Patent Baristas

Better Living Through Chemistry

The World Anti-Doping Agency claims that Italian rider Riccardo Ricco tested positive at the Tour de France after a secret molecule was planted in the blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) during its manufacture. Apparently, Roche included a molecule in the third generation of EPO, called Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator (CERA), that acted as a flag in drug tests showing when an athlete was using the substance.  Unlike single injections of rEPO, CERA interacts with erythropoietin receptors and has a longer-lasting effect. CERA is linked to polyethylene glycol (PEG), which allows it to last (and be detected)  longer in the body. (via Pharmalot)

Better Living Through Chemistry II

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau issued a ruling to clarify that certain brewed products that are classified as “beer” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 do not meet the definition of a “malt beverage” under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. Why does it matter, you ask?  Well, the definition of a “beer” under the IRC differs from the definition of a “malt beverage” under the FAA Act in several significant respects.  First, the IRC does not require beer to be fermented from malted barley; instead, a beer may be brewed or produced from malt or “from any substitute therefor.”  Second, the IRC does not require the use of hops in the production of beer.  Third, the definition of “beer” in the IRC provides that the product must contain one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, whereas there is no minimum alcohol content for a “malt beverage” under the FAA Act.  So, a fermented beverage that is brewed from a substitute for malt (such as rice or corn) but without any malted barley may constitute a “beer” under the IRC but does not fall within the definition of a ” malt beverage” under the FAA Act.  Similarly, a fermented beverage that is not brewed with hops may fall within the IRC definition of “beer” but also falls outside of the definition of a “malt beverage” under the FAA Act.  Got that?  (via FDA Law blog)

Roche Wants Genentech for $43.7 billion

Swiss drug giant Roche is proposing to take complete control of San Francisco-based Genentech for nearly $44 billion.  Roche already owns 56 percent of Genentech, the world’s biggest biotech company in terms of stock value and second biggest in revenue to Amgen. Under the offer, Roche offered to buy all of Genentech’s remaining stock for $89 a share, or about $43.7 billion.  If the deal goes through, the final price will likely be much higher.

Is “Y” for whiners in Gen Y?

Scott Greenfield of Simple Justice has it out for Generation Y in a response to writings by Bad Court Thingy.

BCT writes:

So why isn’t Generation Y convinced that partnership is next to godliness, why isn’t there any loyalty to the firms that gave these young attorneys a job? Because we’ve watched what has happened to our parents generation.

Greenfield responds:

We thought you would watch us and understand that there’s a lot of life that sucks.  It always has, and success is understanding that it will be a struggle, that there will be accomplishments and setbacks, but that you still have to keep pushing through.  Ten percent inspiration and 90% perspiration.

In the end, BCT notes “But Boomers, be nice to us. We’ll be picking out your nursing homes.”  (via What About Clients)

Lord of the Links

It seems that Rudy Giuliani’s son, Andrew, has been kicked off the Duke University golf team and is suing to get back on. The 22-year-old aspiring pro golfer claims in a federal suit that Duke’s new golf coach trumped up a series of allegations to force him out and turn his classmates against him.  They claim the coach suspended him for a series of minor or fabricated infractions. Then the coach allegedly told Giuliani the suspension would be lifted only if all 12 of his teammates lobbied for him. Nice.  (via WSJ Law Blog)

The Virtual Attorney

Wired GC has an audio interview with Craig Johnson of Virtual Law Partners.  According the their web site, VLP is a distributed, web-based law firm that goes beyond the constraints of “brick and mortar” law firms to provide excellent legal service at rates lower than those of conventional law firms.  Also known as outsourcing.