Insights into US public biotech sector using patenting trends

Analyzing patent data from 1995-2005 show the increasing importance of patenting by small and medium-sized biotech companies.     

EGFR in limbo

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is normally activated by ligand-induced dimerization. Oncogenic mutations in EGFR promote activation in a largely ligand-independent manner. Shan et al. uncover a partially disordered state of EGFR kinase, providing evidence that oncogenic mutations counteract this intrinsic structural instability to promote dimerization and aberrant activation.