Biotechnology news
Liverpool universities and hospitals
to build 2 million sq ft BioInnovation Centre
The Liverpool
BioInnovation Centre is a 2 million square foot project that aims to
create up to 5000 high tech jobs and make Liverpool a world class
centre of innovation in the life sciences. 2 Feb 2012
New Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University
The Centre will conduct research that could pave the way for in
vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment to prevent the hereditary
transmission of devastating mitochondrial diseases. 27 Jan 2012
Plant flavonoid
inhibits growth of colon cancer cells
the plant flavonoid luteolin is
able to inhibit the activity of the cell signalling pathways (IGF and PI3K)
which promote growth of colon cancer cells. 23 Jan 2012
Abnormally short
telomeres in knee tissue linked to osteoarthritis
Cells from
osteoarthritic knees have abnormally shortened telomeres. In addition, the
percentage of cells with ultra short telomeres increases the closer to the
damaged region within the knee joint. 23 Jan 2012
Plasticell wins £750k TSB
funding for £1.5m stem cell manufacturing project
Plasticell
has announced that the Technology Strategy Board has invested in the
Company’s CombiCult, the high throughput technology for stem cell
research and development. 13 Jan 2012
Cord blood stem cell therapy
reverses diabetes
Stem cells from cord blood have been used
to re-educate a diabetic’s own T cells and consequently restart the
pancreatic function needed to produce insulin and reduce the need
for insulin injections. 10 Jan 2012
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Life Technologies
introduces $1000 human genome sequencing in a day
The company is
taking orders for its new sequencer, priced at $149,000. that is based
on proprietary semiconductor gene sequencing technology. 10 Jan 2012
One Nucleus signs agreement with SEHTA for members' access to
preferred suppliers
One Nucleus has signed an agreement with SEHTA (South East
Health Technologies Alliance) that gives SEHTA members access to One
Nucleus Preferred Suppliers through the One Nucleus Purchasing
Consortium Scheme. 5 Jan 2012
Fifty years of ibuprofen
celebrated at BioCity Nottingham
Ibuprofen, the family pain
medicine which is now one of the world’s best known medicines, was
discovered fifty years ago a team of Nottingham-based scientists. 21
Dec 2011
AstraZeneca gives 22 drug compounds for research at UK universities
Astra
Zeneca and the UK Medical Research Council have reached a landmark
agreement that gives UK universities free access to 22 of the
company's compounds with pharmaceutical potential. 5 Dec 2011
TSB announces £8.5m grants to
fourteen projects to boost regenerative medicine
The UK
Technology Strategy Board has announced that fourteen
commercially-focused research and development projects that will
lead to innovation in regenerative medicines are to benefit from
nearly £8.5 million of UK government funding. 5 December 2011
UK government
announces £90m new funds for life sciences commercialisation
Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a package of support for
the UK’s leading life science companies and academia to enable them
to move more quickly from discovery to commercialisation. 5 December
2011
BioCity
Nottingham attracts ex AstraZeneca and Pfizer entrepreneurs
Six new companies started by former AstraZeneca Charnwood employees
will create 15 jobs within BioCity Nottingham by the end of
November, 22 November 2011
Cresset
announces design-a-molecule competition winners
The
competition challenged chemists to design the most biologically
similar molecule to a reference compound that was provided. 14 Nov
2011
Sony DADC wins Löhn
Award for advancing microfluidics manufacturing
The Award is for the
for the transfer of highly dynamic variothermal technology to Sony DADC in
Austria. 14 Nov 2011
UCLB becomes first leading academic institution Partner of One
Nucleus
UCLB and University College London will be able to access
networking, training opportunities and the One Nucleus group purchasing
scheme. 14 Nov 2011
Cobra Biologics
acquires Unitech Pharma Group
The facility in Matfors will
bring over 20 years of bio-production experience to Cobra, with
their offering complimenting Cobra’s existing expertise and
capacity.
Sygnature Discovery and
Saretius strategic alliance for drug discovery
The companies
will collaborate to provide a fully-integrated drug discovery service to
accelerate clients’ drug discovery programmes into development. 11 Nov 2011
ProTip receives European award
for biomaterial research program
ProTip SA has won the ESB
Translational Research prize for developing a trachea implant made
from a biodegradable microporous polymer and macroporous titanium.
24 Oct 2011
NCI awards tumour diagnostics
development contract to BioMarker Strategies
The US National Cancer
Institute (NCI) has granted $200,000 funding to develop its SnapPath live
tumor cell testing system.
Almac invests £1m in mass
spectrometry facilities for analytics services
Almac's new
£1m facility at its northern Ireland headquarters houses
state-of-the-art mass spectrometers and underlines Almac’s
commitment to providing the best analytical facilities for its
customers. 23 Oct 2011
Single chromosome gives women
stronger immune system than men
New research on the role of
microRNAs encoded on the X chromosome seems to explain why women
have stronger immune systems to men and are less likely to develop
cancer. 23 October 2011
Injecting patient's own neural stem
cells into pancreas could treat diabetes
Researchers at the
AIST Institute in Tsukuba have discovered how neural stem cells
could be used as an alternative source of the beta cells needed for
a regenerative treatment for diabetes. 11 Oct 2011
International project to describe
functions of all mouse genes
The International Mouse
Phenotyping Consortium will be compiling one of the largest
Encyclopaedias of Life to describe the functions of the entire mouse
genome. 11 Oct 2011
Cerebrospinal fluid is key to early
diagnosis of different types of dementia
Different forms of
dementia leave different biochemical fingerprints in the
cerebrospinal fluid before any clinical symptoms emerge, researchers
at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden have discovered. 11 Oct 2011
New genetic variants linked to
diabetes in South Asian populations discovered
Six new
genetic variants related to type 2 diabetes in South Asian
populations have been discovered by an international team led by
Imperial College London. 10 Oct 2011
New method to 'disarm' HIV
gives hope for development of vaccine
Removing cholesterol
from the HIV membrane prevents it from damaging the immune system,
according to research by Imperial College London and Johns Hopkins
University. 27 Sept 2011
Feature: Our genes say the best
diet is one third each of protein, fat and carbohydrate
What should we eat? The developed world is suffering from an obesity
crisis even though supermarkets have an abundance of products that
are supposed to reduce weight and the media is awash with advice on
dieting. But what if you could answer this question at a molecular
level? What if you could find out how our genes respond to the foods
we eat, and what this does to the cellular processes that make us
healthy, or unhealthy? 27 Sept 2011
Stucture of AIDS-like virus enzyme solved in three weeks by online gamers
The gamers achieved their discovery by playing Foldit, an online
game developed by the University of Washington that allows players
to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein
molecules. 23 Sept 2011
Aging of adult stem cells can be
reversed
The aging process for human adult stem cells can be
reversed by adjusting areas of DNA thought to be 'junk'. 21 Sept
2011
New aptamer based sensors will lead
to cheap ultra-portable blood testing
The University of
Toledo in Ohio has developed a low-cost, portable technique that is
able to quickly and reliably detect specific proteins in a sample of
human blood. 20 September 2011
Bruker introduces PRIME
multidimensional solution for unravelling the proteome
PRIME
leads to integrated approaches for modern proteomics and harnesses
the strengths of MALDI and ESI mass spectrometry technologies. 20
Sept 2011
NuGEN and Advanced
Liquid Logic to co-develop digital microfluidic cartridge technology
Advanced Liquid Logic will provide instrumentation, software and
digital microfluidic cartridge technology to NuGEN for
commercialization. 20 Sept 2011
New cancer treatment could
destroy all types of solid tumour
The new cancer treatment
being developed at the University of Bradford has so far been tested
on breast, colon, lung, sarcoma and prostate cancers. 15 Sept 2011
Diabetes drug combined with
glycolysis inhibitor effective in killing cancer cells
Blocking a key controller of energy production in cancer cells and
treating them with the diabetes drug metformin effectively starves
cancer cells. 13 Sept 2011
Genetic analysis confirms
Black Death caused by plague bacterium
Genetic analysis of
medieval skeletons of victims of the Black Death has proven
the presence of the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis. 13 Sept 2011
Harmless soil
bacteria used to deliver drugs direct to tumour cells
A
genetically altered soil bacteria that specifically targets tumours
could soon be used as a vehicle to deliver drugs to destroy cancer
cells. 8 Sept 2011
Sequenom and
Lifecodexx partner to develop non-invasive test for trisomy 21
The companies have agreed to collaborate in the development and
launch of a trisomy 21 laboratory developed test and other
aneuploidies testing in German speaking countries in Europe. 31
August 2011
Genome sequencing traces
cholera pandemic back 40 years to Bay of Bengal
Advanced
genome sequencing has shown that the latest cholera pandemic can be
traced back to an ancestor that first appeared 40 years ago in the
Bay of Bengal. 24 August 2011
Cloud computing with TRIAD
speeds up biomedical data analysis
The Translational Research
Informatics and Data management grid (TRIAD) is a cloud computing
platform for analysing biomedical data at an unprecedented rate. 22
August 2011
SuppreMol
employs Protagen biomarkers in SLE study
SuppreMol and
Protagen have announced a collaboration to identify therapy-related
biomarkers in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. 13 August
2011
apceth granted German licence to
produce somatic cell therapeutics
Munich-based apceth has become on
of the first companies in Germany to be granted a manufacturer's licence for
the production of somatic cell therapeutics pursuant to Section 13, German
Medicines Act. 13 August 2011
Plasticell
delivers stem cell differentiation protocols to Stemnion
Plasticell used its flagship technology CombiCult to discover
multiple novel, serum-free protocols that direct the differentiation
of Stemnion’s human placenta-derived stem cells into hard-to-obtain
lineages. 11 August 20101
Aberdeen University spinout to
commercialise antibodies
Vertebrate Antibodies (VAb) Limited
is a new biotech company spun out of the University of Aberdeen to
provide new tools to help researchers trying to understand the
biology and process of diseases that affect humans and animals. 10
August 2011
Cell culture provides
alternative to animal testing of products
Laboratory-grown
cells can be used as an alternative to animal testing to indicate
sensitivity to chemicals and allergic responses for the cosmetic and
pharmaceutical industry. 8 August 2011
New multidrug-resistant strain of
Salmonella spread by poultry production
A new study has
identified the recent emergence of a multidrug-resistant strain of
Salmonella that has high resistance to ciprofloxacin, a common
treatment for severe Salmonella infections. 3 August 2011
Vaccine to protect from heroin high created
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute in the US have
developed a highly successful vaccine against a heroin high and have
proven its therapeutic potential in animal models. 29 July 2011
Blu-ray disc technology
leads to breakthrough in stem cell culture
Scientists from the
universities of Southampton and Glasgow have uncovered a new method
for culturing adult stem cells using injection-moulded plastic with
microscopic pits. 29 July 2011
SAS offers new clinical
trials programming certification
SAS has expanded its Global
Certification Programme offerings with the introduction of a new
credential — SAS Certified Clinical Trials Programmer using SAS9. 27
July 2011
Metanomics Health launches energy
metabolite platform
The Energy Metabolite Platform maps key
metabolites affecting the energy status of a biological system. 21
July 2011
Coriell Institute
maintains genetic bank with IBM monitoring system
The New
Jersey-based Coriell Institute for Medical Research, the largest biobank of
living human cells, is using IBM technology to advance its research of
human genetic
disease and to more efficiently maintain its massive collection of
biological resources. 21 July 2011
UK government to invest £7.5m in
research on sepsis
The UK Technology Strategy Board and the
Department of Health are to invest up to £7.5 million to improve the
future diagnosis, detection and management of sepsis. 14 July 2011
CRIP and biobank-suisse
combine online access to biobanks
The German Central Research
Infrastructure for molecular Pathology (CRIP) and biobank-suisse
have linked their metabiobanks to enable access with a single
sign-on for registered users. 14 July 2011
First drug to treat basic
defect in cystic fibrosis sufferers
An international research
team led by Queen’s University, Belfast, has developed a ground
breaking treatment for cystic fibrosis. The new drug will benefit
the 70,000 sufferers of the disease worldwide. 12 July 2011
Eating fresh strawberries boosts red blood cells
Eating strawberries for two weeks can improve the antioxidant
capacity of blood and the ability of the body to protect itself from a
range of diseases and physiological stresses. 12 July 2011
TSB awards £6m for R&D into tumour
profiling for personalised medicine
Six projects are to
receive nearly £6 million from the UK Technology Strategy Board to
research tumour profiling and data capture. 21 June 2011
Avacta and Pall Life Sciences in
analytical services collaboration
Pall will utilise the
services of Avacta and market joint services with a focus in North
America, and in certain other regions globally. 21 June 2011
QMB Innovation Centre signs up iGene
Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre has signed up iGene
London, a digital autopsy developer. 21 June 2011
Wipro Technologies launches
cloud-based portal for clinical trials collaboration
The
Wipro Clinical Collaboration Portal is aimed at helping its customer
base improve collaboration capabilities for multi-region
clinical trials. 21 June 2011
Biomedical iNet to showcase
new technologies in South West England
The South West
Biomedical Innovation Network (iNet) is hosting a conference on 23
June 2011 in Bridgewater, Somerset. 18 June 2011
BioVigilant introduces
next-generation instant biologic detection system
BioVigilant’s IMD-A 300 and IMD-A 350 systems can detect immediately
the presence of bacteria in the drug manufacturing process. 14 June
2011
Revolutionary technique for
proteomics mass spectrometry
Scientists at ETH Zurich and AB
SCIEX, a global leader in life science analytical technologies, are
working together to deliver a new mass spectrometry-based technique
for quantitation for the first time ever on every peptide in a
single proteomics sample analysis. 14 June 2011
European consortium applies semantic technology to drug discovery
The Open PHACTS consortium is applying semantic
web technology to accelerate drug discovery by providing a single
view across data sources.
3 June 2011
Drug may reduce bad memories
Recalling painful memories while under the influence of the drug
metyrapone reduces the brain’s ability to re-record the negative
emotions associated with them. 31 May 2011
Gut mucus component helps protect from
parasitic worms
A component of gut mucus present in some people
plays a crucial role in expelling parasitic intestinal worms. It
could be the reason why some people can recover from infection
better. 26 May 2011
New link between diet and
lifespan
A new role for a biological pathway that not only
signals the body's metabolic response to nutritional changes, but
also affects lifespan, has been identified. 25 May 2011
Theralpha and Flamel
Technologies partner to develop long-acting analgesic peptide
French drug development company Theralpha SAS has entered into a
joint development program with US drug delivery Flamel Technologies
for a Medusa-enabled, long-acting formulation of Theralpha's
THA-902. 18 May 2011
Almac introduces selectAZyme
biocatalyst range
Almac's selectAZyme brand of
biocatalysts adds to its large range of enzymes and provide an
alternative solution for solving complex chemistry problems due to
their rapid implementation, economic benefits and 'green'
reputation. 17 May 2011
Humans have just three types
of gut bacteria populations
Every person’s
intestinal system falls into one of three clearly distinguishable
types of gut microbiota, comparable to blood types. These types are
not related to race, native country or diet, according to a new
study on human microbe genetics published in Nature. 4 May
2011
Antibody injection could limit
inflammation damage from heart attacks and strokes
A simple
injection of an antibody could limit the devastating inflammatory
response following restoration of blood supply after heart attacks
and strokes. 3 May 2011
Clear strategies and recommendations
needed for biomaterials banks for research
Two German Senate
Commissions have concluded that: biomaterial banks are an indispensable
resource for biomedical research; they are of great importance to the
quality and competitiveness of German research; and it is important that
clear strategies and recommendations exist for Germany. 3 May 2011
New compound halts progression of
multiple sclerosis
A new class of highly selective compounds that
effectively suppresses the severity of multiple sclerosis in animal models
has been developed by the Scripps Research Institute in Florida. 3 May 2011
European partners to develop
nanocarriers to treat inflammatory bowel diseases
The
Delivering Nano-pharmaceuticals through Biological Barriers project
(BIBA) involves eight partners in France, Germany, Spain and
Switzerland. 20 April 2011
New method for detecting and
monitoring virus infections in cells
Scientists at the US Naval
Research Laboratory have developed a technique that attaches a fluorescent
dye to virus RNA and uses standard flow cytometry techniques to monitor the
virus activity. 20 April 2011
 Cells
cultured on 3-D scaffolds
Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute
of Technology (KIT) have developed three-dimensional structures on
which they can culture cells. The scaffold includes anchors to which
cells can adhere and enables the parameters of the cell culture to
be controlled. 14 April 2011
Amniochip detects 150 genetic
syndromes from amniotic fluid
Genetadi Biotech has developed
a prenatal diagnostic device that has a diagnostic resolution 100
times greater than common cytogenetic techniques. 14 April 2011
Novel therapeutic approach to fighting
inflammation
A new approach to certain inflammatory reactions uses
guidance molecules to reduce the body's own immune system to the required
level and prevent excessive and damaging inflammation.
Protagen to use UNIarray
platform to discover MS biomarkers for Biogen
Protagen AG has
announced that it will be using the UNIarray Platform to help
discover biomarkers in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis for
Biogen Idec. 14 April 2011
 Simple
method turns blood cells into virus-free beating heart cells
A simplified, cheaper, all-purpose method that can safely turn blood
cells into heart cells has been developed at Johns Hopkins
University in the US. The method is virus-free and produces heart
cells that beat with nearly 100% efficiency. 12 April 2011
Lab-on-chip analyses single molecules
of DNA
The Micro- and Nano- engineering Unit at CIC microGUNE
in Spain has developed a lab-on-chip device that can analyse the
sequence of single strands of DNA. It could greatly simplify gene
sequencing. 12 April 2011. En
Español
Plasmids help antibiotic resistance to
travel between bacteria species
The part of bacterial DNA
that often carries antibiotic resistance can move between different
types of bacteria and adapt to widely differing bacterial species.
12 April 2011
Selvita to provide computational
chemistry services for US Institutes for Pharmaceutical Discovery
Krakow-based Selvita has signed an agreement with US drug discovery
company the Institutes for Pharmaceutical Discovery (IPD) to provide
computational chemistry services related to a novel protein target. 11 April 2011
Trial results for MycAssay
Pneumocystis kit published
UK medical diagnostics company
Myconostica, has announced the publication of a multicentre
prospective trial of its CE marked kit, MycAssay Pneumocystis. 11
April 2011
QUB and Almac discover natural protein
with anti-angiogenic activity
Scientists from Queen’s
University Belfast and Almac have announced the first publication
describing a potential new anti-angiogenic therapy based on a
natural protein first discovered at QUB. 11 April 2011
CIT launches LeadScreen services for
drug candidate selection
French contract research
organization CIT has announced a new range of services for companies
developing new drugs. 11 April 2011
Oncodesign offers
patient-derived colorectal tumour models for drug development
Dijon-based Oncodesign is offering what it claims is the world’s
most comprehensive collection of human colorectal cancer models
directly developed from patient’s tumours. 11 April 2011
RainDance Technologies and
Ambry Genetics collaborate to develop ADME genetic screening panel
RainDance Technologies, Inc. and Ambry Genetics have announced a new
collaboration for the development of a drug absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) genetic screening
panel for use on next-generation sequencing (NGS) systems. 19 March
2011
Chemotherapy drugs kill malaria parasite
A class of chemotherapy drugs originally designed to inhibit key
signaling pathways in cancer cells also kills the parasite that
causes malaria. 15 March 2011
Cell-like structures created
in microfluidic circuit assembly line
The Scripps Research
Institute in Florida has built a microscopic assembly line that mass
produces synthetic cell-like compartments, customizable over a range
of cell sizes, and efficient in terms of cargo encapsulation. 15
March 2011
Genetic test could predict
adverse reaction from bone cancer treatment
Genetic tests
could predict whether bone marrow cancer treatments including
thalidomide are likely to give patients a debilitating side-effect.
2 March 2011
Genetically modified fungus is new
weapon in fight against malaria
A genetically modified fungus that
kills the human malaria parasite in mosquitoes has been developed by the
Antibody Technology Group (ATG) in the School of Life Sciences at the
University of Westminster, London. 2 March 2011
LGC’s genotyping technology
used to study genetic basis for anticoagulation therapy
Researchers from six European countries will ake part in in the
two-year trial, which aims to demonstrate that a patient’s genotype
plays an important role in the effective prescribing of
anticoagulation (anti-blood-clotting) drugs such as Warfarin. 28 Feb
2011
Partek and Ion Torrent in
partnership to distribute genomics software
Bioinformatics
developer Partek Incorporated has signed a distribution agreement
with Ion Torrent Systems, to make the Partek Genomics Suite
available directly through Ion Torrent’s online store. 21 Feb 2011
Rapid advances in gene sequencing
using Ion Torrent PGM sequencer
Life Technologies has announced that
just six weeks following the launch of its sequencer, independent
researchers have presented data generated with the system. 21 Feb 2011
CLC Workbench v4.5 supports paired-end
data for RNA-sequencing
CLC bio has upgraded its software for
genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics analysis to support the use of
paired-end data for RNA-seq. 21 Feb 2011
DRC Computer Corp sets world
record for analysing gene sequences
DRC has achieved a world
record of 9.4 trillion cell updates per second and also drastically
reduced the cost of gene sequence analysis using its microprocessors
and Microsoft Windows HPC Server. 16 Feb 2011
Akonni Biosystems launches TruSentry
for rapid genetic screening of diseases
TruSentry brings
together Tecan’s Freedom EVO 200 liquid handling system with Akonni’s TruTip
technology for ultra-rapid sample extraction and TruArray microarray
platform for low-cost, highly-multiplexed screening. 16 Feb 2011
First patient trials of DNA vaccine
for leukaemia
A new DNA vaccine to treat leukaemia that has been
developed by scientists from the University of Southampton is being trialled
on patients for the first time in the UK. 16 Feb 2011
 Skin
cells converted directly into beating heart cells
The Scripps
Research Institute has converted adult skin cells directly into beating
heart cells efficiently without having to first go through the laborious,
time consuming and highly inefficient process of generating embryonic-like
stem cells. 16 Feb 2011
Biotage announces new methods for
extraction of key compounds
Biotage has introduced a new
series of application notes utilizing the industry-standard
RapidTrace SPE Workstation. 14 Feb 2011
 Structure
of HIV outer shell determined
The structure of the protein
package that delivers the genetic material of the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to human cells has been mapped by the
The Scripps Research Institute and the University of Virginia. 31
Jan 2011
InhibOx launches Scopius-5
100m compound drug screening database
InhibOx Ltd has
launched Scopius-5, a drug-discovery screening database that can
store details of 100 million compounds, including 3D models. 24 Jan
Conference on nanotechnology
for drug formulation
The conference, which will be held on 27
January at The School of Pharmacy, London, will provide a forum for
industry professionals to discuss and highlight best practise and to
encourage collaborative working. 21 Jan 2011
BD and Bruker collaborate to transform
bacterial and fungal diagnostics
The companies have formed a
co-development and co-marketing collaboration that will promote an emerging,
integrated approach to bacterial and fungal identification and antimicrobial
susceptibility testing. 21 Jan 2011
New research clusters improve
UK drug development capability
Two UK initiatives are linking
the pharmaceutical industry, government-funded research and academia
with the aim of reviving the country's reputation as a centre for
drug research. 19 Jan 2011
Artificial pancreas gives hope for
injection-free diabetes
An artificial pancreas being developed at De
Montfort University could revolutionise the treatment of diabetes and put a
stop to daily injections. 19 Jan 2011
New technique for more efficient drug
development
A tiny polypeptide that can bind to virtually any
target-seeking organic molecule used for drug development could considerably
shorten the time taken to determine the suitability of a target molecule as
a useful drug. 19 Jan 2011
New metabolic profiling lab
brings personalised medicine to operating theatre
The newly
opened Surgical Metabonomics Laboratory in St Mary's Hospital,
London, could transform the way surgeons make decisions in the
operating theatre by using metabolic profiling of tissue samples. 17
Jan 2011
18th century Irish giant
helps find genetic cause of acromegaly
An
Anglo-German research team has analysed the genes of the Irish Giant
skeleton held in the Hunterian Museum in London to help identify the
genetic mutation responsible for acromegaly. 7 Jan 2011
Genetically modified algae
starch shows promise as malaria vaccine carrier
Two French
laboratories have successfully vaccinated and protected mice by
feeding them starch derived from green algae and genetically
modified to carry vaccine proteins. 6 Jan 2011
Engineered probiotic bacteria could
reduce obesity
Specially designed probiotics can modulate the
physiology of host fat cells. The findings could result in the use of
specialised probiotics to prevent or treat of conditions such as obesity. 6
Jan 2011
Drug screening finds new compounds
that prevent growth of prostate cancer
Finnish researchers have
discovered that several drugs and compounds already in the market can
prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. 6 Jan 2011
Haitian cholera genome decoded
and identified as South Asian strain
Scientists from Pacific
Biosciences of California, Inc. and Harvard Medical School have
produced the first whole genome sequence analysis and most detailed
genetic profile to date of the pathogen responsible for the Haitian
cholera outbreak. 21 Dec 2010
Celulas Genetica to patent
breakthrough stem cell treatment for liver disease
Emerging
Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (EHSI) has announced that its newly acquired
biotechnology division Celulas Genetica will submit an international patent
application for the Rutherford Procedure, a revolutionary new stem-cell
treatment for liver disease. 21 Dec 2010
ChipDX discovers genetic signature for
early-stage colon cancer
ChipDX LLC has discovered and validated a genetic
signature for early-stage colon cancer and is developing an online
screening application to enable clinicians to more accurately identify
risk of recurrence. 21 Dec 2010
Antibiotic resistant genes should be
recognised as environmental pollution
Drug development cannot keep up
with the spread of antibiotic resistance, therefore it is important to take
effective measures to restrict the leakage of antibiotics into the
environment. 21 Dec 2010
iSOFT moves into life sciences
market
iSOFT Group Limited has moved into the life sciences
market with software that extracts and de-identifies clinical data
from electronic medical records for clinical research and other
secondary uses. 16 Dec 2010
Future Science Group launches
Clinical Investigation journal
Coverage spans all therapeutic
areas and relates to conventional small-molecule drugs as well as
biotech-derived therapeutic entities, including vaccines, monoclonal
antibodies, antisense, cell and gene therapies and recombinant
proteins. 16 Dec 2010
Plasticell and Sigma-Aldrich
collaborate to develop novel stem cell differentiation protocols
Plasticell will own resulting protocols for high efficiency,
directed differentiation of stem cells, with Sigma-Aldrich marketing
the reporter stem cell lines. 10 Dec 2010
Swedish project maps half of all human
proteins
Once complete, the Human Protein Atlas will provide
scientists with data that will help detect and treat some of the
world’s most serious health problems. 10 Dec 2010
Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris
selects Bruker's mass spectrometry biotyper
The Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) has selected
Bruker's IVD MALDI Biotyper as their MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry-based
microbial identification tool. 10 Dec 2010
Universal flu vaccine to be tested in Indonesia
Australia and Indonesia are collaborating to produce and trial a
universal flu vaccine. The new vaccine, GammaFlu, provides
cross-protection against current influenza viruses as well as any
other unknown strains that may arise in the future. 10 Dec
DARPA awards Georgia Tech $4.3m to
develop biochemical sensors
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) has awarded the Georgia Institute of Technology $4.3m to
develop a new class of sensors able to detect multiple biological and
chemical threats simultaneously. 10 Dec 2010
NewGene certified to provide
NimbleGen sequence capture services in UK
Roche NimbleGen
has announced that Newcastle-based genomic services provider NewGene
Ltd has officially become a Certified Service Provider (CSP) for
NimbleGen Sequence Capture. 3 Dec 2010
New nanochemistry analytical tool
based on quartz crystal
A new chemical analysis technique developed
by a research group at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) uses the shifting ultrasonic pitch of a small quartz crystal to test
the purity of only a few micrograms of material. 3 Dec 2010
Personalised medicine requires
new strategies for cancer drug development
To make the most
of this coming transformation, governments, pharmaceutical companies
and doctors urgently need to adapt the way drugs are developed. 1
Dec 2010
Discovery of new immune
response gives hope for new meningitis vaccine
The discovery
of a previously unknown immune response by scientists at the
Universities of Leicester and Dublin has given a much needed
breakthrough in the fight against pneumonia, meningitis and
septicaemia. 12 Nov 2010
Chemical Computing releases new
version of PSILO protein structure database
Chemical
Computing Group (CCG) has released version 2010.09 of PSILO, a
protein structure database system that allows for an integrated
repository of proprietary and non-proprietary structural data. 9 Nov
2010
Life Technologies launches SOLiD 5500
next-generation gene sequencer
The 5500xl SOLiD Sequencer,
developed with Hitachi High-Technologies, is designed to deliver
fast and accurate genomic data for cancer biology and genetic
disease research. 9 Nov 2010
NuGEN enables next-generation
sequencing of DNA and RNA from FFPE samples
NuGEN
Technologies is making available the first commercial products using
next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to analyze nucleic
acids extracted from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE)
tissues. 3 Nov 2010
NanoString system detects hundreds of
genetic copy variants in single multiplexed reaction
NanoString
Technologies Inc has launched a novel solution for detecting genetic copy
number variations (CNVs) associated with disease susceptibility, drug
response and cancer progression. 3 Nov 2010
Phytoceuticals plant-based
wound dressing gains CE Mark
Phytoceuticals has received the CE
mark for its novel primary wound dressing, called "1", which is
formulated from a proprietary combination of two plant-derived oils, Neem oil and St John's Wort oil. 3 Nov 2010
1000 Genomes Project reaches
new frontiers in human genetics
The 1000 Genomes Project, a
major international collaboration to build a more detailed map of
human genetic variation and genetic association with diseases, has
completed its pilot phase. 27 Oct 2010
Plasticell launches second
generation Combicult cell culture screening platform
Plasticell has launched its second generation screening platform,
the Combicult 10,000-plex screen. It is capable of rapidly screening
up to ten thousand cell culture media combinations. 26 Oct 2010
Malaria mosquitoes rapidly
evolving into new species
Genetic analysis of the two strains
of mosquito responsible for the majority of malaria transmission in
Africa has found that they have evolved such substantial genetic
differences that they are becoming different species. 22 Oct 2010
Aberdeen biotechnology
students develop concept to reduce osteoporosis
A
revolutionary concept, which could help alleviate diseases including
osteoporosis, has been dreamt up by a group of Aberdeen University
postgraduate students for the Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs
Scheme (YES) competition. 22 Oct 2010
Almac invests $4m in biocatalysis
business
Almac is continuing to both advance the biocatalysis
business and to broaden application of its biocatalysis expertise with a
further US$4m R&D investment. 22 Oct 2010
Nuevolution in collaboration
to develop drugs for epigenetic disorders
Copenhagen-based
Nuevolution is collaborating with EpiTherapeutics, ExpreS2ion
Biotechnologies and the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC),
University of Copenhagen, to identify and develop novel small
molecule drugs against epigenetic factors. 21 Oct 2010
DNA and protein analysis confirms
Black Death caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria
Anthropologists at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU)
have proven that the bacteria Yersinia pestis was the
causative agent behind the "Black Death" that raged across Europe in
the Middle Ages. 21 Oct 2010
UK government announces £50m
funding for personalised medicine
The Stratified Medicines
Innovation Platform is a new government initiative providing over
£50 million of funding for research and development in diagnostics
and pharmaceuticals for personalised medicine. 15 Oct 2010
Bedouin gene disorder
highlights power of exome gene sequencing
The study of a rare
genetic disorder in a Bedouin tribe in Qatar has shown the value of
exome sequencing, a new genetic analysis technique. 15 Oct 2010
GATC Biotech first in Europe
to use PacBio RS gene sequencer
German gene sequencing
service provider GATC Biotech has announced that it has agreed to
purchase the PacBio RS platform, a single molecule, real-time (SMRT)
gene sequencing technology. 11 Oct 2010
Kinaxo and Daiichi Sankyo in
cancer drug development collaboration
German biotechnology
company Kinaxo Biotechnologies GmbH has signed a long-term
partnership agreement with Japanese company Daiichi Sankyo Company
Limited to develop cancer drugs. 1 Oct 2010
Recipharm acquires Abbott's
Spanish biopharmaceutical manufacturing
Swedish company
Recipharm AB has acquired Abbott’s manufacturing site near
Barcelona, Spain for an undisclosed sum.
The site, which will now
be called Recipharm Parets SL. 1 Oct 2010
Microelectronic sensors could
replace multi-welled microplate in research labs
The
multi-welled microplate, long a standard tool in biomedical research
and diagnostic laboratories, could be replaced by new electronic
biosensing technology on a chip. 23 Sept 2010
New genetic variant increasing
risk of bowel cancer identified
A single variant in a
person’s DNA can promote bowel cancer development, according to an
international study led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer
Research (ICR). 23 Sept 2010
Bacteria undergo rapid genetic
evolution during infection
During the course of a single
infection bacteria change genetically so fast that it is difficult
for the immune system to eradicate them, according to a landmark
US study. 23 Sept 2010
US patent issued to Metabolon for
methods to determine human metabolic age
The US patent for chemical
markers and methods to determine the metabolic age of humans is the twelfth
issued to the company in the field of metabolomics. 20 Sept 2010
Aberdeen University opens Kosterlitz
Centre for Therapeutics
The University of Aberdeen is opening the new
Kosterlitz Centre for Therapeutics on 16 Sept. The Centre is a cross-college
virtual organisation providing support to researchers to develop research
results into marketable products. 15 Sept 2010
MorphoSys starts novel drug
development program for MRSA infections
MorphoSys AG has started a
new proprietary development program against novel infectious disease
targets. It is also collaborating with Sheffield-based Absynth Biologics to
access novel target molecules related to MRSA. 15 Sept 2010
NAG releases Fortran Builder 5.2 for
computational research
This release of the checking compiler features
a virtually complete implementation of the latest Fortran 2003 standard and
an integrated development environment. 15 Sept 2010
PharmaDiagnostics launches SoPRano
assay kit for in-house assay development
PharmaDiagnostics NV has
launched the SoPRano CA1 assay kit. The new kit allows users to couple their
own proteins to SoPRano gold nanoparticles and build and run their own
assays. 15 Sept 2010
iBio and Fraunhofer partner GE to
develop biotechnology manufacturing systems
iBio, the Fraunhofer USA
Center for Molecular Biotechnology, and GE Healthcare have entered an
agreement to jointly develop and globally market manufacturing systems for
biopharmaceuticals and vaccines based upon their respective proprietary
technologies. 9 Sept 2010
 Synthetic
cornea regenerates damaged eye
Artificial corneas made from
laboratory grown collagen have regenerated and repaired damaged eye tissue
and improved vision in patients with corneal blindness. 26 August 2010
Spartan Bioscience announces first
point-of-care DNA testing system for personalized medicine
The
Spartan RX, a complete sample-to-result, point-of-care DNA testing system
for personalized medicine. The non-invasive system provides automated
results in one hour. 18 August 2010
Scancell licences human antibody from
Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology has licensed
Nottingham University spinout Scancell Holdings to use a human antibody
known as 105AD7. 18 August 2010
Cegedim Dendrite and Capgemini partner
to offer services to life science companies
Capgemini will provide
broad-based consulting and implementation services associated with Cegedim
Dendrite’s AggregateSpend360 and Nucleus 360 solutions to pharmaceutical,
biotech and medical device companies. 18 August 2010
Akonni Biosystems’ ultra-rapid nucleic
acid extraction technology gains US patent
The patent protects the
company’s use of its pioneering nucleic acid binding matrix when inserted
into a pipette tip, tubing or cartridge for nucleic acid purification. 18
August 2010
Seracare develops new control products
for molecular diagnostic tests for STDs
SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc.
has developed a new series of controls in its Accurun portfolio to monitor
and validate molecular diagnostic test performance for detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. 18 August
2010
Tissue Studio 2.0 supports tumour profiling, multiplexing and
biomarker translational research
The new version includes a full
range of functionality for the analysis of immunofluorescence tissue stains
and more accurate
nucleus detection. 13 August 2010
Cytori gains EU approval for
stem-cell-based tissue reconstruction after breast cancer
Cytori
Therapeutics has received expanded European approval (CE Mark) for its
Celution System, a medical device that extracts and separates stem and
regenerative cells from a patient’s own fat tissue, and applications for
soft tissue repair. 12 August 2010
MabCure's blood test for ovarian
cancer gets positive results
Cancer diagnostics developer MabCure,
Inc. has announced that a confirmatory study demonstrated the company’s
proprietary monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) successfully identified ovarian
cancer in blood (94% accuracy) and with no false positives or
cross-reactions with benign ovarian tumours or healthy blood. 12 August 2010
Golden Helix upgrades high-performance
genetic data analysis software
Golden Helix's SNP & Variation Suite
(SVS) 7 software is an integrated collection of high-performance analytic
tools for rich, multi-dimensional approaches to uncovering genetic causes of
disease and other phenotypes. 12 August 2010
Gold Standard Diagnostics introduces
ThunderBolt automated diagnostics platform
The ThunderBolt platform
will provide laboratory customers with a single hardware solution that can
utilize multiple diagnostics technologies such as EIA, chemiluminescence and
multiplexing. 12 August 2010
Illumina launches compact real-time
PCR system
Illumina, Inc. has launched the Eco Real-Time PCR System
that offers high performance at the breakthrough price of $13,900. 12 August
2010
PharmaVigilant enhances clinical trial
management system
PharmaVigilant has launched I-Vault 2.5, the
enhanced version of its electronic Trial Master File (TMF) system. It
improves usability, administration and notification capabilities for
seamless site startup, site closeout and IRB submissions.
Clontech Laboratories and TET Systems
extend gene expression systems license agreement
Under the expanded
license agreement, Clontech obtains rights to develop, manufacture and
commercialize novel Tet Systems products such as the Tet-On 3G Inducible
Expression System. 11 August 2010
Illumina launches TruSeq SBS sequencing kit for genome
analyzer
The kit is the first in a new series that will
advance data quality, ease of use and economical sequencing on the company’s
sequencing platforms. 10 August 2010
CIT offers dried blood spot (DBS)
technique for bioanalytical services
CIT expects the new service to
bring ethical, scientific and cost benefits for clients conducting
toxicology, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics studies. 2 August 2010
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
and InhibOx partner to offer drug development services
The
combined service offers pharmaceutical, biotech and governmental
research organizations access to new capabilities to accelerate drug
discovery and improve productivity. 2 Aug 2010
Prostate cancer seed cells discovered
New treatments for prostate cancer could result from the discovery that
basal cells found in benign prostate tissue can turn into cancer cells. 30
July 2010
 Laser
blasted carbon nanoparticles open cell walls for drug delivery
Carbon nanoparticles blasted by bursts of laser light can open holes
in cell membranes just long enough to admit therapeutic agents
contained in the surrounding fluid. 30 July 2010
Common blood protein combined with
nanoparticles kills cancer cells
A normally benign protein abundant
in human blood appears to be able to zero in on and kill certain cancer
cells when paired with nanoparticles, without having to also load the
particles with chemotherapy drugs. 30 July 2010
Larch tree extract used to deliver
drugs inside cancer cells
A cancer drug to a polymer from the larch
tree, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have
developed a 'Trojan Horse' molecule that releases cancer-fighting drugs
inside cancer cells, protecting healthy tissue. 30 July 2010
Stem cells made by
reprogramming adult cells remember tissue of originStem cells made by
reprogramming adult cells remember tissue of origin
This
could limit the ability of induced pluripotent stem cells to
function as a less controversial alternative to embryonic stem cells
for basic research and cell replacement therapies. 26 July 2010
Missing link in cell division
discovered
Researchers from The George Washington University
Medical Center have identified a protein that plays a crucial role
in cell division and is over-expressed in breast cancer. 26 July
2010
Target Health joins forces with
LifeOnKey to offer clinical trials platform
Target Health and
LifeOnKey are partnering to offering a platform for the bio-pharmaceutical
and medical device industries to optimize clinical trials help researchers
capture, analyze and assess trial data more efficiently. 26 July 2010
Medical Device Consultants in
partnership with Clinical Development & Support Services
US contract
research organization (CRO) Medical Device Consultants, Inc. (MDCI) has
announced a strategic partnership with Clinical Development & Support
Services Ltd (CDSS), a clinical services and CRO based in Cheshire, UK. 26
July 2010
New rapid technique to map DNA by
melting base pairs
A new method for rapidly mapping the base
pairs of a DNA molecule has been developed by researchers in Sweden and
Denmark. The technique could be used to find out more easily whether
someone is carrying a genetic predisposition to certain diseases. 26
July 2010
BRAIN takes share in
Enzymicals
German biotechnology company BRAIN AG has acquired
a minority share in chemical and biocatalyst specialist Enzymicals
AG. The move enhances the activities of both companies in the
biocatalysis sector. 15 July 2010
New generation of biological
scaffolds for tissue transplants
The scaffolds, derived from
natural human or animal tissues such as vascular patches will not be
rejected by a patient's immune system and can be repaired and
renewed like normal tissue. 15 July 2010
Roche Applied Science
Industrial Business relaunched as Roche Custom Biotech
The
relaunch is to increase brand recognition in the life science,
pharmaceutical, and diagnostic industry. 14 July 2010
Sequencing of body louse
genome will lead to new insect disease control methods
A
global research team led by scientists from the J. Craig Venter
Institute (JCVI) have sequenced and analysed the body louse genome.
14 July 2010
Protein on surface of MRSA plays key
role in infecting human cells
An international research team has
found that Fibronectin Binding Protein plays a key roll in enabling MRSA to
infect human cells. 14 July 2010
FDA approves test for early
diagnosis of AIDS from HIV antigen
The US FDA has approved an
innovative new diagnostic tool from Abbott that can detect the AIDS
antigen and give a diagnosis of AIDS earlier than ever before. 14
July 2010
Networking platform for users
of antibodies in biomedical research
BioHub-Online.org is a
web-based platform that lists over 100,000 antibody products for
biomedical research and facilitates global networking and
collaboration among research scientists. 12 July 2010
Bee venom toxin leads to new
treatment for dementia
Apamin, a toxin found in bee venom
that blocks a type of ion channel in the human nervous system, has
potential for developing new treatments for neural conditions such
as muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia. 12 July 2010
World’s largest online
directory of tissue banks
SpecimenCentral.com has launched
the free directory for biomedical researchers, which lists over 230
human tissue banks spanning four continents. 12 July 2010
UK10K project to sequence
genomes of 10,000 people in UK
The Wellcome Trust has
launched a multi-million pound project to decode the genomes of
10,000 people in the UK over the next three years. This will be one
of the largest genome-sequencing programmes ever undertaken. 30 June
2010
JMP Clinical software
streamlines clinical trials safety reviews
New from SAS, the
software can help shorten the drug development process. It lets
users see and explore safety data from every angle, and then easily
share findings with others. 30 June 2010
Project to develop bilayer
lipid membranes to evaluate effectiveness of drugs
An array
of artificial cell membranes that will enable more efficient testing
of potential new drugs is being developed by scientists at the
University of Southampton and Birkbeck College, University of London
in a £1.2m project. 29 June 2010
LCD television waste turned
into antibacterial
Chemists at the University of York have
discovered a way to convert a key component of LCD screens into and
anti-microbial substance. 23 June 2010
Gut microbiology scientists gather in
Aberdeen
Over 200 scientists are gathering in Aberdeen this week for
a major international conference on the impact of gut bacteria on the health
of humans and animals (23-25 June). 23 June 2010
Pharmimage adds members and extends
research platform
Pharmimage, a French group specialized in the use
of imaging to measure the efficacy of new therapies for the pharmaceutical
industry, has acquired four new members and plans two major additions to its
research resources. 23 June 2010
Centocor Ortho Biotech
acquires lung disease portfolio in takeover of Respivert
Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has
acquired RespiVert Ltd., a privately held drug discovery company
focused on developing small-molecule, inhaled therapies for the
treatment of pulmonary diseases. 23 June 2010
Genetic mutation in KRAS gene can
trigger melanoma
A genetic mutation found in some malignant melanomas
can initiate development of this most deadly form of skin cancer, according
to a study published in the journal Cancer Research. 23 June 2010
BD Max system for molecular
diagnostics launched in Europe
BD Diagnostics has launched the BD MAX
Automated Molecular Diagnostic System and the BD MAX GBS Assay in Europe,
the first in a planned broad menu of infectious disease assays. 23 June 2010
Cytoo technology increases sensitivity
and speed in cell analysis
Rigorous quantification of cell-wide
internal organization could be obtained using adhesive micropatterns and it
can also decipher a protein re-distribution upon a drug treatment that was
previously undetectable in conventional cell culture conditions. 23 June
2010
Simple urine test could
diagnose autism
Children with autism have a different
chemical fingerprint in their urine than non-autistic children. The
finding could ultimately lead to a simple urine test to determine
whether a child has autism. 18 June 2010
Life Technologies partners with German
Cancer Research Centre to create genome sequencing centre
Life
Technologies Corporation and the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum are
collaborating to create the National High-Throughput Sequencing Center, the
first national sequencing center in Europe dedicated to systems biology. 18
June 2010
Link found between obesity, gut
bacteria and genes
Researchers at the University of Maryland School
of Medicine have found a link between obesity, a variant of the FTO gene and
the presence of certain bacterial groups in the digestive tract. 18 June
2010
Surrey Clinical Research
Centre achieves MHRA accreditation
The Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has awarded the Surrey
Clinical Research Centre (Surrey CRC) at the University of Surrey
standard accreditation for conducting clinical pharmacology Phase I
trials. 17 June 2010
Euro-regional meetings in
biotechnology and healthcare
The meetings will be held on 1st and 2nd
July 2010 in Montpellier, France. Biomeridies and Eurobiomed in
collaboration with Sud de France Export are organising these meetings for
exchanging ideas, forming partnerships and meeting future partners. 17 June
2010
European IMIDIA project to
develop better tools to fight diabetes
The Innovative
Medicines Initiative for Diabetes (IMIDIA), a public–private
consortium funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), has
launched a project focusing on pancreatic islet cell function and
survival. 15 June 2010
Ambry Genetics introduces test
to identify carriers of newborn genetic disorders
Ambry
Genetics has launched AmbryScreen, a genetic screening test used to
identify carriers of some of the most severe and common childhood
diseases affecting pan-ethnic populations. 14 June 2010
Polyplus-transfection licenses
mammalian transient transfection technology to Kempbio 14 June 2010
Intercell acquires monoclonal
antibody technology from Cytos Biotechnology
Cytos'
technology is based on expression cloning of monoclonal antibodies
from human B-cells and enables the identification of anti-infective
antibodies to prevent and treat infectious diseases. 8 June 2010
Breakthrough tuberculosis vaccine to start clinical trials
Archivel Farma's treatment uses the
company’s unique combination of its novel therapeutic vaccine called
RUTI in conjunction with an antibiotic. 8 June 2010
Monoclonal antibody treatment
gives new hope for cure for rheumatoid arthritis
Portuguese
scientists have discovered a revolutionary new approach to treating
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using monoclonal antibodies. It could also
change the way we treat a range of autoimmune diseases. 3 June 2010
Evotec wins grant to take H3 receptor
antagonist drug into clinical trials
Hamburg-based Evotec AG has won
funding of up to €1.5 million from the German Federal Ministry of Education
and Research (BMBF) to advance its H3 receptor antagonist drug programme
into clinical trials. 3 June 2010
Almac launch XCEL array platform for
biomarker discovery
Almac has launched the XCEL array, a biomarker
discovery platform that enables the identification of biomarkers within
multiple disease areas. 3 June 2010
Applied BioCode gains EU
approval for barcoded magnetic beads multiplex testing system. 2
June
High content screening
automation for Leica confocal microscopes
Leica Microsystems
has released the the Leica HCS A, a high-content screening
automation package for confocal research microscopes.
It is a
flexible tool for automated imaging in multi dimensions. 1 June 2010
BD Biosciences launches BD
LSRFortessa 18-colour cell analyzer
BD has launched an
off-the-shelf BD LSRFortessa System, which uses up to four lasers
that enable the detection of up to 18 colours simultaneously. 31 May
2010
First replicating bacterial
cell with synthetic DNA
Scientists at the J. Craig Venter
Institute (JCVI) in the US, have created the the first
self-replicating bacterial cell with synthetic DNA.
It involved
mapping the genome of the bacteria Mycoplasma mycoides, designing a
new genome in a computer, chemically synthesizing the 1.08 million
base pair chromosome of this genome, and transplanting this into
modified cells of another bacteria. 20 May 2010
New protein found that
controls longevity — in roundworms
The lifespan of the
roundworm C. elegans is controlled by the level of a single protein,
according to a study by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University.
14 May 2010
New genetic candidates show serotonin
link with irritable bowel syndrome
A research team at the Mayo Clinic
in the US has identified a number of genetic variants in serotonin genes
that impact irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. 14 May 2010
Promega LEV blood DNA kit
increases DNA extraction rate in less time
Promega's Maxwell
16 LEV Blood DNA Kit eliminates the need for a buffy coat step while
providing exponentially higher concentration in less time with
parallel purity. 14 May 2010
Five new genes found that
increase risk of breast cancer
The genes increase the risk of
cancer by between six and 16 per cent and take the total number of
common ‘low risk’ genetic sites associated with breast cancer to 18.
10 May 2010
Trial of new atherosclerosis
vaccine gives promising results
Researchers at the Swedish
Karolinska Institutet have shown that inflammation of blood vessels
in atherosclerosis is caused by the immune defence's T-cells
attacking LDL cholesterol and a vaccine against T-cell receptors has
reduced atherosclerosis. 10 May 2010
Australian seaweed extract
inhibits H1N1 flu virus
Australian biotechnology company
Marinova has isolated a natural extract from seaweed which has been
shown to inhibit the H1N1 virus. 10 May 2010
Novel rapid point-of-care test kits
bring low cost diagnostics for HIV and AIDS
Low-cost test kits that
measure CD4 T-cells in blood samples, markers of the immune system, will
give HIV/AIDS patients access to antiretroviral drugs faster. 10 May 2010
New mechanism for malaria parasite
resistance to artemisinin found
Researchers from CNRS, INSERM and
Toulouse University Hospital have demonstrated how the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum is able to circumvent the action of artemisinin
and its derivatives, the first-line drugs used to treat this disease. 10 May
2010
NMR spectrometry to unlock
secrets of artemisinin malaria drug
A new project at Reading
University aims to unlock the biosynthetic pathway by which the
Chinese Wormwood plant produces artemisinin, a drug effective
against malaria. The aim is to find a cheaper way to produce the
drug. 4 May 2010
NextBio improves integration
and mining of array and gene sequencing data
NextBio has
launched a new version of its life science research platform, adding
new capabilities for the integration and mining of high-throughput
array and next-generation sequencing data. 4 May 2010
NanoString Technologies introduces new
assay kit for profiling human microRNA
NanoString Technologies has
launched a new product for miRNA analysis that includes a multiplexed assay
for profiling the human miRNA transcriptome in a single tube. 4 May 2010
Cultivating uncultivable
bacteria opens door for new generation of antibiotics
Scientists at Northeastern University in the US have taken a major
step towards being able to grow previously uncultivable bacteria in
the lab, the potential key to developing a new generation of highly
effective antibiotics. 21 April 2010
Growth factor from endothelial cells
enables mass production of adult stem cells
Research has found that
endothelial cells, components of blood vessels, produce growth factors that
can grow copious amounts of adult stem cells. Until now, adult stem cell
cultures would die within four or five days despite best efforts to grow
them. 21 April 2010
Supercomputer maps evolution of H1N1
flu mutations giving resistance to Tamiflu
If the behaviour of the
seasonal form of the H1N1 influenza virus is any indication, scientists say
that chances are good that most strains of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus will
become resistant to Tamiflu, the main drug stockpiled for use against it. 21
April 2010
Better biomarkers needed for
liver cancer detection
Widely used biomarkers are not optimal
in early detection of liver cancer, the third most common cause of
cancer-related death worldwide, according to a study published in
Gastroenterology. 21 April 2010
Drug screening strategy finds two
prototype cancer drugs
A comprehensive drug development strategy that
starts with extensive screening of potential targeting agents and then
narrows down to a small-molecule prototype has yielded two potential drugs
that block cancer-promoting pathways in novel ways. 21 April 2010
New antivirus effective against
H5N1 flu
A single intranasal dose of CS-8958 given to mice
two hours after infection with H5N1 influenza virus resulted in a
higher survival rate and lower virus levels than a standard five-day
course of oseltamivir (Tamiflu). 21 April 2010
Illumina introduces VeraCode
ADME core panel for studying drug response and adverse events
The ADME Core Panel offers the most complete representation of the
key biomarkers associated with drug absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion. 16 April 2010
Domainex collaboration with
ICR advances breast cancer drug research
Scientists have
discovered drug-like compounds that inhibit an enzyme from the PARP
superfamily, whose expression leads to the survival of breast cancer
cells. These will be screened to find potential drug candidates for
further development. 14 April 2010
Almac launches web-based label
approval process for clinical trials
Almac Clinical Services has
launched a new web-based clinical Label Approval System, a workflow-based
label approval management system. 14 April 2010
PolyTherics receives £100k grant to develop
novel fusion proteins
PolyTherics Limited, London-based innovators in precision
engineering of proteins, has started work on
a project to produce fusion
proteins using its chemical linker technologies. 14 April 2010
ChromoTek launches RFP-Trap
and GFP-Booster bioimaging reagents
RFP-Trap is used to
identify and pull down interaction partners of proteins tagged with
RFP (red fluorescent protein) and GFP-Booster restores or increases
the GFP (green fluorescent protein) signal in super-resolution
microscopy. 2 April 2010
Symposium on deuterium depletion: a
new concept in anticancer drug development
The First
International Symposium on Deuterium Depletion will be held on 13-14
May 2010 in Budapest, Hungary to give researchers and medical
practitioners a unique opportunity to get acquainted with a novel
tool for submolecular medicine. 2 April 2010
Phico Therapeutics raises
further £1.8m to develop new class of superbug antibiotics
Cambridge based Phico Therapeutics, has raised £1.8 million from
their recent funding round of institutional investors and business
angels to develop new treatments for drug-resistant 'superbugs'. 2
April 2010
Evotec in deal with Hypha Discovery to
enhance drug discovery platform
The deal gives Evotec's screening
clients access to Hypha’s MycoDiverse natural product collection for use as
part of its hit-and-lead services to identify medicinal compounds. 2 April
2010
New clues to achieving eternal
life
Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have shown that
cells that grow forever get this capacity through gradual changes in
the expression of genes that govern the repair of DNA damage and
regulate growth and cell death. 1 April 2010
Eden Biodesign and Millipore in
partnership to offer pharmaceutical manufacturing and gene expression
technology
The partnership that will provide biopharmaceutical
companies with access to a combination of Eden’s cGMP manufacturing and
Millipore’s Ubiquitous Chromatin Opening Elements expression technology. 1
April 2010
New tuberculosis inhibitor discovered
(includes video)
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
have screened 175,000 small chemical compounds and identified one that blocks the growth of
the tuberculosis bacteria. 1 April 2010
Aging of human stem cells
reversed
A team of academic and industry researchers from
Canada and the US have demonstrated the successful reversal of the
developmental aging of normal human cells. 26 March 2010
Genetic engineering could turn the
mosquito from an infector to a vaccinator
Japanese researchers have
shown that a transgenic mosquito can induce an immune response from a bite.
It could provide a new strategy for biological control over the disease. 26
March 2010
First UK conference on hyperspectral
imaging
Strathclyde University is holding the UK's first
Hyperspectral Imaging Conference at the Institute for Advanced Studies on
Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th April 2010. 26 March 2010
Evotec signs agreement with Active
Biotech for high throughput molecular screening
Evotec AG has
entered into a collaboration with Active Biotech AB to identify small
molecule modulators of a priority biological target, selected by Active
Biotech, involved in immune disorders and cancer. 26 March 2010
Entry open for European Biotechnica
Award 2010
Upcoming European companies from the biotechnology sector
and the life sciences have until 30 April 2010 to submit entries for the
European Biotechnica Award. 26 March 2010
£10m new funding to promote drug
development in UK
The UK Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC)
is offering £10m for research to find ways of delivering new medicines from
biological materials more quickly and effectively. 26 March 2010
Cresset establishes new
division to provide computation chemistry tools
Cresset has
launched Versaphor, a new desktop applications division aimed at
supplying high quality computational tools based on its molecular
fields technology to a range of markets, including: medicinal
chemists. 25 March 2010
World's first windpipe transplant and
regeneration in a child
British and Italian doctors have achieved
a world first in transplanting a donated "stripped down" trachea
into a boy and using his own stem cells to rebuild the cellular
structure in his body. 19 March 2010
 Bienenwolf schützt sich mit Antibiotika.
Grabwespen der Gattung Philanthus, die so genannten Bienenwölfe, beherbergen
nützliche Bakterien auf ihrem Kokon, die einen Schutz gegen schädliche
Mikroorganismen garantieren. 16 März 2010.
Translate the article
with Google translate (copy and paste text). English summary:
Beewolves protected by antibiotics:
Beewolves are solitary wasps that prey on bees. They have beneficial bacteria in
their cocoon that give protection against harmful microorganisms. 16 March 2010
Bruker introduces novel
Fourier 300 NMR spectrometer
Bruker BioSpin has launched the
Fourier 300, an easy-to-use 300 MHz high-resolution spectrometer
with a price tag that brings Fourier transform (FT) nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) spectroscopy within every chemist’s reach. 12 March
2010
WuXi PharmaTech's Shanghai
analytical testing facilities gain GMP certification
The
company has received European GMP compliance certification for its
c-GMP drug product manufacturing and analytical testing facilities.
9 Mar 2010
Sigma-Aldrich focuses on
biology with launch of life science brand platform
Sigma-Aldrich has unveiled its new Sigma Life Science brand and
website platform, designed to elevate the Company's current focus on
biology and provide a single destination where researchers can
access deep biological knowledge and market-leading products and
technologies. 5 Mar 2010
InVitria optimizes hybridoma cell
culture with Zap-Hybridoma
Zap-Hybridoma was created to improve
monoclonal antibody productivity and deliver easier purification of the
target product. 5 Mar 2010
Evotec extends research agreement with
Cubist Pharmaceuticals
Under the contract extension, Evotec will
provide additional fragment-based drug discovery expertise using its
proprietary platform, EVOlution. 5 Mar 2010
Heart researchers create
high-speed video from single high-resolution image
A new way
of capturing a high-resolution still image alongside very high-speed
video using off-the-shelf technology gives a new low-cost tool for
scientific imaging. 24 Feb 2010
Biodegradable polymers from plants
used in tissue regeneration and drug delivery
A new type of
biodegradable polymer made from non-food plant material has applications as
diverse as food packaging to tissue regeneration, medical stitches and drug
delivery. 24 Feb 2010
Lilly, Merck, and Pfizer
co-operate to accelerate cancer research in Asia
The three
companies have formed the Asian Cancer Research Group, to accelerate
research and ultimately improve treatment for patients affected with
the most commonly-diagnosed cancers in Asia. 23 Feb 2010
Chemical Computing Group announces new
version of Protein Silo database
PSILO is a database system
that provides an easily accessible, consolidated repository for
proprietary and non-proprietary macromolecular and protein-ligand
structural information. 23 Feb 2010
NHS delays causing clinical
research expertise to exit UK
Delays and variability in the
approvals process in the NHS for clinical research could be causing
pharmaceutical companies to look outside the UK and risks the
country losing some of its most experienced researchers. 23 Feb 2010
Celtic Pharma Holdings and
PolyTherics announce investment to develop novel biopharmaceuticals
The research programme will be undertaken jointly by PolyTherics and
Cantab BioPharmaceuticals Limited, a subsidiary of CP2 based in
Cambridge, UK, and the investment will be by Leverton Licence
Holdings Limited (LLH), another subsidiary of CP2. 22 Feb 2010
Taconic establishes rodent breeding
unit in Edinburgh
Taconic has announced the establishment of a
specialized breeding facility in Edinburgh for the production of genetically
modified rodents specially designed for drug testing. 22 February 2010
Quanticate
appoints head of new
pharmacovigilance
services team
The new
pharmacovigilance service offers clinical trial and post-marketing
pharmacovigilance in order to provide comprehensive surveillance
throughout the product lifecycle. 16 Feb 2010
Femtomedicine — the new frontier
of biomedical sciences
Femto-neutrons or ‘femtons’ are fast
neutrons of femtometer wavelength — a million times smaller than nano
scale — that can be used for a completely new rapid method of cancer
diagnostics. 15 Feb 2010
Pall Corporation introduces
PallSep biotechnology filtration system
The new system utilizes
vibrating membrane filtration (VMF) technology and encapsulated
hydrophilic polyethersulfone membrane filter modules. 15 Feb 2010
 600
million year old cancer gene discovered
Biochemists and biologists at
the University of Innsbruck, Austria, have retraced the function of an
important human cancer gene 600 million years back in time by studying a
freshwater protozoan that has changed little in that time. 15 February 2010
Domainex and Pharmidex form drug
discovery services alliance
Domainex Ltd and Pharmidex have formed a strategic alliance, combining
their expertise and innovative technologies to provide the market with
an integrated, high-quality drug discovery services platform. 11 Feb
2010
Ambry Genetics launches StemArray for
high resolution characterization of human stem cells
The Ambry StemArray offers a higher resolution approach to standard
karyotyping for stem cells at comparable costs. 11 Feb 2010
Health Decisions builds network of
international CROs to improve clinical trials research
Health Decisions, a full-service clinical research organization (CRO)
specializing in adaptive solutions, is raising the standard of
efficiency in global trials through its new, international CRO community
built on the company’s Agile Clinical Development methodology. 9 Feb
2010
QIAGEN Unit and Pfizer in
agreement to develop diagnostic kit for brain tumours
The companies will develop a companion diagnostic test kit for
PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development for the
treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). 9 Feb 2010
ISCO opens new facility for stem cell
products
International Stem Cell Corporation has opened its new production facility
in California that will enable development and manufacturing of
clinical-grade products using its human parthenogenic stem cell technology.
9 Feb 2010
Mapping genome of malaria parasite
almost complete
The research at Nanyang Technological University could lead to the
development of more potent drugs or a vaccine for malaria. 9 Feb 2010
Human genetic code linked to
biological ageing identified for first time
An Anglo Dutch team of scientists has identified for the first time
definitive genetic code associated with biological ageing in humans.
The 'variants' are located near a gene called TERC. 7 Feb 2010
 20-year
breakthrough in HIV research
Researchers at Imperial College and Harvard University have made a
breakthrough in HIV research that had eluded scientists for over 20
years, potentially leading to better treatments for HIV. 5 Feb 2010
Automation Partnership and
Loughborough University in five-year collaboration to develop
regenerative medicine. 5 Feb 2010
March of Dimes awards $250,000 prize
for discovery of how to reprogram adult cells into stem cells
Shinya Yamanaka, the scientist who reprogrammed adult cells into
embryonic-like stem cells has been chosen to receive the 2010 March of Dimes
Prize in Developmental Biology. 5 Feb 2010
caprotec bioanalytics launches new
kits for proteomics and drug development
Berlin-based caprotec bioanalytics has launched three new caproKits, for the
discovery, identification and characterization of proteins belonging to the
groups of metallo-proteases, histon-deacetylases and GDP/GTP binding
proteins. 5 Feb 2010
Revolutionary strategy for control
and prevention of hospital superbugs
For the first time, researchers have shown how transmission of MRSA and
other superbugs from one person to another can be precisely tracked in a
hospital setting. Using high-throughput DNA sequencing researchers were
able to spot single-letter changes in the genetic code and identify
differences between closely related MRSA isolates. 1 Feb 2010
The latest biotechnology
industry reports — January 2010
DNA sequencing, nanobiotechnology, proteomics, RNAi, regenerative
medicine, etc. Buy online
NASA to develop microfluidics
technology for space-based research with Raydiance
Raydiance Corporation, developer of an ultrafast laser, is partnering with
NASA Ames Research Center to develop advanced microfluidics devices for
space-based biological experiments. 28 Jan 2010
Los Alamos lab licences unique
pathogen detector to Biomagnetics Diagnostics
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has licensed Biomagnetics Diagnostics
Corporation (BMGP) to further develop a pathogen biosensor. 21 Jan 2010
Eye disease successfully treated with stem cell therapy
The North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) has reported the
first successful treatment of eight patients with Limbal Stem Cell
Deficiency (LSCD) using the patients' own stem cells without the need of
suppressing their immunity. 21 January 2010
Cambridge molecule database
archives 500,000th structure
The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) archived the 500,000th
small molecule crystal structure to the Cambridge Structural Database
(CSD) in December. The structure is the drug Lamotrigine. 19 Jan 2010
‘Junk DNA’ could help diagnose breast
and bowel cancer
Scientists at The University of Nottingham have found that a group of
genetic rogue elements, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as ‘junk
DNA’, could help diagnose breast and bowel cancer. 14 Jan 2010
FDA grants emergency use authorization
for TessArae H1N1 influenza A virus assay
The US FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to TessArae for its
TessArray resequencing influenza A microarray detection panel for the
detection of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. 14 Jan 2010
 Bacterial
cellulose could make artificial blood vessels
The cellulose produced by bacteria could be used for artificial blood
vessels as it carries a lower risk of blood clots than the synthetic
materials currently used for bypass operations. 13 Jan 2010
Breakthrough in development of
therapeutic vaccines
The lack of compounds that stimulate the immune system has hindered the
development of therapeutic vaccines. These vaccines have the potential to
create both cheap and effective drugs for diseases like cancer and
allergies. However, there has now been a major breakthrough in this area. 13
Jan 2010
Sigma-Aldrich launches 'What's Your
Favorite Gene?' application On Facebook
The application provides a platform that can enable scientists and
researchers to network with each other and facilitate discussion based on
their favourite genes, identifiable via gene functionality and biological
pathways. 17 Dec 2009
Lung cancer and melanoma genomes
decoded
Research teams led by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have achieved the
first comprehensive analyses of these two cancer genomes.. 16 Dec 2009
Faster flu vaccine production process
based on insect cells
A researcher at Wageningen University has developed an alternative process
for producing large quantities of safe and effective vaccines at over twice
the usual speed based on using insect cells in bioreactors instead of
fertilised chicken’s eggs. 15 Dec 2009
Sagentia helps reduce cost of
pharmaceutical production in UK
Sagentia, part of a consortium led by GlaxoSmithKline, is delivering a step
change improvement in advanced secondary pharmaceutical manufacturing in the
UK. 15 Dec 2009
Sigma Aldrich in licensing agreement to
market novel ZNA oligonucleotides
Sigma-Aldrich has announced a worldwide licensing agreement with
Strasbourg-based company Polyplus-transfection to manufacture and
commercialize Zip Nucleic Acid (ZNA) oligonucleotides, a new technology that
provides solutions for increased affinity for nucleic acids. 3 Dec 2009
Cambridge University and Life
Technologies collaborate to set up high throughput sequencing hub
The University of Cambridge and Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE),
are collaborating to make next-generation sequencing technology available to
the European research and clinical communities. 2 Dec 2009
PPD to Acquire Excel PharmaStudies
Global contract research organization PPD, Inc. is to acquire Chinese
company Excel PharmaStudies, Inc. a market leader and one of the largest
contract research organizations in China. 12 Nov 2009
French biotech clusters join forces to
develop stem cell engineering
The consortium of three biotech clusters has received significant French
government funding for a three-year research and development project
focussing on the use of induced pluripotent stem cells. 3 Nov 2009
Eurogentec to acquire proteomics
developer AnaSpec
Belgian biotechnology lab products supplier Eurogentec S.A. has announced it
has entered a final agreement for the acquisition of california protemics
developer AnaSpec, Inc. 30 Oct 2009
Sinovac obtains third H1N1 vaccine
order from Chinese Government
Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in
China, has received its third purchase order for its H1N1 vaccine, PANFLU.1,
from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for the
national stockpiling plan. 29 Oct 2009
eBioscience acquires Bender MedSystems'
immunoassay technology
eBioscience Corporation has acquired privately held Austrian immunoassay
technology pioneer Bender MedSystems GmbH in an all cash transaction. 29 Oct
2009
Smiths Detection wins $3.2m in grants
to develop tests for sepsis pathogens and flu
Smiths Detection has won two grants from the US National Institutes of
Health for the development of tests using its Clinical Bio-Seeq instrument.
29 Oct 2009
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Thailand
HIV vaccine trial first to show preventive effect 
New
antibiotics produced from marine bacteria found in Norwegian fjords
Worm
gene gives hope for restoring injured nerves