Food Biotech Is Risky Business
The genetically modified food industry has battled opposition from consumer and environmental groups to get its food on the table. Its lobbyists have cajoled skeptical politicians; its scientists have produced studies contradicting other studies suggesting the food is somehow tainted.
Now the industry faces another hurdle with long-range, dire consequences: It may be uninsurable.

NBI On Drugs
You won’t recognize the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (NBI) the next time you see it. It’s undergone a radical change, bulking up to nearly twice its original size by adding 55 more companies to the list. The new Index, which debuted November 24, now consists of 129 firms � and many of the new additions are drug companies (including specialty pharmas and generic drug manufacturers).

Glowing red GM fish to sell in US
A tropical fish that fluoresces bright red is set to become the first genetically modified pet to go on sale in the US. Alan Blake and colleagues at Yorktown Technologies LP say the GloFish will be available from January 2004.

Slowdown casts doubt on biotech offerings
After a two-year capital drought, seven biotechnology and life sciences companies made initial public offerings in October and early this month. Now the newly issued stock of six of those companies is underwater — and one, Acusphere Inc. of Watertown, has lost 50 percent of its value since going public…

Machine Could Sequence Human Genome in a Year
A new gene-reading machine is so much faster than existing technology that it could sequence the human genome in a year while it took more than 10 years the first time around.

Biotech Raises More Cash in 2003 But Europe Weak
The global biotechnology industry raised more money by the end of September than in the whole of 2002 but a revival in Europe, which remains weak, could be more than six months away, industry analysts said on Tuesday.

Is That Daylight for ImClone?
The beleaguered drugmaker finally gets some good news with Swiss approval of its cancer-fighting drug Erbitux

Over the Rainbow Yet?
Consolidation slows, valuations grow, and now hope for some IPOs

Ultimate Analysis
With the necessary tools at hand, the race is on to build � and market � the first affordable, portable, fully functional DNA analyzer. Is the world ready?

COUNTERING COUNTERFEITS
Industry offers proposals to fight growing problem of fake drugs.