The event Discovering the Next Frontier of Green Technology will take place on November 30, 2006 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. at
Nixon Peabody LLP Two Embarcadero Center, 27th
Floor, in San Francisco, CA.  Sponsoring Group: Women’s Technology Cluster in conjunction with host sponsor Nixon Peabody LLP and the Cleantech Venture Network. Speakers: Cordell Hull, ex-President Bechtel Enterprises; Bryant Tong, Nth Power, Founder, China/U.S. Energy Efficiency Alliances; Charles Wu, TianDi Growth Capital; and [Moderator] Matthew Fisher, Nixon Peabody LLP.

Information:   http://www.wtc-sf.org/cleantech2006.htm

The event San Diego Biotech Discussion Group will take place on November 29, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at Élan Pharmaceuticals, in San Diego, CA. The featured company is Biogen Idec –with a discussion on how the Oncology Strategic Business Unit is Building its Future in San Diego. Speaker:  Edgar H. Ulm, Ph.D, Senior Director, Oncology Research and Development.

Information:  http://www.SDBiotech.org

Raptor Pharmaceutical Inc., an early stage biotechnology research and development company owned by Novato-based Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp., has announced that it has signed an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Washington University in St. Louis for the use of Mesd reagents for therapeutic treatment of cancer and osteoporosis.  Mesd  is a chaperone protein needed for the proper folding of the signal transduction receptors LRP5 and LRP6.

The St. Louis Business Journal reported that Raptor intends initially to test the potential of Washington University’s Mesd-based peptides for the treatment of cancer and osteoporosis, and that CEO of Rapto Pharmaceuticals Corp., Dr. Christopher Starr explained the agreement as follows:

"Mesd significantly adds to our growing franchise in the drug targeting area. . . . Mesd complements and extends our current programs and we believe will increase our reach and capabilities into a number of under-served disease indications with substantial market potential."

Foster City based Applied Biosystems announced last Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with Eagle Research and Development LLC in which the parties agreed to collaborate on a single molecule detection device developed by Eagle.  Applied Biosystems reported that it has received an exclusive two year option to license the technology.

According to the San Jose Business Journal:

"Eagle’s technology, currently in prototype stage, identifies and quantifies molecules based on their unique electronic charge signatures. Applied Biosystems said the technology could have significant implications for advancing personalized medicine based on its potential for faster, more efficient and less expensive protein and nucleic acid identification, protein-protein and protein/small molecule interaction measurements, and DNA sequencing."

The event BayBio Holiday Soiree for the Life Science Community will take place on December 12, 2006 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, in San Carlos, CA.  Holiday soiree includes networking and catching-up with the old friends.

The event BioBasics Briefing will take place from December 7 – 8, 2006 at the BayBio Boardroom, 395 Oyster Point, Suite #117, in South San Francisco, CA. This workshop is geared for non-science professionals who would like to learn about the science, techniques, applications and issues driving the biotechnology industry today.

The event "WiLBA’s Third Annual Holiday Party" will take place on December 6, 2006 at Spago in Palo Alto, CA. The party will include wine, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, music, and conversation.

The event The Paradox of Excellence will take place on Dec 6, from 8:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. at The City Club, 155 Sansome Street #950 in San Francisco, CA. Sponsored by the Institute of Management Consultants USA Northern California (IMC NorCa), this presentation is designed for customer-facing executives and teams with P & L responsibility. The topic of the presentation is why performance improvements and better "customer experiences" aren’t leading to loyalty, satisfaction or profits.

The event VC TaskForce – Elevator Pitch Roundtable will take place on December 6 at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP, 630 Hansen Way in Palo Alto, CA.  A select number of entrepreneurs will present their pitch to the entire room. A distinguished panel of early stage investors will ask questions and provide brief feedback.

The event BioInterface 2006 will take place on December 4-6, 2006 in San Mateo, CA. Highlights include the Excellence in Surface Science Award, Students Town Hall Meeting, a Student Poster Award competition, a lively debate session and an Invention Symposium! A workshop will focus on Delivery of Therapeutic Biologics. The technical program will also focus on Orthopedics to highlight important technologies and solid sessions in Tissue Imaging, Tissue Engineering and Peripheral Vascular technologies.