PIONEERING SCIENTIST, RALPH HIRSCHMANN DIES – Ralph Hirschmann, who led one of the two teams that first synthesized an enzyme, has died. Hirschmann was awarded the National Medal of Science in 2000, and many in the scientific community feel that he should have been awarded the Nobel Prize along with R. Bruce Merrifield, who also synthesized the enzyme ribonuclease at the same time.

NO SENATE VOTE ON HEALTH CARE BEFORE RECESS – On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid acknowledged what many have suspected recently – there will be no Senate vote on healthcare reform before the August recess.

The Aug. 7 deadline that President Obama set for House and Senate leaders to move their versions of reform served as a vital tool for congressional leaders in minimizing dissent as the $1 trillion package moved through five committees. But with their hopes of reaching that target date slipping in recent days, a torrent of complaints and concerns began to surface.

Meanwhile, the debate continues over biosimilars…

THE OBAMA BIOTECH BOOST? – There was an interesting piece in CNN MONEY yesterday, arguing that Obama’s policies have hurt Pharma stocks and helped Biotech. I don’t necessarily agree with the whole piece, but it’s intriguing food for thought.

Fears about what President Obama’s health care reform plan may do to the earnings of drugmakers has caused many Big Pharma stocks to come down with the sickness this year…But biotech stocks have been a different story. The NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index is up nearly 30% for 2009. And health care reform seems to be one reason why the sector has been on fire.