WASHINGTON (AP) — In one week, Southern California's wildfires spewed the same amount of carbon dioxide — the primary global warming gas — as the state's power plants and vehicles did, scientists figure.

A new study by two Colorado researchers shows that U.S. wildfires pump a significant amount of the greenhouse gas into the air each year, more than the state of Pennsylvania does. It raises questions about how useful it is to plant trees to offset rising carbon dioxide emissions and soothe environmental consciences. Because the California wildfires occurred just as the study was about to be published, the researchers calculated how much carbon dioxide was likely to come from the devastating blazes Oct. 19-26. It's a lot: 8.7 million tons. That's more than the state of Vermont produces in a year. And it's also more than the 6 million tons estimated by California's air control agency, which used a different calculation method. Read more

S t. Louis, Missouri, USA October 26, 2007 – University Research Parks are emerging as strong sources of entrepreneurship, talent and economic competitiveness according to a new report, Characteristics and Trends in North American Research Parks: 21st Century Directions, prepared by Battelle's Technology Partnership Practice (TPP) in partnership with the Association of University Research Parks (AURP).

TPP helps clients develop and implement strategies to drive technology-based economic development by using tools, such as research parks, to make universities and other research institutions key drivers of economic development. AURP is a non-profit association that promotes the development and operation of research parks.

A survey of 134 university research parks in the United States and Canada revealed that:

• More than 300,000 workers in North America work in a located in a university research park.
• Every job in a research park generates an average of 2.57 jobs in the economy resulting in a total employment impact of more than 750,000 jobs.

"A new model is emerging," said Walter H. Plosila, Vice-President, Battelle TPP. "What we're seeing are strategically planned, mixed-use campuses designed to create an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation and promotes the development, transfer and commercialization of technology," he said.  Research parks have become a key element of the technology infrastructure supporting the growth of today's knowledge economy."

"Research parks are key drivers of regional development," said J. Michael Bowman, President of the AURP Board of Directors and Chairman & President, Delaware Technology Park. Research parks were traditionally established to recruit R&D and technology companies to locate near a university in order to build a cluster of high technology companies.

Today, research parks increasingly spur homegrown business startups, retention and expansion with a focus on providing commercialization and business development support in addition to space for talent retention.

"Research and technology parks have exhibited a strong ability to attract and retain talent, which in turn, allows us to create a critical mass that can yield high economic opportunities for our regions," said Dale Gann, President of AURP Canada and Vice President-Technology Parks, Vancouver Island Technology Park.

"Important success factors for technology-led economic development include the commitment of university leadership and the local economic development community. This report is the first to quantify actual results of science parks as an important economic development tool," said Eileen Walker, Executive Director of AURP.

A full copy of Trends and Characteristics in North American Research Parks: 21st Century Directions can be found at www.battelle.org, www.aurp.netand www.aurpcanada.ca. Sponsors of the report include Research Triangle Park and The University Financing Foundation.

About Battelle

Battelle is the world's largest non-profit independent research and development organization, providing innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Science and Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $3.8 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,000 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including six national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Battelle also is one of the nation's leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science and math education.

About AURP

A non-profit international organization, AURP represents research, science or technology parks, which are designed to promote university-industry relations, to foster innovation, and to facilitate the transfer of technology from academe to the private sector. Today, the Association servers over 350 members around the world, with more than 400 research parks worldwide in varying stages of development.

AURP Canada

The Canadian Association of University Research parks (AURP Canada), a non-profit organization, role is to represent the members and to advocate the position of the organization before administrative tribunals, municipal government, provincial ministries, federal departments and their agencies. AURP Canada is comprised of 25 Research and Technology Parks across Canada.

Media Contact:

Kate Delaney
Media Relations Manager
Battelle National
410.306.8638
delaneyk@battelle.org

Eileen Walker
Executive Director
AURP
520.529.2521
eileenwalker@aurp.net

Dale Gann
President
AURP Canada
250.483.3203
dgann@aurpcanada.ca

By: RICHARD BLACKWELL An organization that tracks Canadian corporate social responsibility has set up a new index of what it thinks are the country's top 10 public firms in the clean technology sector. Corporate Knights, which publishes a magazine focused on business ethics, set up the index in conjunction with Cleantech Indices LLC, a U.S. outfit that tracks environmentally friendly companies south of the border. To get chosen for the list a company had to have a clear focus on creating new technologies to help use resources more efficiently, Corporate Knights editor Toby Heaps said. But the firms also had to meet financial criteria, including earnings potential and reasonable stock performance. Read more

Victoria, BC, Canada _ October 23, 2007 _ GenoLogics, a leading developer of lab and data management software solutions for life sciences research, today announced that Windber Research Institute (WRI) has selected GenoLogics to provide an integrated data management solution to help them achieve their vision of personalized preventative medicine which they are addressing with a translational medicine strategy. WRI required a scientific data management system and LIMS solution that would tie together their research, and clinical/patient data from multiple science areas such as genomics, proteomics, and immunology. Windber Research Institute is a U.S. Department of Defense funded laboratory, and it is considered by some to be the most integrated, functional genomics and proteomics research facility in the world. WRI’s vision is personalized preventative medicine and this research institute is leading the way by creating a worldwide network of collaborative research institutes in Netherlands, UK, Germany, Greece, Asia and throughout North America.

To achieve their vision, WRI decided to partner with a select group of vendors to help them accomplish their translational medicine goals – identify, locate and treat diseases before they present physical symptoms. They were looking for collaborative, agile, world-class vendors they could partner with to provide: 1) a robust clinical system, 2) a database to hold image files and lifestyle data, 3) a scientific data management system, and 4) a data warehouse solution.

Michael Liebman, Executive Director, at Windber Research Institute said, “There were two significant reasons we chose the GenoLogics’ solution, first we needed a solution that could be installed and operating in our research labs quickly, and a system that could adapt and evolve with our constantly changing needs. GenoLogics’ solutions are extremely adaptable and user configurable which gives us the confidence that this system can keep up with our constantly changing technologies and processes. The second major reason we chose GenoLogics was their collaborative approach to working with customers. We want to work with a company that is willing to provide a range of services to augment their core product offerings.”

Over twenty users including scientists, bioinformatics (and eventually clinicians) are expected to access and use the GenoLogics system at Windber Research Institute. “As Windber’s needs, technologies and lab processes change, our configurable platform will easily adapt to accommodate new processes and technologies that will continue to meet their needs,” said Jason Attanucci, Account Executive at GenoLogics.

Richard Mural, Chief Scientific Officer, at WRI commented, “The GenoLogics solution addresses our scientific data management and LIMS requirements with a flexible solution that’s built to adapt. The integrated solution includes a multi-lab IT platform and modules purposed for genomics and proteomics research, plus the configurability of the system will also enable us to manage data in other science areas. We expect this solution combined with GenoLogics’ collaborative approach, customer service reputation, and professional services will help us turn massive amounts of raw data into valuable patient specific information enabling scientists to translate their research into decisions that can impact patient care.”

October 18th, 2007, VANCOUVER BC – Tuesday’s announcement by Pfizer Canada that they will be investing $4.25 million into two BC research initiatives (Significant Investments in British Columbia Healthcare Set the Province at the Forefront of Research in HIV/AIDS and Cardiovascular Prevention; Vancouver – Oct. 16, 2007) is seen by LifeSciences BC as a tremendous step forward in enhancing the role of international industry in advancing towards a sustainable healthcare system in British Columbia.

This partnership between Pfizer, Providence Healthcare, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Simon Fraser University, St. Paul’s Hospital and the Heart and Stroke Foundation demonstrates how important it is for industry to work in collaboration with the healthcare system and research institutions if we are to achieve a truly sustainable healthcare system in this province, as well as a strong local life sciences industry. “The fact that the international pharmaceutical industry is now pro-actively making investments such as this is a testament to their commitment to healthcare in this province, and is a direct result of an equally strong commitment from our Provincial Government to improve healthcare for all British Columbians. The Government is actively creating an environment which enables and welcomes this kind of valuable partnership, and only by doing so will British Columbia be able to effectively compete for such critical international funding on a long-term basis,” commented Karimah Es Sabar, President, LifeSciences BC. “Particularly important,” she noted, “is funding which generates new solutions focused specifically on prevention.” Read more

Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: ASPV; TSX: ASV) today announced that it has entered into a combination agreement with Galenica Group (SWX: GALN) under which Galenica, through a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, will acquire all of Aspreva’s outstanding shares at a price of US$26.00 per share in cash. The total value of the transaction is approximately US$915 million.

This all-cash transaction for 100 per cent of the company’s shares represents a 16 per cent premium over Aspreva’s closing price on October 16th, 2007 and a 24 per cent premium over the 30-day average trading price of Aspreva shares.

Aspreva will host a conference call on October 18th, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the proposed acquisition.

Read more

Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: ASPV; TSX: ASV) today announced that it has entered into a combination agreement with Galenica Group (SWX: GALN) under which Galenica, through a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, will acquire all of Aspreva’s outstanding shares at a price of US$26.00 per share in cash. The total value of the transaction is approximately US$915 million.

This all-cash transaction for 100 per cent of the company’s shares represents a 16 per cent premium over Aspreva’s closing price on October 16th, 2007 and a 24 per cent premium over the 30-day average trading price of Aspreva shares.

Aspreva will host a conference call on October 18th, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the proposed acquisition.

The transaction was unanimously approved by Aspreva’s Board of Directors on October 17th, following receipt of the recommendation of a Special Committee of the Board. Aspreva’s Board has also resolved to recommend to shareholders that they vote in favor of the transaction. In determining to recommend the transaction to Aspreva shareholders, the Board of Directors considered a number of factors and received opinions from the company’s financial advisors, Lazard and Lehman Brothers Inc., to the effect, and subject to the assumptions and conditions set forth in such opinions, that the consideration to be received by the holders of Aspreva common shares in the transaction is fair to such holders from a financial point of view.

About the Transaction
The transaction will be carried out by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under Section 288 of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act, and must be approved by the applicable court and by 66 2/3 per cent of the votes cast by holders of Aspreva shares. The completion of the transaction is also subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close on January 3rd, 2008, shortly after receipt of shareholder and court approvals.

Details regarding these and other terms of the transaction are set out in the Combination Agreement, which will be filed by Aspreva on the Canadian SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Further information regarding the transaction will be contained in a proxy circular that Aspreva will mail to holders of common shares in connection with the special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve the transaction. It is expected that these materials will be mailed in November 2007 for a meeting to be held in December 2007. Once mailed, the proxy circular will be available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. All shareholders are urged to read the proxy circular once it is available.

Shareholder Support Agreements
Aspreva’s directors and officers, as well as Aspreva’s largest shareholder, who collectively hold approximately 30 per cent of the outstanding common shares of Aspreva, have entered into agreements with Galenica to vote their shares in favor of the transaction, subject to their ability to withdraw such support in the event that the Combination Agreement is terminated, including where an unsolicited superior competing proposal is made by another bidder and accepted by Aspreva.

Financial and Legal Advisors
Lazard and Lehman Brothers Inc. are acting as financial advisors to Aspreva with respect to the arrangement. Aspreva’s Canadian legal advisors are McCarthy Tétrault LLP, its US legal advisors are Cooley Godward Kronish LLP and its corporate counsel Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP.

Conference Call
Aspreva will host a conference call on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

Dial-in information:
North America (toll free): 1-800-591-6942
International: 1-617-614-4909
Enter passcode: 42424615

The call will be available for replay until Thursday, October 26th, by calling 1-888-286-8010 (North America) or 1-617-801-6888 (International) and entering the pass code 63308627.

A live webcast will also be available to all interested parties on Aspreva’s website: www.aspreva.com. Please click on the “Webcasts and Events” link under the Investors section. A replay of the webcast will be available until January 19, 2008.

About Galenica
Galenica is a diversified group, active throughout the healthcare market which, among other things, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products, runs pharmacies, provides logistical services and access to databases and sets up networks. The Galenica Group enjoys a leading position in all its areas of activity – pharmaceutical manufacturing, pre-wholesaling, distribution, healthcare information and retailing. A large part of the Group’s income is generated by international operations. For more information please visit www.galenica.com

About Aspreva
Aspreva is a global pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing, and, upon approval, commercializing evidence-based medicines for patients living with less common diseases. Aspreva common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol ASPV and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ASV. Learn more about the company at www.aspreva.com

For Further Information please contact:
Sage J. Baker
Vice President, IR & Corporate Communications
Aspreva Pharmaceuticals+1 250-708-4270
sbaker@aspreva.com 

Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). The words “anticipates”, “believes”, “budgets”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “may”, “might”, “plans”, “projects”, “schedule”, “should”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements about: the potential acquisition of Aspreva by Galenica in an all cash transaction valued at USD$26.00 per outstanding share (the “Acquisition”); a special meeting of Aspreva’s shareholders to consider the Acquisition, currently scheduled for December 2007; and the approval of the Acquisition by Aspreva’s shareholders and the Canadian regulatory authorities. With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, Aspreva has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: Galenica’s ability to finance the Acquisition valued at USD$26.00 per outstanding share; the ability of Aspreva and Galenica to satisfy all of the closing conditions to complete the Acquisition; Aspreva’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and to not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others; and Aspreva’s ability to comply with applicable governmental regulations and standards. Readers are cautioned that the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions may not be achieved and that they should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations, and assumptions expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements as a result of numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those relating to: the possibility of not satisfying all of the closing conditions to complete the Acquisition; the possibility that Aspreva’s shareholders do not approve the Acquisition at the special meeting of shareholders; risks related to integration of acquisitions; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; economic and capital market conditions; and currency exchange rates. For a more thorough discussion of the risks associated with Aspreva’s business, see the “Risk Factors” section in Aspreva’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and with securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results or events to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Aspreva undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof.

VANCOUVER BC – Tuesday’s announcement by Pfizer Canada that they will be investing $4.25 million into two BC research initiatives (Significant Investments in British Columbia Healthcare Set the Province at the Forefront of Research in HIV/AIDS and Cardiovascular Prevention; Vancouver – Oct. 16, 2007) is seen by LifeSciences BC as a tremendous step forward in enhancing the role of international industry in advancing towards a sustainable healthcare system in British Columbia.

This partnership between Pfizer, Providence Healthcare, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Simon Fraser University, St. Paul’s Hospital and the Heart and Stroke Foundation demonstrates how important it is for industry to work in collaboration with the healthcare system and research institutions if we are to achieve a truly sustainable healthcare system in this province, as well as a strong local life sciences industry.

“The fact that the international pharmaceutical industry is now pro-actively making investments such as this is a testament to their commitment to healthcare in this province, and is a direct result of an equally strong commitment from our Provincial Government to improve healthcare for all British Columbians. The Government is actively creating an environment which enables and welcomes this kind of valuable partnership, and only by doing so will British Columbia be able to effectively compete for such critical international funding on a long-term basis,” commented Karimah Es Sabar, President, LifeSciences BC.  “Particularly important,” she noted, “is funding which generates new solutions focused specifically on prevention.”

In September 2006, Premier Gordon Campbell launched the Conversation on Health in order to seek honest and objective input on five key questions addressing the future of healthcare in British Columbia. LifeSciences BC’s submission to this Conversation (which further examines issues originally introduced in LifeSciences BC’s 2006 Position Paper: Building World-Class Biotech Businesses in British Columbia) emphasized that the development of British Columbia’s biopharmaceutical, medical device industry and all related academic and industrial institutions who feed the life sciences industry are directly impacted by our healthcare system. In addition, the submission further notes that we must work together to implement new, innovative solutions in order to meet the reasonable expectations of BC citizens.

To that, Es Sabar added, “Clearly with this Pfizer announcement, the environment in BC is changing for the better, and it is fast becoming recognized that global companies have a vital role to play here. Both our Provincial Government and the pharmaceutical industry deserve praise for working to build this relationship, as it can only ultimately serve to improve the quality of care for patients.”

LifeSciences British Columbia is committed to continue to work with our Provincial Government and the local and international life sciences industry to actively facilitate further partnership aimed at developing innovative, preventive and therapeutic modalities. This will benefit the entire BC-based life sciences industry, and ultimately all British Columbians.

Contact:
Barry Gee
Director, Operations and Communications
LifeSciences British Columbia
Tel: 604-602-5226
Email: bgee@lifesciencesbc.ca

About LifeSciences British Columbia

Life Sciences British Columbia supports and represents the biotechnology, medical device and greater life sciences community of British Columbia through leadership, advocacy and promotion of our world-class science and industry. Via active facilitation of partnering and investment into the life sciences sector, British Columbia is fast becoming a global life sciences leader. LifeSciences British Columbia is a not-for-profit, non-government, industry-funded association.

Vancouver, British Columbia, October 18, 2007 – Protox Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V:PRX), a leader in advancing novel, targeted protein toxin therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other proliferative diseases, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent 7,282,476 covering the composition of PRX302, the Company’s lead drug candidate from its PORxinTM technology platform, and its use for the treatment of prostate cancer. Additional claims were issued which protect other modified proaerolysin variants targeting prostate cancer. The patent was issued to the University of Victoria Innovation and Development Corporation and Johns Hopkins University and is licensed to Protox on an exclusive worldwide basis. "The issuance of Protox’s first U.S. patent provides key patent protection for PRX302 and is an important step in strengthening our PORxin intellectual property portfolio,” said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Protox. “We continue to file and prosecute additional patent applications in the U.S., Canada and globally to build and protect all of our valuable discoveries.”

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada – Tuesday, October 16, 2007 – Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX: CMH), a global provider of solar power and lighting technologies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Lattimore as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 16, 2007. Mr. Lattimore takes over from Art Aylesworth, the company’s CEO since 2000, who moves to the position of Chairman of the Board. Mr. Lattimore brings more than 20 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience in the mobile telecommunications industry, beginning with his involvement in the launch of the industry in Canada in 1985, to most recently as the President and Chief Operating Officer for Vodafone Romania (formerly Connex – MobiFon, part of Montreal-based TIW), a subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc., the world’s largest international mobile telecommunications group. His achievements with Connex – MobiFon / Vodafone include growing the company’s customer base from 700,000 to 5.5 million subscribers in six years. “I am very pleased to have Ted succeed me as CEO at this natural transition point in the company’s development,” stated Art Aylesworth. “Ted has an outstanding track record of delivering exceptional operational and organizational performance, and company profitability, in a rapidly growing, global technology industry. His wealth of knowledge, commitment to success, and experience in taking new technologies and solutions to new markets, will lead Carmanah into the next phase of its strategic growth plan.” Read more