Copper 'restricts the global spread of antibiotic-resistant infections'

New research from the University of Southampton in the UK has shown that copper can prevent horizontal transmission of genes, which has contributed to the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide. 

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in bacteria is largely responsible for the development of antibiotic-resistance, which has led to an increasing number of difficult-to-treat healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). 

Private healthcare facilities strengthen cardiac patient monitoring devices market in CEE

The rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing the focus of healthcare providers, payers and patients on early diagnosis and prevention. At the same time, the cardiac patient monitoring market in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is saturating, and the products themselves are becoming commoditised.

“Nevertheless, the dynamic development of private healthcare facilities in CEE countries is expected to drive the expansion of installed base of cardiac patient monitoring devices,” notes Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Dominika Grzywinska. “This, in turn, should postpone progressing market saturation.”

WiCell teams with Agilent Technologies to offer high-resolution CGH+SNP microarray service

Agilent Technologies Inc and WiCell, a leader in the cytogenetic testing of mouse and human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, have announced that WiCell is now offering comparative genomic hybridization plus single nucleotide polymorphism microarray analysis using the Agilent SurePrint G3 Human Genome CGH+SNP Microarray.

Grünenthal and Amura Therapeutics sign agreement for research collaboration in pain and inflammation

The Grünenthal Group and Amura Therapeutics LTD (Cambridge, UK) have entered into a Collaboration Agreement. The focus of this collaboration is the development of protease inhibitors which play a key role in pain and inflammation, key focus areas in Grünenthal’s research-focused Strategic Business Unit Grünenthal Innovation.

Under the terms of the agreement Grünenthal and Amura will combine their respective expertise to collaborate on the development of cathepsin inhibitors to treat pain and inflammation. Starting from advanced lead compounds generated from Amura, Grünenthal will add its key expertise to the continued development of these small molecule drugs and assume responsibility for further research and development.

ICON Central Laboratories doubles biospecimen storage capacity

ICON plc has expanded the biorepository capacity in its Central Laboratory located in Farmingdale, New York. The expansion doubles ICON’s sample storage capacity globally and supports the long term sample storage needs of clinical trials.

SEAL and SERLABO partnership

Laboratory instrument manufacturer SEAL analytical has announced the appointment of SERLABO Technologies as exclusive distributor in France for the company’s range of market leading automated discrete and segmented flow analysers.

Established in 2005, SERLABO Technologies is the result of a merger between two highly respected companies in the laboratory market: Serlabo SA and UVK-LAB. SERLABO is a specialist provider of laboratory instruments and service support. 

With an established customer base and a sales and service team operating throughout France, SERLABO aims to help customers by providing a complete solution to their analytical needs.

Transgene to collaborate with the EORTC on a Phase 2b Trial with TG4001 in head and neck cancer

Transgene SA is to collaborate with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) for the conduct of a randomized phase 2b study of TG4001 in patients with HPV16 positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas (OSCCs).

The study will be a multinational, placebo controlled, randomized, phase 2b trial led by the EORTC in which TG4001 will be administered in combination with chemo-radiotherapy in patients with HPV16 positive OSCCs whose tumor is locally advanced (non-metastatic). The main objective of the study will be to show a reduction in the relapse rate in patients receiving TG4001 in addition to this standard of care. Approximately 200 patients should be enrolled.

New liquid ready-to-use Tumour Marker Control available now from Randox

The new Randox Acusera multi-analyte Liquid Tumour Marker Control covers a total of 15 commonly tested and esoteric cancer antigens and tumour markers. The inclusion of assayed, instrument specific target values enables laboratories to effectively monitor both accuracy and precision. 

The Liquid Tumour Marker Control includes AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein), Beta-2- Microglobulin, CA15-3, CA19-9, CA27-29, CA72-4, CA125, CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen), Cyfra 21-1, Ferritin, hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), NSE (Neuron-specific Enolase), PSA Free (Prostate Specific Antigen Free), PSA Total (Prostate Specific Antigen Total) and Thyroglobulin. 

The liquid ready-to-use format is highly convenient for laboratory staff to use requiring no preparation. Furthermore the material can be easily shipped and stored at +2-8oC. Liquid stable controls not only eliminate the need for reconstitution but reduce the amount of human handling necessary. The user friendly 6 x 3ml pack size and open vial stability of 30 days at +2-8oC for all analytes listed significantly helps to minimise waste and keep running costs low.

Mundipharma strengthens oncology portfolio with strategic collaboration for next generation alkylating agents

Mundipharma International Corporation Limited and Northlake International LLC have announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to develop structurally novel – next generation alkylating agents for the treatment of haematological malignancies. 

The agreement grants Mundipharma and its independent associated companies worldwide intellectual property rights, excluding China, to Northlake International’s lead product NL-101 as well as its pipeline of back-up molecules. NL-101 is a novel fusion molecule developed through Northlake International’s Dual Functional Cytotoxic Targeted Therapy (DCTT) technology. This new chemical entity has a bendamustine back-bone plus a histone deacetylase (HDAC) pharmacophore, providing a dual specificity therapeutic small molecule capable of targeting both a 'conventional' cytotoxic pathway and a 'modern' molecular targeted pathway with a single molecule.

Winners for 2012 Scrip Awards

London’s Lancaster Hotel saw industry achievements across the board being celebrated last night at a glittering ceremony for the 8th Annual Scrip Awards.

The ceremony, hosted by the journalist and broadcaster John Sergeant, rewarded excellence over the whole range of industry activities, from pharma, biotech and those companies that support them. Despite 2012 being remarkable for the patent cliff, the Euro crisis and yet more damage to pharma’s reputation in the mainstream media, there was still much to celebrate in your achievements.

Assay provides fluorescence polarization-based detection to help advance drug research on epigenetic targets

Cisbio Bioassays, developer of products, technologies and services used for assay development and drug screening and for in vitro diagnostics, has announced that it has signed a global distribution agreement with BellBrook Labs, provider of high throughput screening tools, for BellBrook Labs’ Transcreener EPIGEN Methyltransferase assay.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cisbio Bioassays will offer this universal, fluorescence polarization-based tool for drug discovery studies in the growing field of epigenetics to pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers in Europe, the United States and Asia through its network of sales teams.

MRC Technology and Chinese Academy of Science collaborate to identify new targets for drug discovery

MRC Technology, a technology transfer charity and company, announced today it has entered into a strategic drug discovery collaboration with the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (SIBCB), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). The agreement will combine the SIBCB’s research expertise in generating potential new drug targets, with MRC Technology’s experience in further developing early stage research for pharmaceutical application and commercialisation. The focus of the collaboration is to fast track innovative drugable targets to create potent and selective novel therapeutics.

Silicone breast implants with spider silk-based coating show reduced side-effects in preclinical studies

AMSilk is developing a novel spider silk-based coating, called BioShield-S1, for silicone breast implants designed to reduce commonly known side effects that are initiated when the immune system reacts to the implants.

Preclinical tests conducted jointly with the University of Bayreuth, Germany and the Department of Trauma, Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the University of Wuerzburg, Germany, showed the efficacy of the implant coating. A first test in rats showed that coated silicone implants were accepted much better than implants without silk coating. In particular, capsular fibrosis and inflammation at the tissue border to the coated implants were significantly reduced.

Qualified human feeder cells for iPSC reprogramming

AMSBIO has announced the launch of Newborn Human Foreskin Fibroblasts qualified for induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)* reprogramming. 

During cellular reprogramming the feeder layer can greatly affect the health of the cell culture and the success of the reprogramming. While a range of inactivated fibroblasts can be used as a support layer for pluripotent cell culture, not all will support mRNA reprogramming. Newborn Human Foreskin Fibroblasts (NuFF-RQ) have been functionally validated to support the generation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) colonies providing an optimised feeder layer during mRNA reprogramming.

Micro-volume measurement of nucleic acids and proteins

The BioDrop portfolio advances current micro-volume measurement of DNA, RNA, and protein with two core technologies: an in-built sample port, and the unique micro-volume CUVETTE.

The sample port delivers precise measurements and, with no moving parts, eliminates the need for calibration – unlike other micro-volume solutions.