Impath's unorthodox step into the cancer information business has made it attractive to Wall Street, but will its vast, specialized databases allow it to reap benefits from pharmacogenetics? The real value to Impath of its databases resides in their ability to promote work on targeted therapeutics, whose use in patients will depend on critical markers. But targeted therapeutics are a controversial concept that requires pharma companies to make basic changes in the way they operate. There's no guarantee Impath can get the pay-off it wants from its new initiatives.

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration will transition from ICCR observers to full members, joining regulatory authorities from the US, Europe, Japan, Canada and Brazil. PCPC’s Francine Lamoriello, EVP of global affairs, discusses.

If Biden administration wants to nominate the acting commissioner, Vacancies Reform Act would dictate the timing. Woodcock can still get the nod and remain head of the agency during the confirmation process, just as Andrew von Eschenbach retained his acting title following his nomination in 2006.