additional capitalinitiatives across the UMass system, all with the goal ofsupporting the Commonwealth's life sciences sector.
With all of the research taking place inMassachusetts universities, the lack of incubatorspace for emerging companies is often lamented.The new UMass Boston incubator is operational.
What opportunities exist there for start ups? Is there along term plan for the other campuses to develop newincubator space?
The recently-opened Venture Development Center atUMass Boston represents an effort by the Boston campusto build collaboration space to support R&D efforts withcompanies and other research partners such as Dana
Farber Cancer Center. There are other impressive incubationactivities sponsored by UMass around the state. The AdvancedTechnology and Manufacturing Center, located in Fall River andoperated by UMass Dartmouth, is thriving. UMass Lowell isworking with UMass Medical School to develop theMassachusetts Medical Device Development Center to supportnew ventures in the medical-device industry, and the Amherstcampus is partnering with BayState Medical Center in Springfieldto support life-science development in Springfield. All of thisactivity is consistent with the University's strategic emphasis ontechnology commercialization. Across the UMass system in FiscalYear 2009, there were 35 patents issued, 43 licensing transactionscompleted, and $73 million of license income and stock salesgenerated - by far the largest amount generated in the university'shistory and one that ranks it among the nation's leading researchuniversities.
UMass recently was award a Sloan Foundationgrant to develop Professional Science Mastersprograms. Why is this initiative important to theschools, and to the biotechnology industry?
We are very pleased with the confidence the SloanFoundation has shown in UMass with this system-widegrant. These degree programs underscore the university'scommitment to educating students for the 21st-century
economy and to economic and work-force development inMassachusetts. The development of PSM degrees was one of therecommendations called for by Massachusetts life sciencescompanies and included in the "Growing Talent" study conductedby the Donahue Institute, under the sponsorship of theMassachusetts Life Sciences Center and the MBC. These degreeswill meet a critical work force need for scientists who also possessbusiness and communication skills, and it will give theseprofessionals an edge in today's competitive job market.Furthermore, the program will allow blended learning courses tobe developed through UMassOnline that will allow us to bring thelearning to the learner rather than always requiring the learner tocome to the learning. This initiative is a key part of trainingMassachusetts' future life-sciences industry work force.
Q
A
University of Massachusetts
president talks biotech
Q & A
QA
Q
A
Q
A
with
JACK WILSON
Read more of our discussion with Jack Wilson, President of the University of Massachusetts, at www.MassBio.org.
Go back to
school with
new coursesBY MATTHEW MCGRATH
It’s back to school time — and not just for thekids. The MassBioEd Foundation is offering new,exciting courses for professionals in thebiotechnology industry, all at a discount forMassBio members.
Business of Biopharmaceutical Development:From the Lab to the Street is a course designed toturn research into marketable products andservices. MassBioEd partnered with BentleyUniversity to offer this new course, which willcover everything from developing a business planto financing your idea and handling investorrelations.
The course will be taught by Dr. Lynn Arenella,associate professor of biotechnology at Bentley.Over the last 18 years, Arenella has focused oncurriculum design and teaching at the intersectionof business and science in the biopharmaceuticalindustry. She has also worked for a largepharmaceutical company delivering drug-relatedcurricula for sales and marketing.
Hannah Yun,manager ofeducation andtrainingprograms atMassBioEd isexcited to addthis offering tothe fall lineup.“We know thebiotechnologyindustry wasbuilt on thecreativity andperseverance ofscientists andentrepreneurs.This course willhelp develop thenext generationof biotechnologytrailblazers,” Yun said.
The second new course is Industry Knowledgefor the Non-Scientist, a two-day program wherenon-science professionals can learn about thescience, techniques, applications and issuesdriving the biotechnology industry today. Thecourse’s main goal is to help non-scienceprofessionals working in biotechnology companiesto learn more about what their company does andthe field as a whole.
The course will be taught by Dr. Collins Jones,an instructor and scientific advisor for BioTechPrimer. Jones spent almost 10 years as a researchscientist at the National Institutes of Health inBethesda, Md., and was awarded a NationalResearch Council Grant to conduct research at theNational Institute of Aging.
All MassBio members are eligible to attendMassBioEd courses at a discounted rate. Both newcourses will begin in October. In addition to thesenew programs, MassBioEd also offers a wideselection of other courses relevant to the industrytoday. For more information or to register for anyof MassBioEd’s courses, visit www.massbioed.orgor email Hannah Yun at [email protected].
We know thebiotechnology industry
was built on the creativityand perseverance of scientists and
entrepreneurs.This course will help develop
the next generation of biotechnology
trailblazers.
Hannah YunMassBioEd Manager of
Education and Training Programs
“
8—— MassBio News FFaallll 22000099
One Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
PRESORT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDCAMBRIDGE, MA 02142
PERMIT NO. 981
Schatzkin cancer-free for three years
SSeeee SSCCHHAATTZZKKIINN PPaaggee 66
Patient profile: Steven Schatzkin
‘Ever‘Every day isy day islike winning like winning the lotterthe lottery’y’
BY MEAGHAN CASEY
Morning after morning, countless Bay Staters go through the motionsof the daily grind, battling the elements of traffic, weather or crowds onthe MBTA.
One Tyngsborough resident does so with a smile on his face. “Every day is like winning the lottery,” said Steven Schatzkin, a
cancer survivor. “I’ve always been optimistic, but I’m even moreappreciative of life now. You make every moment count. Just to besitting in traffic on the way to work is incredible. Going throughsomething like this, it definitely shifts your focus.”
Schatzkin is enjoying his second lease on life thanks to an aggressivetreatment path, combined with an innovative new stimulant for stem cellgrowth.
The software consultant, husband and father of two was diagnosed inDecember 2004. That winter, he began noticing rapid weight loss andextreme pain in his arm after shoveling snow. X-rays taken at EmersonHospital in Concord revealed a mass in his lymph nodes that had spreadthrough his upper body. Weeks of testing confirmed stage III non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The cancer was also detected in his spine.
“It was like a rug being pulled right out from under me; I literallycollapsed in the parking lot,” said Schatzkin. “Here I was a healthyindividual, and then I was told I had cancer. It changes your life instantly.I was just crushed beyond anything.”
For the next six months, Schatzkin was treated with eight rounds ofchemotherapy. He went into a four-month remission, during which timehe celebrated with a family vacation. His first post-treatment scanrevealed that the cancer had returned.
“It rocks your world just as much the second time,” said Schatzkin. “Itwas just as devastating.”
Schatzkin was immediately sent to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute forhigher doses of chemotherapy, administered five hours a day for threedays. Because the high-dose chemotherapy destroys bone marrow, whichprevents new blood cells from being formed, Schatzkin required a stem