New research has identified ApoE as a potential direct regulator of transcription, suggesting a broad role for the molecule in the study of Alzheimer’s disease that could explain why the usual strategies of trying to break up accumulations of amyloid beta or regulate tau hyperphosphorylation have failed to adequately treat symptoms or cure the disease.

The onetime Celera CEO says his new attempt to centralize biological information into a massive database could lead to breakthroughs that extend the human life span. Behind that bold goal is a more mundane data-licensing strategy that, although not splashy, could still improve medicine.

Pathway-oriented platforms are rare, and dealmaking around them can be complicated: partner too early or for too little and you risk giving away the store. But Sirtris pulled it off, via M&A, when GSK tendered a whopping $720 million for it in April. The deal is another example of Pharma's interest in platform biotechs and its hunger for innovation. But the unique nature of Sirtris's platform -- broad, but around a single set of biological targets -- makes it more one-off than trend-setting.