At Celgene, we believe that cancer treatment should be available to patients no matter who they are or where they live. That is why Celgene recently supported expanded care capacity in resource-constrained countries through $1 million in grants as part of the Celgene Cancer Care Links™ program.

One part of President Trump's State of the Union address that received bipartisan cheers was the call to lower prescription drug prices. A "next major priority for me, and for all of us,"  said Trump, "should be to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs -- and to protect patients with pre-existing conditions."  Trump's Department of Health and Human Services quietly  proposed  a new rule to fundamentally reform the biggest driver of rising prescription drug prices: the " Kabuki " drug rebate pricing system. The regulation would essentially eliminate the middlemen between government health insurers and drug manufacturers known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Governor Phil Murphy appointed Gunjan Doshi as the Chair of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. The Commission was re-established by Governor Murphy and the Legislature in August 2018, with a new mission of researching technology partnerships between private industry and New Jersey's leading public and private research institutions. The Governor also appointed Debbie Hart, Beth Noveck and David Pascrell to serve on the commission. 

Increased investment and employment in the life sciences sector has driven life sciences related real estate to new heights, according to  Cushman & Wakefield's new report, Life Science: Great Promise & Rapid Growth.  "New Jersey historically has been a life science hub, and the industry continues to play a major role in the State's economy," noted Cushman & Wakefield's Jason Price, Director, Tri-State Suburbs Research. "The Garden State is in an ideal location for many life sciences companies due to its proximity to New York City and central location in the heart of the nation's Northeast Corridor, connecting Boston and Washington, D.C. via I-95." 

A who's who of New Jersey pharmaceutical leaders touted their accomplishments and honored their innovators at the  BioNJ  2019 Annual Dinner Meeting & Innovation Celebration in New Brunswick.  Debbie Hart, President and CEO of BioNJ, said that the meeting was a celebration of innovation in New Jersey.  "We had more than 35 percent of all new FDA drug approvals in 2018 come from companies with a footprint here and we celebrated them tonight," Hart told NJBIZ. During the evening, Hart also announced that Johnson & Johnson Innovation is joining J.P. Morgan as a headliner sponsor of BioNJ's BioPartnering event.

Governor Phil Murphy reminded an audience of approximately 700 people at BioNJ's 2019 Annual Dinner Meeting & Innovation Celebration, held at the Hilton East Brunswick, that pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson's co-founder Robert Wood Johnson once walked down a New Brunswick street to have lunch with none other than Thomas Edison himself. Of such high-powered collaboration, Murphy said, "In a nutshell, this is the type of synergy we are seeking to create, once again, in New Jersey."  Overall, Gov. Murphy said, "If you are in the life sciences and pharmaceutical fields, there are few places on the planet, quite literally, that provide the tools for success that we do here in New Jersey."

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced that it will spin off its innovation business as a new, U.S.-based company.  The new company will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark, with its own independent board and CEO. The company's research and development center in Paramus will become part of the new business, along with the innovative molecules in Glenmark's pipeline -- eight in total -- plus R&D centers in Switzerland and India related to the innovation business, and a Swiss biologics manufacturing facility. Innovative R&D employees will also be transferred to the new company.

Princeton-based  Navitas Life Sciences announced it plans to acquire  DataCeutics, a life sciences service provider.  The acquisition will spearhead Navitas' clinical business by using DataCeutics' capabilities with Navitas' AI-driven clinical platform.  "We are delighted to begin 2019 on a high note with this key acquisition. DataCeutics strengthens our capabilities in Data Sciences and FSP/BPO services and widens our therapeutic expertise in cardiology, oncology, pulmonology, CNS, infectious diseases, etc. The addition of these competencies translates to business expansion in North American, European and Asian marketings," Dr. Krishnan  Rajagopalan , Chief Growth Officer, Navitas Life Sciences.

Cedar Knolls-based Moberg Pharma has entered into a license agreement granting the Consumer Health division of Whippany-based Bayer exclusive European rights to MOB-015, a new topical treatment of onychomycosis based on Moberg's patented proprietary formulation of terbinafine. Bayer will be marketing, distributing and selling MOB-015 in Europe upon completion of Phase III clinical development and registration.

Bridgewater-based BioNJ Member Sanofi has appointed Ameet Nathwani, M.D. as Chief Digital Officer in addition to his current role of Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer. As Chief Digital Officer, Dr. Nathwani will be responsible for enhancing Sanofi's strategy to integrate digital technologies and medical science to ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Somerset-based Catalent has promoted Senior Vice President, Global Operations Alessandro Maselli to President and Chief Operating Officer, the Somerset-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology company announced. Mr.  Maselli will report to Chair and Chief Executive Officer John Chiminski. The new role has Mr. Maselli focusing on growing existing business, integrating the company's offerings and improving drug development and supply

Whippany-based Bayer U.S. announced that Raymond F. Kerins Jr., Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, has been named the chairman of the  U.S. Chamber of Commerce's  Global Innovation Policy Center.  In this role, Mr. Kerins will oversee the group and use insights to help shape the chamber's policies on intellectual property-led innovation and creativity.

Princeton-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. has named a new CEO for North American generics.  Marc Kikuchi will be based out of Princeton, where he will oversee the business unit as part of the India-based company's senior leadership team . Mr. Kikuchi has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently serving as CEO for the Americas at Zydus Pharmaceuticals Inc. He has also worked in leadership roles at AmerisourceBergen Corp., Johnson & Johnson and others.

Christopher J. Molloy  was appointed chancellor of Rutgers University-New Brunswick  after having served since July as interim chancellor. "Dr. Molloy is a strong and steady leader who brings a deep understanding of the institution to every discussion about its future," said University President Robert L. Barchi. "He has embraced the challenges of the chancellorship and has expressed a forward-looking vision that will, among other things, increase Rutgers-New Brunswick's public prominence, provide a clear financial plan and expand internships and related opportunities for students."

Scientists at  Rutgers University  have revealed the structure of a virus infecting bacteria that thrive in 160-degree hot springs in places like Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. According to a recent study by Rutgers and other scientists in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the discovery could enhance targeted drug delivery and new DNA sequencing technology.

Joseph E. Nyre has been named the new President at Seton Hall University. Nyre, currently the P resident at  Iona College , will start Aug. 1 .  "The board is overwhelmingly enthusiastic in its selection of Dr. Nyre as Seton Hall's next President," said Patrick Murray, Chair of the Seton Hall University Board of Regents. "As a highly regarded educator, psychologist and health care innovator, Dr. Nyre is the perfect choice to lead Seton Hall into the highest echelon of American Catholic universities."

The community of startups that has emerged at Rowan University's Technology Business Incubator at the South Jersey Technology Park (SJTP) in Mullica Hill is a microcosm for New Jersey's innovation ecosystem. Entrepreneurs from a variety of technology and life sciences sectors-including health technology, information technology, medical devices makers, and defense companies-work side-by-side as they advance their businesses. Many of the incubator's tenant companies hire Rowan University students and graduates to fill jobs and internships.

Montclair State University  has earned the designation of R2 -- doctoral university high research activity -- in the latest reclassification of the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.  The accomplishment comes three years after Montclair State earned an initial Research Doctoral University designation, and signifies a continued expansion of its research portfolio and doctoral program offerings.