There are few healthcare topics as emotive or contentious as obesity, a condition that currently affects 24 per cent of women and 23 per cent of men in the UK and is rapidly increasing. What we eat and how we eat, what shape and weight we are, and how we view ourselves and our bodies, is the outcome of a complex web of physiological, psychological, cultural and social factors.
Yet people who are fat, let alone clinically obese, are often dismissed by their leaner peers as greedy, lazy and stupid. “Eat less and move more,” they are repeatedly told. But it is not nearly as simple as that, says Professor Stephen O’Rahilly, Co-Director of the Institute of Metabolic Research, University of Cambridge, and one of the country’s leading obesity researchers.
Professor O’Rahilly is a man with a mission: to share his belief that to tackle the epidemic of obesity in the developed world requires a nuanced and multi-stranded approach.
He will be giving a public talk at the Cambridge Science Festival on 18 March to bring some key facts to the attention of his audience and counteract some of the prejudices that overweight people face.
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Friday, 4 March 2011
Flexicon celebrates 25 years
Since 1986, Flexicon has provided filling solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic applications. During that time, the company’s policy of development and constant product improvement has created a unique, high-quality product range, earning Flexicon its position as a leader in the world market of liquid filling and capping systems.
Flexicon’s range of products – from stand-alone units for hand filling, through semi-automatic systems, to fully automatic filling, stoppering and capping machines – are designed for small- to medium-sized batch production. The fully automatic systems are customised to fit any container, be it a vial, bottle, test tube or non-self-standing micro-tube.
In 2008, Flexicon joined Falmouth-based Watson-Marlow Pumps Group to become part of the world’s largest group of companies specialising in peristaltic filling and pumping technology.
Henrik Corneliussen Sales and Marketing Manager, at Flexicon, comments: “Flexicon’s 25th anniversary represents a huge milestone for the business. For 25 years, Flexicon has worked to provide our customers with the most effective peristaltic filling and capping systems. We look forward to many more years of success – undertaking further product improvements and deliver even better solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.”
Watson-Marlow Pumps Group
Heidolph 2011 catalogue
Heidolph is a manufacturer of high performance bench top rotary evaporators, hotplate stirrers, overhead stirrers, shakers, parallel synthesizers, peristaltic pumps and homogenizers.
All Heidolph products offer a three year warranty as standard as well as increased safety, time saving and efficiency features.
To request a copy of the catalogue visit www.heidolph-uk.co.uk
Aspirate and dispense in maximum comfort
The new Ergo Plate Stand is designed to hold microplates and skirted PCR plates during pipetting sequences. What makes this so different? Well, the height and angle of the Ergo Stand can be adjusted, so whether you’re standing or sitting, you can position your plate for maximum comfort during pipetting sequences.
The Ergo Plate Stand has eight spaces for 1.5ml or 2.0ml microcentrifuge tubes, which is great for pipetting master mixes into PCR plates. It is easy to adjust but is sturdy and robust for day to day use. It is available in four colours (red, green, blue and yellow) for colour coding or identification of your work.
Anachem Ltd
Faster, lower cost analysis of amino acids in physiological samples
The new accelerated method is included as standard with the new Biochrom 30+ Amino Acid Analyzer, and is also compatible with the Biochrom 30 amino acid analyzer.
Biochrom
Predictive accuracy of Cytiva hESC-derived Cardiomyocytes in toxicity testing
GE Healthcare and Genentech have been working together since September 2010 to assess and further explore the functional properties of GE Healthcare’s newly-launched Cytiva hESC-derived Cardiomyocyte toxicity assays and to identify novel cellular biomarkers for cardiotoxicity.
The collaboration combines Genentech’s toxicology expertise, experience with primary cardiomyocytes, and a library of reference compounds, with GE Healthcare’s Cytiva Cardiomyocytes and its IN Cell Analyzer high-content analysis (HCA)imaging system. GE Healthcare’s Cytiva Cardiomyocytes have so far been evaluated through blind testing against 26 known compounds with preclinical and clinical cardiac discordances.
Stephen Minger, Global Head of R&D, Cell Technologies, GE Healthcare, said: “The data we will be presenting far exceed our expectations and show that using Cytiva cardiomyocytes and the IN Cell HCA platform, we can probe deeply into cells to identify cardiotoxicity and how it is manifested. This will give our customers the confidence that our Cytiva Cardiomyocytes offer a far more effective alternative to current cell-based and animal models used in toxicology testing.”
Drug-treated Cytiva cardiomyocytes were analysed using GE Healthcare’s IN Cell Analyzer 2000 HCA system using a panel of fluorescent markers to report on drug effects on a wide range of cellular parameters. Multi-parameter analysis and data profile clustering revealed a wealth of information on drug toxicity and mode of action and showed good correlation with previously reported clinical cardiotoxicity.
The collaboration will be discussed at SOT by Genentech on March 6 and the preliminary data will be presented in depth by GE Healthcare on March 9.
GE Healthcare
InformexUSA 2011: 5% increase in attendance from 2010
Event numbers, feedback and re-booking rates from the 2011 event in Charlotte clearly reflect the steady comeback that the biotechnology and special chemicals industries are experiencing.
Informex, the meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications, today announced that InformexUSA 2011 showed a 5% increase in attendance from 2010. The increase in attendance was complimented by a 14% jump in onsite exhibitor booking numbers for next year’s event over the re-booking during the 2010 event. These numbers reflected the market closely; companies are starting to see a steady increase in business that is facilitating a return to pre-recession numbers. Not only are re-booking levels at a record high with 241 exhibitors, but many companies that pre-registered for next year also opted to upgrade their presence for 2012; these companies include: Austin Chemical, Chiral Quest, PharmaAdvance, Rhodes Technologies, Survival Technologies, and Wockhardt Ltd.
Informex, the meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications, today announced that InformexUSA 2011 showed a 5% increase in attendance from 2010. The increase in attendance was complimented by a 14% jump in onsite exhibitor booking numbers for next year’s event over the re-booking during the 2010 event. These numbers reflected the market closely; companies are starting to see a steady increase in business that is facilitating a return to pre-recession numbers. Not only are re-booking levels at a record high with 241 exhibitors, but many companies that pre-registered for next year also opted to upgrade their presence for 2012; these companies include: Austin Chemical, Chiral Quest, PharmaAdvance, Rhodes Technologies, Survival Technologies, and Wockhardt Ltd.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Quotient announces major expansion of its GMP manufacturing capacity
Quotient Clinical, a strategic business unit of drug development services provider Quotient Bioresearch, today announced the completion of a major expansion of its Pharmaceutical Sciences facilities in Nottingham, UK.
The GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacturing suite has doubled in size and now incorporates six independent manufacturing rooms supporting oral, inhaled and parenteral drug products. The formulation development and pharmaceutical analysis laboratory areas have also been significantly increased and now occupy an 11,000ft2 purpose-built facility. The new facilities have been inspected and approved for use by the UK regulatory authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and are now fully operational.
The GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacturing suite has doubled in size and now incorporates six independent manufacturing rooms supporting oral, inhaled and parenteral drug products. The formulation development and pharmaceutical analysis laboratory areas have also been significantly increased and now occupy an 11,000ft2 purpose-built facility. The new facilities have been inspected and approved for use by the UK regulatory authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and are now fully operational.
GEA Pharma Systems signs agreement with Christian Berner Tech Trade for Nordic market
GEA Pharma Systems has recently signed an agency representation agreement with Christian Berner Tech Trade to sell its range of GEA solid dosage technologies throughout Sweden and Norway. This development adds an important sales channel for GEA Pharma Systems and is expected to have a significant positive effect on the company’s market growth in the region.
Christian Berner Tech Trade is one of the leading Nordic technical trading companies involved in supplying, processing and packaging technology for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. The family-owned company has been a leading European manufacturer of process equipment since 1897 and has a long relationship with the GEA Group.
Frans K A Maas, Vice President Sales and Marketing for GEA Pharma Systems confirmed that the agreement was good news for his customers. “The new agreement will provide an excellent service network enabling us to react more quickly to our customers’ requirements for high quality service and supply of market leading solid dosage technology,” he said.
Bo Söderqvist, the MD at Christian Berner Tech Trade said: “This new range of products fits well with our strategy to expand within the pharmaceutical processing industry, and we are exited to be able to present these well proven and market leading technologies.”
The agreement covers the supply and servicing of granulation and drying equipment of Aeromatic-Fielder and Collette, the pelletizing and coating technologies of Aeromatic-Fielder, including NICA System and also the contained materials handling technologies of Buck.
Christian Berner Tech Trade has for many years represented GEA Niro Spray dryers for pharmaceutical applications.
GEA Pharma Systems
Christian Berner Tech Trade is one of the leading Nordic technical trading companies involved in supplying, processing and packaging technology for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. The family-owned company has been a leading European manufacturer of process equipment since 1897 and has a long relationship with the GEA Group.
Frans K A Maas, Vice President Sales and Marketing for GEA Pharma Systems confirmed that the agreement was good news for his customers. “The new agreement will provide an excellent service network enabling us to react more quickly to our customers’ requirements for high quality service and supply of market leading solid dosage technology,” he said.
Bo Söderqvist, the MD at Christian Berner Tech Trade said: “This new range of products fits well with our strategy to expand within the pharmaceutical processing industry, and we are exited to be able to present these well proven and market leading technologies.”
The agreement covers the supply and servicing of granulation and drying equipment of Aeromatic-Fielder and Collette, the pelletizing and coating technologies of Aeromatic-Fielder, including NICA System and also the contained materials handling technologies of Buck.
Christian Berner Tech Trade has for many years represented GEA Niro Spray dryers for pharmaceutical applications.
GEA Pharma Systems
John McKinley joins American Peptide Company as senior marketing manager
John McKinley has joined American Peptide Company as their Senior Marketing Manager at the company’s Sunnyvale, California headquarters.
He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Genetics and has a background in peptide synthesis and purification. John has extensive sales and marketing experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and scientific software industries.
American Peptide Company
He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Genetics and has a background in peptide synthesis and purification. John has extensive sales and marketing experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and scientific software industries.
American Peptide Company
European inventors set global innovation standards
Whether high-stability deformable concrete, adjustable spectacle lenses, water purification with ultraviolet light, highly efficient biomass combustion, transmission amplifiers for optical fibre cables or methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's genes: the fifteen nominations for the European Inventor Award 2011 cover a vast span of pioneering technological solutions. Europe's most prestigious innovation prize will be awarded in five categories on 19 May in Budapest. With their talent for innovation, Europe's inventors benefit society as a whole, says European Patent Office President Benoît Battistelli.
The jury's choice of the finalists promises once more much anticipation about the decision on the five prize winners. The award was launched by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2006 with the support of the European Commission (EC). This year, the EPO, again supported by the EC, is joined by the Hungarian EU Council Presidency in the organisation of the event. Prizes in five categories - Industry, Research, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Non-European countries and Lifetime achievement - will be presented at the award ceremony in Budapest.
The jury's choice of the finalists promises once more much anticipation about the decision on the five prize winners. The award was launched by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2006 with the support of the European Commission (EC). This year, the EPO, again supported by the EC, is joined by the Hungarian EU Council Presidency in the organisation of the event. Prizes in five categories - Industry, Research, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Non-European countries and Lifetime achievement - will be presented at the award ceremony in Budapest.
Environmental monitoring for the whole lab
Discover how to implement a lab-wide environmental monitoring system that is fully integrated to all of your lab informatics systems.
This webcast will introduce Nexxis EM (Environmental Monitoring), a Nexxis iLAB application that can collect data from ANY device measuring environmental conditions and make that data available to all of your existing informatics systems - in real time.
During this webcast we will show how Nexxis EM can:
* Collect data from all monitoring systems and instruments.
* Standardize that data and store it in a single centralized database.
* Access the data from your LIMS.
* Integrate the data into your ELN in real time.
* Automate the monitoring of Stability studies.
Join Labtronics on March 22nd or March 24th to discover how Nexxis EM delivers Environmental Monitoring for the Whole Lab.
Labtronics Inc
This webcast will introduce Nexxis EM (Environmental Monitoring), a Nexxis iLAB application that can collect data from ANY device measuring environmental conditions and make that data available to all of your existing informatics systems - in real time.
During this webcast we will show how Nexxis EM can:
* Collect data from all monitoring systems and instruments.
* Standardize that data and store it in a single centralized database.
* Access the data from your LIMS.
* Integrate the data into your ELN in real time.
* Automate the monitoring of Stability studies.
Join Labtronics on March 22nd or March 24th to discover how Nexxis EM delivers Environmental Monitoring for the Whole Lab.
Labtronics Inc
How human tumour micro-environment impacts tumour cell biology
Preclinical Oncology Services Limited (PRECOS), a pre-clinical research and development service provider with a specific focus on oncology, will be hosting a new webinar discussing its cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas on in vitro and in vivo modelling of the human tumour micro-environment (TME). The informative web seminar will take place on March 15 2011, 12 - 1pm EDT and will be hosted by Dr Brett Hall, Oncology Biomarker Team Leader, Janssen Pharmaceutica and Professor Sue Watson, Chief Scientific Officer of PRECOS. To register visit: www.cbinet.com/webinars/showWebinar.cfm?confCode=EC11538
The educational webinar will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities in developing novel therapeutics linked to the human TME and illustrate how the human TME impacts tumour cell biology and drug pharmacology. A number of new oncology targets have arisen through investigations into the TME associated with solid tumours and tumour stem cell characteristics. However due to the level of cancer drug attrition in the clinic, drug discovery programmes are looking to the early pre-clinical phase to optimally challenge new targets, in terms of their potential efficacy, prior to initiating a full drug discovery cascade.
The educational webinar will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities in developing novel therapeutics linked to the human TME and illustrate how the human TME impacts tumour cell biology and drug pharmacology. A number of new oncology targets have arisen through investigations into the TME associated with solid tumours and tumour stem cell characteristics. However due to the level of cancer drug attrition in the clinic, drug discovery programmes are looking to the early pre-clinical phase to optimally challenge new targets, in terms of their potential efficacy, prior to initiating a full drug discovery cascade.
Bespoke agar-drying cabinet for university
PF&F, the specialist British manufacturer of laboratory fume containment systems, has recently completed the production of a bespoke agar-drying cabinet for the division of Biomedical Science at the University of Bradford, UK. The recently installed system has been acclaimed by the University’s microbiology staff as an unqualified success.
The new ADC unit is the latest addition to the PF&F product range and is designed to enable agar plates to be dried cleanly and effectively in readiness for inoculation with bacteria and other agents.
The preparation of an agar plate involves first pouring the agar and then allowing it to set. An essential part of the preparation process is then to dry the surface moisture because introducing bacteria or other materials directly onto a liquid surface would lead to their rapid and uncontrolled dispersal across the plate, rendering the production of single colonies impossible. Most agar plates can be left to dry on an ordinary work bench but certain specialist agars, including those that are mixed with temperature-sensitive materials such as blood, egg yolk and antibiotics, require refrigeration and therefore need additional help to dry. It was for this purpose that the University required the new cabinet.
The new ADC unit is the latest addition to the PF&F product range and is designed to enable agar plates to be dried cleanly and effectively in readiness for inoculation with bacteria and other agents.
The preparation of an agar plate involves first pouring the agar and then allowing it to set. An essential part of the preparation process is then to dry the surface moisture because introducing bacteria or other materials directly onto a liquid surface would lead to their rapid and uncontrolled dispersal across the plate, rendering the production of single colonies impossible. Most agar plates can be left to dry on an ordinary work bench but certain specialist agars, including those that are mixed with temperature-sensitive materials such as blood, egg yolk and antibiotics, require refrigeration and therefore need additional help to dry. It was for this purpose that the University required the new cabinet.
Randox Laboratories launches online blog
Randox Laboratories, the diagnostic solutions company, has launched Lab Tests Blog to provide a resource for laboratory professionals to learn more about new innovations and current, relevant research and industry news within laboratory diagnostics. The world of healthcare is so vast it can be difficult to find one place that acts as a comprehensive and reliable source of information, relating to the diagnostic field in particular. Lab Tests Blog was created to provide this source.
Laboratory diagnostics is perhaps the most important element of patient assessment. Not only does it cover the diagnosis of human conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and so on, it is also of paramount importance within the fields of drug residue testing, toxicology, veterinary care and the pharmaceutical industry to name only a few. As Randox has experience in these areas, Lab Tests Blog will provide constant updates on industry news within these fields, ensuring you, the user is kept up to date within the click of a button.
Randox says: "We have created an easy to use, relevant and useful source you can access without having to waste time sifting through a multitude of websites. We know how hectic the daily workload of a laboratory technician or manager can be. Lab Tests Blog provides the latest industry news, new product developments, useful tips and articles on improving laboratory efficiency, saving costs, quality control and so on, as well as interesting market news. All information we provide is from trustworthy sources, ensuring you can rely on the details."
Randox Laboratories Ltd
Laboratory diagnostics is perhaps the most important element of patient assessment. Not only does it cover the diagnosis of human conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and so on, it is also of paramount importance within the fields of drug residue testing, toxicology, veterinary care and the pharmaceutical industry to name only a few. As Randox has experience in these areas, Lab Tests Blog will provide constant updates on industry news within these fields, ensuring you, the user is kept up to date within the click of a button.
Randox says: "We have created an easy to use, relevant and useful source you can access without having to waste time sifting through a multitude of websites. We know how hectic the daily workload of a laboratory technician or manager can be. Lab Tests Blog provides the latest industry news, new product developments, useful tips and articles on improving laboratory efficiency, saving costs, quality control and so on, as well as interesting market news. All information we provide is from trustworthy sources, ensuring you can rely on the details."
Randox Laboratories Ltd
PharmaDiagnostics appoints director of assay development
PharmaDiagnostics NV, a company developing and marketing a broadly-enabling, label-free screening technology that uniquely does not require specialized instrumentation, announces today the appointment of Dr Sylviane Boucharens as director of assay development. Sylviane joins from Merck’s MSD site in Newhouse, Scotland, where she was head of global compound repository and in vitro screening.
Working closing with the PharmaDiagnostics Synthetic Nanotechnology team, Sylviane’s appointment is the latest in a series of additions to further strengthen the PharmaDiagnostics R&D team. Sylviane will play a central role in driving the growth of PharmaDiagnostics’ assay product range, and via her extensive contacts in the market, in developing business globally. She will be closely involved in the product development strategy.
Working closing with the PharmaDiagnostics Synthetic Nanotechnology team, Sylviane’s appointment is the latest in a series of additions to further strengthen the PharmaDiagnostics R&D team. Sylviane will play a central role in driving the growth of PharmaDiagnostics’ assay product range, and via her extensive contacts in the market, in developing business globally. She will be closely involved in the product development strategy.
Control system for pharma manufacturing facility
The construction of the new facility is attributable to the overwhelming demand for the company’s groundbreaking dialysis substitute which facilitates a mobile alternative to traditional dialysis techniques. The chemical formula in question frees patients from the need to be connected to a dialysis machine for eight hours at a time and instead enables cleaning of the blood from the convenience of a portable bag.
The £500,000 turnkey project has enabled Denca to demonstrate the full range of its expertise all the way from developing process diagrams to the design and manufacture of control panels through to software, programming, installation and commissioning. In all, five Siemens S7300 PLCs are to be networked together with MP 277 touch screen HMIs, a Profibus Remote IO installed and communication with package vendors achieved on a Profibus DP.
Tighter compliance controls are an inevitable and necessary fact of life for the pharmaceuticals sector. And here Denca’s experience in the field is proving invaluable in securing the necessary validation documentation to support FDA and GAMP 5 compliance.
Denca Controls Ltd
Gel doc system rapidly analyses DNA
Syngene, a manufacturer of image analysis solutions, announced a Syngene gel documentation system is being used at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA to image gels quickly and safely.
Researchers in the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT are regularly using a Syngene gel documentation system to accurately visualise, quantify and record images of DNA on 1D agarose gels fluorescently stained with SYBR Safe from Invitrogen.
Dr Natalie Kuldell, an Instructor in the Department of Biological Engineering, commented: “We wanted to be able to visualise gels stained with SYBR Safe because it is less hazardous than Ethidium bromide, as well as record the results. To do this we needed imaging equipment which was more advanced than the Polaroid camera we were using so in 2008 we installed a Syngene gel doc system.”
Researchers in the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT are regularly using a Syngene gel documentation system to accurately visualise, quantify and record images of DNA on 1D agarose gels fluorescently stained with SYBR Safe from Invitrogen.
Dr Natalie Kuldell, an Instructor in the Department of Biological Engineering, commented: “We wanted to be able to visualise gels stained with SYBR Safe because it is less hazardous than Ethidium bromide, as well as record the results. To do this we needed imaging equipment which was more advanced than the Polaroid camera we were using so in 2008 we installed a Syngene gel doc system.”
Interactive Medica launches territory planner
Interactive Medica has today announced the launch of IM Territory Planner, a Cloud-based workbench designed to help companies in the Life Sciences industry plan and manipulate territory alignments to optimise sales resource allocation and more effectively capitalise on market opportunities. The first collaborative SaaS system to help organisations map out their territories and understand their potential, Territory Planner can be configured to a business’ bespoke requirements. By uploading key business data that they want to use, companies are able to run detailed scenario analyses – and if they like what they see, it can be implemented with the click of a mouse.
MSD to participate in BioForum 2011
MSD will participate in BioForum 2011, the 10th edition of the Central European Fairs for Biotechnology and Bio-Business in Lodz. The company will also be a participant of BioPartnering, which takes place during both days of the event.
MSD, known as Merck in the US and Canada, is a worldwide pharmaceutical industry leader, with approximately 94,000 employees, globally who works with customers in 140 countries. Long known for its innovative research and development, MSD provides innovative medicines and vaccines to help improve health and well-being.
MSD, known as Merck in the US and Canada, is a worldwide pharmaceutical industry leader, with approximately 94,000 employees, globally who works with customers in 140 countries. Long known for its innovative research and development, MSD provides innovative medicines and vaccines to help improve health and well-being.
Molecular target aims at aggressive prostate cancer
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a potential target to treat an aggressive type of prostate cancer. The target, a gene called SPINK1, could be to prostate cancer what HER2 has become for breast cancer.
Like HER2, SPINK1 occurs in only a small subset of prostate cancers – about 10 percent. But the gene is an ideal target for a monoclonal antibody, the same type of drug as Herceptin, which is aimed at HER2 and has dramatically improved treatment for this aggressive type of breast cancer.
“Since SPINK1 can be made on the surface of cells, it attracted our attention as a therapeutic target. Here we show that a ‘blocking’ antibody to SPINK1 could slow the growth of prostate tumours in mice that were positive for the SPINK protein,” says study author Arul Chinnaiyan, MD, PhD, director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.
Like HER2, SPINK1 occurs in only a small subset of prostate cancers – about 10 percent. But the gene is an ideal target for a monoclonal antibody, the same type of drug as Herceptin, which is aimed at HER2 and has dramatically improved treatment for this aggressive type of breast cancer.
“Since SPINK1 can be made on the surface of cells, it attracted our attention as a therapeutic target. Here we show that a ‘blocking’ antibody to SPINK1 could slow the growth of prostate tumours in mice that were positive for the SPINK protein,” says study author Arul Chinnaiyan, MD, PhD, director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.
Study links vitamin D to lung cancer survival
Recent research suggests vitamin D may be able to stop or prevent cancer. Now, a new study finds an enzyme that plays a role in metabolizing vitamin D can predict lung cancer survival.
The study, from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, suggests that this enzyme stops the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D.
The study, from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, suggests that this enzyme stops the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D.
DIA/FDA conference discusses use of (Q)SAR to assess impurities for potential genotoxicity
DIA and FDA will host the DIA/FDA Quantitative Structure-activity Relationship (Q)SAR Approaches to Assessing Genotoxic Impurities in Pharmaceuticals Conference on April 7, 2011 in Rockville, MD, USA.
Industry scientists and regulators will address what constitutes an acceptable in silico evaluation and how to incorporate public and proprietary sources of data into an integrated assessment. The timing of this particular workshop will provide critical input on the discussions for the June 2011 meeting for ICH M7 (Mutagenic Impurities). Session topics include:
* Strategies for Classifying and Controlling Potentially Genotoxic Impurities in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
* Regulatory Perspectives: FDA, EU, and Japan.
* What Current (Q)SAR Computational Models Can Tell Us about Ames. Predictivity.
* Industry Use of (Q)SAR: Overview and Case Studies.
* Integration of (Q)SAR into Hazard Identification: Role of ICH.
Dr David Jacobson-Kram, Associate Director of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Office of New Drugs (OND), CDER, FDA, will deliver the keynote address titled: “Use of in Silico Analyses for Mutagenicity Predictions: State-of-the-Art and Regulatory Implications.”
Since 1976, Dr Jacobson-Kram has published more than 80 abstracts, 60 peer-reviewed articles, and 30 review articles or book chapters. The majority of these publications deal which methods and issues in genetic and molecular toxicology.
DIAceive future communications from Drug Information Association, let us know by clicking here.
Drug Information Association, 800 Enterprise Road Suite 200, Horsham, PA 19044 United States
DIA
Industry scientists and regulators will address what constitutes an acceptable in silico evaluation and how to incorporate public and proprietary sources of data into an integrated assessment. The timing of this particular workshop will provide critical input on the discussions for the June 2011 meeting for ICH M7 (Mutagenic Impurities). Session topics include:
* Strategies for Classifying and Controlling Potentially Genotoxic Impurities in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
* Regulatory Perspectives: FDA, EU, and Japan.
* What Current (Q)SAR Computational Models Can Tell Us about Ames. Predictivity.
* Industry Use of (Q)SAR: Overview and Case Studies.
* Integration of (Q)SAR into Hazard Identification: Role of ICH.
Dr David Jacobson-Kram, Associate Director of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Office of New Drugs (OND), CDER, FDA, will deliver the keynote address titled: “Use of in Silico Analyses for Mutagenicity Predictions: State-of-the-Art and Regulatory Implications.”
Since 1976, Dr Jacobson-Kram has published more than 80 abstracts, 60 peer-reviewed articles, and 30 review articles or book chapters. The majority of these publications deal which methods and issues in genetic and molecular toxicology.
DIAceive future communications from Drug Information Association, let us know by clicking here.
Drug Information Association, 800 Enterprise Road Suite 200, Horsham, PA 19044 United States
DIA
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
3D DNA chips boost microarray accuracy
In combination, these factors precisely define the spot morphology. The columns are also surrounded by microbeads that are encapsulated on the chip and can be agitated to ensure homogenous sample distribution during the hybridisation process. These properties maximise signal-to-noise ratio and increase accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity. Importantly, the chips are compatible with current array scanning methods so that no specialised infrastructure is required to utilise the system.
Riemser Arzneimittel AG sells veterinary business to Ecuphar NV
Riemser Arzneimittel AG and Belgian company Ecuphar NV have announced that they have agreed on the sale of a large part of the veterinary business of Riemser to Ecuphar. The sale should take place during the first quarter of 2011.
As part of its further strategic development as a specialty pharmaceutical supplier, Riemser Arzneimittel AG will be selling a large part of both its veterinary product portfolio and its marketing and sales unit, to Ecuphar. The research and development and production divisions, as well as the Riemser swine flu will remain at Riemser. This acquisition will grant the Belgian company Ecuphar, which is specialised in veterinary medicine, direct access to the German veterinary market, an important factor in its European expansion strategy. In the future, Ecuphar will operate in Germany under the name of Ecuphar GmbH. The Company will be located in Greifswald, Germany.
As part of its further strategic development as a specialty pharmaceutical supplier, Riemser Arzneimittel AG will be selling a large part of both its veterinary product portfolio and its marketing and sales unit, to Ecuphar. The research and development and production divisions, as well as the Riemser swine flu will remain at Riemser. This acquisition will grant the Belgian company Ecuphar, which is specialised in veterinary medicine, direct access to the German veterinary market, an important factor in its European expansion strategy. In the future, Ecuphar will operate in Germany under the name of Ecuphar GmbH. The Company will be located in Greifswald, Germany.
Webinar: Transfusion Safety Enhancement: Six Years of Experience With Bar Code Scanning
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and The Joint Commission recently announced the educational webinar, "Transfusion Safety Enhancement: Six Years of Experience With Bar Code Scanning," taking place on Thursday, March 24, 2011, from 1:00-2:30 PM Eastern (US) Time.
This webinar will describe the development and implementation of a comprehensive computerized bar code-based tracking system aimed at ensuring proper identification of patients, transfusion testing samples, and transfused blood products. Six years of continuous hospital-wide experience strongly suggests that this system has significantly enhanced transfusion safety and that it may represent a prototype for the future.
This webinar will describe the development and implementation of a comprehensive computerized bar code-based tracking system aimed at ensuring proper identification of patients, transfusion testing samples, and transfused blood products. Six years of continuous hospital-wide experience strongly suggests that this system has significantly enhanced transfusion safety and that it may represent a prototype for the future.
Thermo Fisher Scientific to highlight Maybridge Fragment-based drug discovery solutions
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| Maybridge Fragment Solubility Poster |
The poster describes the use of the Stem Clarity solubility station to experimentally validate fragment solubility values in both DMSO (200mM) and aqueous phosphate buffer. Such analyses have been used to affirm compound quality and further enhance the success rate of hits generated by the Maybridge Ro3 Fragment collection. Scientists from Maybridge will be available on stand E at the Stevenage Fragments III meeting to discuss the work presented on the poster and other aspects of fragment-based drug discovery.
Maybridge compound libraries represent a gold standard in molecular fragment libraries and include the Ro3 Diversity library, Fragment collection, Bromo-, Fluoro- and Pre-Fragment collections. Maybridge prides itself on having the in-house scientific expertise to provide the highest-quality products and services for fragment-based drug-discovery needs.
For more information on the poster please visit: www.maybridge.com/Images/pdfs/MB_poster_GlobalC_09_V02.pdf.
Maybridge
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Independent survey ranks Agilent Technologies No 1 partner for laboratory standards compliance
Agilent Technologies Inctoday announced that a recent independent survey once again named Agilent as the preferred partner for laboratories that must measure up to regulatory and quality standards. More than 350 survey respondents in North America and Europe ranked Agilent Compliance Services as their top choice for general laboratory compliance services and instrument qualification.
Agilent has consistently held this position every year the independent survey has been conducted since 1995, during which it has made more than 100,000 successful qualification deliveries.
Qualification of laboratory instrumentation is an integral part of compliance with regulatory and quality standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, ISO17025, and United States Pharmacopeia.
“When you seek out a compliance partner, the experience of other customers is a good predictor of the satisfaction you will receive,” said Gary Powers, Agilent SSD Compliance Program manager. “Especially when a lab has instruments from multiple manufacturers, achieving compliance can be a time-sink and a paperwork nightmare. An experienced compliance partner is an asset that can help overcome these challenges, reduce the costs of compliance, and avoid the risk of failed audits.”
Agilent Technologies
Agilent has consistently held this position every year the independent survey has been conducted since 1995, during which it has made more than 100,000 successful qualification deliveries.
Qualification of laboratory instrumentation is an integral part of compliance with regulatory and quality standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, ISO17025, and United States Pharmacopeia.
“When you seek out a compliance partner, the experience of other customers is a good predictor of the satisfaction you will receive,” said Gary Powers, Agilent SSD Compliance Program manager. “Especially when a lab has instruments from multiple manufacturers, achieving compliance can be a time-sink and a paperwork nightmare. An experienced compliance partner is an asset that can help overcome these challenges, reduce the costs of compliance, and avoid the risk of failed audits.”
Agilent Technologies
PBL InterferonSource launches new ELISA kit
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| Composite standard curves represent all 9 analytes in the VeriPlex Human Interferon Multiplex ELISA kit |
The new multiplex ELISA kit (powered by Quanysys Biosciences’ Q-Plex Multiplex ELISA technology) allows life scientists, for the first time, to benefit from simultaneously quantifying Human Type I, II, and III interferons as well as related pro-inflammatory cytokines from a single biological sample. The kit is also compatible with serum/plasma samples.
“This new VeriPlex Human Interferon Multiplex ELISA kit emphasizes PBL’s commitment to helping scientists around the world answer key questions in their research,” said Robert Pestka, PBL’s President and CEO. “We have listened and responded to researchers’ need to understand how different types of interferon are related to various disease states. The result is a solution in a simple and cost-effective multiplex ELISA platform that can maximize the amount of information obtained from limited sample sources — it has a detection limit as low as ~3 pg/mL; has a large dynamic range; and is compatible with autoimmune disease matrices. We believe this kit will be extremely important in increasing our understanding of interferon-related immunological events — demonstrating that interferons play integral and diverse roles in many immunological processes.”
Image caption: Composite standard curves represent all 9 analytes in the VeriPlex Human Interferon Multiplex ELISA kit.
PBL InterferonSource
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Linear shaking baths for molecular biologists
Grant Instruments, a supplier of scientific, life sciences and data acquisition products, is targeting molecular biologists with the launch of its precision engineered GLS Aqua Plus series linear shaking water baths.The GLS Aqua Plus series includes a choice of two models (12 and 18 litre) and features a robust patented, high quality magnetically coupled shaking mechanism which provides maximum reliability, consistency and quiet operation.
The baths include a drain tap to allow easy tank emptying, two programmable temperature and shaking presets for rapid selection of commonly used set points, a countdown timer with audible buzzer, and non-drip polycarbonate lids. The see-through gabled polycarbonate lid not only improves performance of the baths but limits evaporation, reduces contamination and conserves energy.
The new models boast precision temperature control throughout the operating range of ambient +5°C to 99°C with ±0.1°C stability and uniformity. A wide range of accessories is also available for the GLS Aqua Plus range - including flask and test tube trays, test tube and microtube racks - to provide exactly the right solution for your application.
The GLS Aqua Plus series linear shaking baths have been designed for molecular biology applications such as hybridisation, producing bacterial culture media and for solubility studies. Like all Grant products, the new water baths are built to last and are manufactured using only the highest quality materials and come with a 3-year warranty as standard.
Nathan Neal, director of sales and marketing at Grant Instruments, said: “With the GLS Aqua Plus series you get Grant quality and design combined with the temperature stability and all the functionality you need in a linear shaking bath for your laboratory – all this at an incredibly competitive price.”
The Aqua Plus family of water baths complement the existing Grant Optima™ series of stirred thermostatic baths and heating circulators and are part of Grant’s comprehensive range of scientific products. This includes block heaters and coolers, baths/circulators and re-circulating chillers, and under the Grant-bio brand, thermoshakers, rockers, rotators and shakers, centrifuges and vortex mixers.
Grant Instruments
Web-based portal to access every lab informatics
This provides centralized web-based portal to access every informatics system in the lab.The Nexxis Portal provides this type of functionality. From a single browser screen you are able to view data from any instrument, select samples from your LIMS, check training records for an individual, and report from your ELN.
The Nexxis Portal connects the user to other systems and makes them easily available from a central location. It integrates with any LIMS, SDMS, instrument or software system. From a central location you are able to create reports from any database in the lab.
Investigations and review of results is much faster when you can access all of your data from a central location.
Each application will open in its own window so that analysts can work on several systems at the same time. This makes it easy to move data from one system to another, or to review data from several systems at the same time. For example you can open an ELN and while working on an analysis you can check the MSDS for a chemical that is located in your SDMS.
Robert Pavlis, President of Labtronics commented "Labtronics is the leader in providing black box integration solutions and now with the release of Nexxis Portal we are also leading the way to providing a simple integration solution that connects every system in the lab."
Labtronics Inc
Albira PET/SPECT/CT preclinical imaging system
The University of Notre Dame has added Caretream’s Albira system to its In Vivo Imaging Core, part of the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility (NDIIF). With the addition of PET, SPECT, and CT capabilities, the NDIIF will now better serve the imaging research needs of faculty from the departments of Biology, Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry and Biochemistry. The Albira system will immediately enable NDIIF to support researchers studying oncology, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurodegenerative disease.
BioTek establishes of Korean office
BioTek Instruments Inc has expandeded its microplate-based technology market with the establishment of BioTek Korea. Managed by Mr Yunki Kyung, the new direct sales and service organization will focus on growing BioTek's brand and expanding direct service and application support for our growing customer base in South Korea.
ClinCard automated payment system
Functioning as a web based payment and communication platform, the ClinCard System eliminates the need for paper checks by introducing prepaid debit card technology and manual accounting/reporting of fund disbursement while reducing the site's cash flow burden. The automated system offers significant benefits including reduced administration, technology driven controls of study and site specific payment schedules, increased subject retention and reduction of associated costs. The ClinCard System has already been adopted by leading pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies in Europe and NorthAmerica and has been implemented as the preferred method of payment by numerous universities and research hospitals including an Ivy League institution.
Patent plethora in 2010 breaks record for Biocitech technology park residents
Biocitech SAS, the Paris life science technology park, today announced that its 25 resident companies applied for a bumper number of patents with a nearly 70 per cent leap to 147 in 2010. This represents an almost five-fold increase in patent applications since 2007 (when there were 30) and compares with 86 in 2009.
This rise is an encouraging sign of just how innovative Biocitech companies are. Patent applications are a key marker for the health of a life science company as they indicate innovation progress and the protection of its intellectual property. They show the potential for new therapies for patients and for future revenues for the company through the exploitation of these patents either directly or through sale or partnerships.
This rise is an encouraging sign of just how innovative Biocitech companies are. Patent applications are a key marker for the health of a life science company as they indicate innovation progress and the protection of its intellectual property. They show the potential for new therapies for patients and for future revenues for the company through the exploitation of these patents either directly or through sale or partnerships.
Study indicates CYT107 expands CD4 T-Cells in gut mucosa of chronically HIV infected immunological non-responder patients
Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development of new therapies for immune modulation, today announced results of a multi-center Phase IIa study designed to investigate the potential of Interleukin-7 (CYT107) therapy to reconstitute CD4 T-cells in chronically HIV-1 infected patients whose CD4 T-cell counts remained low despite treatment with anti-retroviral-therapies (HAART).
In addition to providing further evidence of the ability of IL-7 to stimulate the expansion of CD4 and CD8 T-cells in peripheral blood, the results demonstrate the importance of IL-7 in stimulating T-cell repopulation of the lymphoid tissue layer in the mucous membrane of the GI tract. This effect, previously demonstrated in SIV infected monkeys, is now confirmed by analysis of rectosigmoid biopsies in this study of HIV infected patients defined as Immunological Non-Responders (INR). The analysis of these mucosal gut biopsies shows a 3.93-fold increase in CD4 T-cell counts following IL-7 treatment. The data were presented at the 2011 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) held in Boston, February 27–March 2.
In addition to providing further evidence of the ability of IL-7 to stimulate the expansion of CD4 and CD8 T-cells in peripheral blood, the results demonstrate the importance of IL-7 in stimulating T-cell repopulation of the lymphoid tissue layer in the mucous membrane of the GI tract. This effect, previously demonstrated in SIV infected monkeys, is now confirmed by analysis of rectosigmoid biopsies in this study of HIV infected patients defined as Immunological Non-Responders (INR). The analysis of these mucosal gut biopsies shows a 3.93-fold increase in CD4 T-cell counts following IL-7 treatment. The data were presented at the 2011 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) held in Boston, February 27–March 2.
Gilson PLC 2020 purification system
Gilson UK's PLC 2020 is a personal liquid chromatography system for reverse and normal-phase HPLC with FLASH purification capabilities. This complete system was developed for chemists, to provide them with an easy-to-use, self-contained instrument specific to their purification needs on a more personal level. The system is ideally suited for low throughput, high and low-pressure purification to support the individual or a group of chemists.
The PLC 2020 is a compact and independent purification platform capable of performing manual injection purification runs from 1ml/min to 100ml/min with pressures up to 4,060psi. The system can hold up to four 1l solvent reservoirs and select between four different elution solvents. It also has integrated variable, dual wavelength UV/VIS detection and fraction collection capabilities all controlled via the easy-to-use touch-screen controller, allowing the system to be completely self-contained and operated without the need for any additional equipment or space.
The PLC 2020 enables users to download/upload a variety of methods or results easily with a USB drive for quick information transfer. Its interchangeable pump heads and flow cell design enables users to completely optimize and accommodate a variety of applications. This 'HPLC in a box' offers the diversity that chemists require with fully-functioning facilities and an intuitive software interface.
Gilson UK
The PLC 2020 is a compact and independent purification platform capable of performing manual injection purification runs from 1ml/min to 100ml/min with pressures up to 4,060psi. The system can hold up to four 1l solvent reservoirs and select between four different elution solvents. It also has integrated variable, dual wavelength UV/VIS detection and fraction collection capabilities all controlled via the easy-to-use touch-screen controller, allowing the system to be completely self-contained and operated without the need for any additional equipment or space.
The PLC 2020 enables users to download/upload a variety of methods or results easily with a USB drive for quick information transfer. Its interchangeable pump heads and flow cell design enables users to completely optimize and accommodate a variety of applications. This 'HPLC in a box' offers the diversity that chemists require with fully-functioning facilities and an intuitive software interface.
Gilson UK
Animal-free expansion media components eliminate need for blood products in mononuclear and hematopoietic stem cells
A recent study demonstrated that Cellastim (recombinant human albumin) and Optiferrin (recombinant human transferrin) deliver superior xeno-free and animal-free solutions for primary cell and stem cell expansion media. The study revealed that the combination of Cellastim and Optiferrin delivered a 250-300% increase in performance over the best animal-derived combination. These research findings were presented at the Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine World Congress, January 2011 poster session.
Silk moth’s antenna inspires nanotech tool with applications in Alzheimer’s research
By mimicking the structure of the silk moth’s antenna, University of Michigan engineering researchers have built a better nanopore - a tiny tunnel-shaped tool that could advance understanding of a class of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Alzheimer’s.
A paper on their work is newly published online in Nature Nanotechnology.
Nanopores - essentially holes drilled in a silicon chip - are miniscule measurement devices that enable the study of single molecules or proteins. Even today’s best nanopores clog easily, so the technology hasn’t been widely adopted in the lab. Improved versions are expected to be major boons for faster, cheaper DNA sequencing.
A paper on their work is newly published online in Nature Nanotechnology.
Nanopores - essentially holes drilled in a silicon chip - are miniscule measurement devices that enable the study of single molecules or proteins. Even today’s best nanopores clog easily, so the technology hasn’t been widely adopted in the lab. Improved versions are expected to be major boons for faster, cheaper DNA sequencing.
immatics appoints Dr Harald Stock to board
immatics biotechnologies GmbH, a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic vaccines that are active against cancer, has announced the appointment of Dr Harald F Stock to the board of directors, effective February 2011.
Harald Stock has been Chief Executive Officer of the Grünenthal Group since January 2009. Previously, he was Chairman and Managing Director of the German DePuy Group, the orthopeadics division of Johnson & Johnson, from 2006 to the end of 2008. Between April and December 2008, he also represented Johnson & Johnson on the Board of BVMed, the German Medical Technology Industry Association.
Harald Stock has been Chief Executive Officer of the Grünenthal Group since January 2009. Previously, he was Chairman and Managing Director of the German DePuy Group, the orthopeadics division of Johnson & Johnson, from 2006 to the end of 2008. Between April and December 2008, he also represented Johnson & Johnson on the Board of BVMed, the German Medical Technology Industry Association.
Gene test to predict nerve damage from bone cancer treatment
Scientists have found a genetic test that predicts whether bone marrow cancer treatments including thalidomide are likely to give patients a debilitating side-effect. The study led by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) is published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Around 4,000 British people are diagnosed each year with multiple myeloma, an aggressive cancer that affects a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Average survival after diagnosis is just three to five years, despite patients receiving intensive treatment with a combination of drugs.
All common treatment regimens for multiple myeloma also contain at least one drug with the side-effect of peripheral neuropathy – a disorder of the nervous system that can cause altered sensation, tingling, numbness and severe pain.
Around 4,000 British people are diagnosed each year with multiple myeloma, an aggressive cancer that affects a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Average survival after diagnosis is just three to five years, despite patients receiving intensive treatment with a combination of drugs.
All common treatment regimens for multiple myeloma also contain at least one drug with the side-effect of peripheral neuropathy – a disorder of the nervous system that can cause altered sensation, tingling, numbness and severe pain.
Monday, 28 February 2011
First Zebrafish specific antibodies
AnaSpec, Eurogentec Group is pleased to be the first in the industry to establish a new product line of zebrafish specific (Z-Fish) antibodies to support the increasing needs of researchers.
In collaboration with the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, AnaSpec's Z-Fish polyclonal anti-lysozyme was found to completely overlap with mpo: GFP labeled neutrophils. This indicates that lysozyme is a neutrophil marker in zebrafish. Lysozyme C (lyz), a cationic glycoside hydrolase, breaks down N-acetyl muramic b-1, 4 N-acetyl glucosamine linkages in the bacterial cell wall1-2. In zebrafish, this enzyme is expressed exclusively in myeloid cells2 and is used for hematopoietic developmental studies in zebrafish. This antibody was raised using a synthetic peptide derived from the intermediate region of zebrafish lysozyme protein (GenBank accession # NP_631919.1).
AnaSpec's expanding list of Z-Fish antibodies includes targets used in transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, apoptosis and autophagy, cell cycle control, cytoskeleton, glucose and energy metabolism, and immunity research. Antibodies were verified in ELISA. Many were verified in western blots using zebrafish lysates. As well, these Z-Fish antibodies are predicted to work in IHC, many of which have good IHC results. Antibodies are supplied in 150 ul size, this amount is enough for 15 mini gels.
References:
1. Gordon, S. et al. J Exp Med 139(5), 1228 (1974).
2. Kitaguchi, T. et al. Mech Dev 126, 314 (2009).
AnaSpec, Eurogentec Group
In collaboration with the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, AnaSpec's Z-Fish polyclonal anti-lysozyme was found to completely overlap with mpo: GFP labeled neutrophils. This indicates that lysozyme is a neutrophil marker in zebrafish. Lysozyme C (lyz), a cationic glycoside hydrolase, breaks down N-acetyl muramic b-1, 4 N-acetyl glucosamine linkages in the bacterial cell wall1-2. In zebrafish, this enzyme is expressed exclusively in myeloid cells2 and is used for hematopoietic developmental studies in zebrafish. This antibody was raised using a synthetic peptide derived from the intermediate region of zebrafish lysozyme protein (GenBank accession # NP_631919.1).
AnaSpec's expanding list of Z-Fish antibodies includes targets used in transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, apoptosis and autophagy, cell cycle control, cytoskeleton, glucose and energy metabolism, and immunity research. Antibodies were verified in ELISA. Many were verified in western blots using zebrafish lysates. As well, these Z-Fish antibodies are predicted to work in IHC, many of which have good IHC results. Antibodies are supplied in 150 ul size, this amount is enough for 15 mini gels.
References:
1. Gordon, S. et al. J Exp Med 139(5), 1228 (1974).
2. Kitaguchi, T. et al. Mech Dev 126, 314 (2009).
AnaSpec, Eurogentec Group
Biotage introduces new SNAP XL Flash Purification
Biotage, a supplier of tools and technology for analytical and medicinal chemistry, announced two new additions to its SNAP XL family of cartridges for large scale and development purification. Released in both 750g and 1500g sizes, the new cartridges offer powerful solutions for reverse phase chromatography (KP-C18-HS) and also optimized silica for the separation of amines (KP-NH).
The two new cartridge sizes address a growing need for 100g+ scale purifications and offer chemists increased efficiency while reducing running costs. Additionally, the application of reverse phase flash chromatography and the separation of amines are growing trends in pharmaceutical drug development.
“There is growing market demand for large scale flash purification cartridges and we have collaborated with key customers to focus our product development efforts on pressing needs of chemists working in this area,” says Sunil Rana, Biotage product manager for flash purification. “With the introduction of these new cartridges, Biotage now offers a solution for practically every scale-up situation.”
Alongside the industry leading KP-Sil cartridges for normal phase chromatography, these new SNAP XL cartridges further compliment Biotage’s portfolio of flash chromatography solutions which offer seamless scalability from milligrams to 100+ grams. The overall SNAP cartridge line offers the widest range of options covering the chemist’s needs from the routine to highly specialized or complex separations.
Biotage
The two new cartridge sizes address a growing need for 100g+ scale purifications and offer chemists increased efficiency while reducing running costs. Additionally, the application of reverse phase flash chromatography and the separation of amines are growing trends in pharmaceutical drug development.
“There is growing market demand for large scale flash purification cartridges and we have collaborated with key customers to focus our product development efforts on pressing needs of chemists working in this area,” says Sunil Rana, Biotage product manager for flash purification. “With the introduction of these new cartridges, Biotage now offers a solution for practically every scale-up situation.”
Alongside the industry leading KP-Sil cartridges for normal phase chromatography, these new SNAP XL cartridges further compliment Biotage’s portfolio of flash chromatography solutions which offer seamless scalability from milligrams to 100+ grams. The overall SNAP cartridge line offers the widest range of options covering the chemist’s needs from the routine to highly specialized or complex separations.
Biotage
Filters for safe liquid filtration of injectable drug products
These regulations detail how filters for liquid filtration used in the manufacture, processing, or packing of injectable drug products intended for human use must not release fibres into such products. Unlike some lower cost alternatives this means that Porvair Filtration Group filters have been tested to be safe for the filtration of injectable drug products.
Filtration and separation processes in the pharmaceutical industry are critical, not only to ensure products are adequately purified and fit for consumption, but also to optimise process economics and prevent loss of valuable product.
Manufacturing of the high performance cost effective products is underpinned by Porvair's strict quality assurance programme, cGMP practices and clean room environment to ensure products meet the stringent requirements of the Pharmaceutical, Generics and Veterinary Medicines industry.
Porvair Filtration Group polymeric cartridge filters are constructed from FDA-approved materials carrying the CFR 21 number for biological safety and materials of construction meet USP Class VI-121°C plastics. Designed and manufactured for robustness, our sterilising grade polymeric filters are fully validated providing retention of >10,000,000 colony forming units per square centimetre of effective filtration area as stipulated by PDA Technical Report 26.
Porvair Filtration Group
Greater diagnostic accuracy in puse-wave velocity measurement
The Austrian research institute AIT Austrian Institute of Technology has in cooperation with German industrial partner IEM. developed a 24-hour device to measure blood pressure that basically provides a more-exact diagnosis of high blood pressure than previous blood-pressure measurement devices. Hundreds of the devices are already in daily use and give general practitioners as well as institutes significant advantages in the early detection of cardiovascular illnesses.
Extension of Alzheimer's disease vaccine development collaboration
AFFiRiS AG announced today significant progress in their collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK) for the development of an active vaccination programme against Alzheimer´s disease. While the lead vaccine candidate AD02 is currently in phase II clinical testing, two additional preclinical programmes have been completed successfully. The second programme was related to alternative vaccine candidates generated by AFFiRiS´ AFFITOME technology, including candidate AD03. Based on the promising preliminary results of this programme, GSK exercised its option for the alternative vaccine candidates which triggered a EUR2.5 million payment to AFFiRiS. An additional EUR 1 million payment became due simultaneously for the successful completion of tests of alternative vaccine formulations.
NovAliX signs multiyear services agreement for chemistry
NovAlix today announces that it has entered into a multi-year research services agreement for chemistry with Janssen-Cilag, France, to support its drug discovery efforts.
Under the terms, NovAliX scientists will provide distant as well on-site chemistry support, optimally exploiting strong organic synthetic expertise and unique biophysical capabilities, to accelerate the drug discovery process. In addition the operational excellence of NovAliX allows to explore a complete new model by which the respective scientists work side by side for greater efficiency and scientific exchange and therefore promoting the concept of Open Innovation.
Stephan Jenn, president of NovAliX, said "he welcomes this significant chemistry discovery deal that acknowledges the quality of our science, technologies and organization".
NovAliX SAS
Under the terms, NovAliX scientists will provide distant as well on-site chemistry support, optimally exploiting strong organic synthetic expertise and unique biophysical capabilities, to accelerate the drug discovery process. In addition the operational excellence of NovAliX allows to explore a complete new model by which the respective scientists work side by side for greater efficiency and scientific exchange and therefore promoting the concept of Open Innovation.
Stephan Jenn, president of NovAliX, said "he welcomes this significant chemistry discovery deal that acknowledges the quality of our science, technologies and organization".
NovAliX SAS
Trace determination of heavy metals in pharma products
Metal catalysts and reagents used in the synthesis of pharmaceutical products can potentially result in trace levels of metals in the final product that can be toxic to human life.
The new article describes how the traditional US Pharmacopeia standard method <231> for determining heavy metals in pharma products is increasingly being viewed as insensitive, time-consuming, labour intensive and not providing an adequate recovery of the elements being tested.
The author discusses the new ICP methodology for heavy metals testing and describes how it will eliminate the specificity issue of the traditional method, provide greater sensitivity down to part-per-billion (ppb) levels and will evaluate drug samples for an additional 21 elements.
A copy of the new article is available from www.warwickanalytical.co.uk/news20.htm
Fluidigm announces Israeli distribution deal
Fluidigm Corporation, the inventor of integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs), has appointed Eisenberg Brothers Ltd. as its distributor in Israel. Eisenberg Brothers will offer Fluidigm's complete portfolio of BioMark, EP1, and Access Array Systems and the complete line up of Dynamic Array, Digital Array and Access Array IFCs for real-time PCR, digital PCR, genotyping, gene expression, copy number variation and absolute quantification for sequencing.
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