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First North American sales of Raycell X-ray blood irradiator

The Indiana Blood Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, and SMDC Laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota have both chosen to purchase MDS Nordion's Raycell(TM) blood irradiator as a means of eliminating delays in receiving irradiated blood and blood products from external suppliers and improving the service they provide to physicians and patients.

30 Mar 2004

Trial of new drug that may halt progression of Type I Diabetes

The results of a long-term clinical trial on a new drug designed to inhibit the progression of type I diabetes was announced at the International Diabetes Society meeting in Cambridge, England, March 29. The findings of the 18-month long clinical trial confirm the drug's efficacy in improving a diabetic's ability to produce insulin.

30 Mar 2004

Researchers tap modified plant viruses to ward off cervical cancer-causing infections

New vaccinations to prevent infections that lead to cervical cancer and targeted therapeutics aimed at breast cancer were examples of research highlights presented by scientists today at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Scientists described advances that feed into the drug development 'pipeline,' and show strong promise for controlling existing tumors or addressing the pathogen that causes tumors.

29 Mar 2004

Novel vaccine technology to suppress the growth of certain tumors

MedImmune, Inc. and Cerus Corporation have announced preclinical results demonstrating the effectiveness of a novel therapeutic vaccine technology in suppressing the growth of certain tumors.

From Baxter International Inc. 29 Mar 2004

Three of the world’s top women chemists visit UK to inspire young scientists

Three of the world’s top women chemists are visiting the UK this week (29 March - 2 April) to tour institutions and talk about their research with the aim of inspiring young scientists to emulate their achievements. The inaugural Rosalind Franklin International Lectureship Programme has been masterminded by Professor Susan Gibson, Imperial College London, who funded the initiative with her prize money from the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award.

29 Mar 2004

Australia’s first large-scale study into genetic discrimination

The survey of people who have had a predictive genetic test for various inherited conditions aims to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of genetic test information on people’s lives and to examine cases of alleged discrimination.

28 Mar 2004

Obesity research targeting 3 to 5 year olds

A ground-breaking study at the University of Wollongong, Australia is targeting factors affecting the development of obesity in young pre-school children aged between three and five.

28 Mar 2004

$Study demonstrates pharmacists ability to identify & refer patients at-risk for fractures$

Study demonstrates pharmacists ability to identify & refer patients at-risk for fractures

Results from Project ImPACT: Osteoporosis were discussed today during the Annual Meeting of the American Pharmacists Association. Published in the March/April 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association the authors, Jean-Venable “Kelly” Goode, Kim Swiger, and Benjamin M. Bluml, suggest that when patients, pharmacists and physicians collaborate closely, using pharmacy-based testing to identify and refer patients who are at-risk for future fracture that breakthrough results are possible.

28 Mar 2004

New patent to develop antibody therapies for cancer and other diseases

The University of Rochester Medical Center and Vaccinex, Inc. announced today the award of a key U.S. patent for a technology platform that can assist researchers in finding new treatments for cancer and other diseases. While the technology has many applications, one promising use is for the identification of certain proteins, called monoclonal antibodies, that are capable of seeking out and destroying harmful cells. Several companies have recently developed monoclonal antibodies as treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions. Under an exclusive, worldwide license from the University of Rochester, Vaccinex is using the patented technology to discover and develop new monoclonal antibody therapies.

26 Mar 2004

A simple blood test could determine whether older women with diabetes would benefit from, or be harmed by, vitamin doses designed to protect their ailing hearts

A simple blood test could determine whether older women with diabetes would benefit from, or be harmed by, vitamin doses designed to protect their ailing hearts, according to researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

26 Mar 2004

Oral medication for diabetes a step closer

University of Toronto researchers have shown that "designer molecules" can interact with the body's insulin receptor, a step toward the development of an oral medication for diabetes. U of T professors Lakshmi Kotra, Cecil Yip, Peter Ottensmeyer and Robert Batey have created the first small molecules using the three-dimensional structure of the insulin receptor. A receptor is the site on the surface of a cell to which molecules with specific tasks, such as hormones, attach themselves. Insulin's task is to initiate the utilization of sugar in the blood.

26 Mar 2004

Joint Research Collaboration to Predict 3-D Protein Structures and Support Drug Discovery

IBM today announced that the University at Buffalo (UB) Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics, The State University of New York, will use IBM technologies and research expertise to study the structure and behavior of human proteins. The outcome of this research could lead to more targeted drugs to treat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

25 Mar 2004

New Research Information on Tumor Necrosis Therapy

Researchers for Peregrine Pharmaceuticals presented today at the Strategic Research Institute’s Clinical-Stage Product Partnering Summit in La Jolla, CA a summary of clinical experience with Tumor Necrosis Therapy (TNT). The TNT technology is being developed in the U.S. and Europe by Peregrine under the trade name Cotara™. Over 200 patients have been treated with TNT world-wide and a TNT product has been approved to treat grade III or IV advanced lung cancer in the People’s Republic of China. A Cotara registration study for brain cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and a Phase I colorectal cancer study is on-going at Stanford University Medical Center.

25 Mar 2004

Partnership to improve TB vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)

Crucell N.V.and the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation of Bethesda, Maryland, announced today a new collaboration on the pre-clinical and clinical development of candidate tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. Aeras has agreed to provide Crucell up to USD$2.9 million contingent upon meeting certain development milestones, for development of TB vaccine candidates.

25 Mar 2004

A debate over the origins of what is sometimes called "junk" DNA has been settled

A debate over the origins of what is sometimes called "junk" DNA has been settled by research involving scientists at the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology (CARB) and a collaborator, who developed rigorous proof that these mysterious sections were added to DNA "late" in the evolution of life on earth, after the formation of modern-sized genes, which contain instructions for making proteins.

25 Mar 2004

Brain signals could act as remote controls

In their first human studies of the feasibility of using brain signals to operate external devices, researchers at Duke University Medical Center report that arrays of electrodes can provide useable signals for controlling such devices. The research team is now working to develop prototype devices that may enable paralyzed people to operate "neuroprosthetic" and other external devices using only their brain signals.

25 Mar 2004

iCAD issued with Fulcrum mammography film digitizer patent

iCAD, Inc., which designs, develops and markets Computer Aided Detection (CAD) imaging technology and systems for the early detection of breast cancer and other medical applications, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the Company two patents for its Fulcrum mammography film digitizer and technology.

24 Mar 2004

British company to launch "super bug tester" into UK hospitals

MRSA is the first test to be developed from Acolyte’s BacLite® testing platform. BacLite reduces the time for identifying both the type of bacteria and, more importantly, the antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria from the current 3-4 day standard to just 2-5 hours. This time advantage will mean clinicians will be able to treat, much more effectively, serious bacterial infections and prevent potentially fatal complications, such as sepsis and septic shock, from developing.

24 Mar 2004

FDA Approves Pre-Filled Pre-Mixed Fertility Medication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of Follistim®-AQ TM cartridge (follitropin beta injection) in the United States. Follistim-AQ cartridge is the first follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment available in a pre-filled, pre-mixed solution, eliminating the need for patients to mix one or more vials of medication.

24 Mar 2004

LAM Pharmaceutical receives approval to sell it's wound gel in China

LAM Pharmaceutical, a biomedical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel wound healing and transdermal drug delivery systems, announced today that the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") has granted approval for the importation and sale of its patented LAM IPM Wound Gel(TM) in China

24 Mar 2004