Category Archives: Biotech Services

Brain-Computer Interface Market Expands: IDTechEx Report Reveals Rising Competitors and Innovations Beyond Neuralink

CAMBRIDGE, 25-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — In recent years, brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies have garnered widespread attention with the promise of revolutionizing how humans interact with machines—potentially replacing traditional interfaces like touch screens and mice, and offering breakthroughs in areas like speech decoding, wheelchair control, and even driving cars. Although much of the public focus has been on Elon Musk’s Neuralink, new research from market intelligence firm IDTechEx highlights that the BCI market extends far beyond this one company.

IDTechEx’s latest report reveals that while Neuralink is a prominent player, the market is also being shaped by a number of other invasive BCI developers, as well as a well-established ecosystem of non-invasive solution providers. Several companies that predate Neuralink—such as Blackrock Neurotech, Synchron, Onward Medical, and Paradromics—have also been leading the charge in this competitive landscape. These companies have collectively attracted close to $1.5 billion in funding as they work to address some of the key challenges facing neural interfaces.

While most players are focused on solving similar technical hurdles, their approaches differ. Neuralink, for instance, is tackling the need for specialist surgeons by developing a robotic system capable of implanting ultra-thin electrodes into the brain. In contrast, Blackrock is advancing its well-established Utah array to create more flexible and high-channel-count products. The companies also diverge in their emphasis on wireless solutions.

Other competitors are exploring less invasive options. Onward Medical is focusing on electrocorticography (ECoG), which places sensors within the skull but only on the brain’s surface. Meanwhile, Synchron uses a stent-like device that interacts with the inside of blood vessels.

Over the coming years, the BCI market will see a significant increase in clinical trial activity as these various technologies are tested in real-world settings. Companies will need to demonstrate tangible improvements in quality of life for people who rely on assistive technologies for communication and mobility in order to maintain investor confidence and win broader regulatory support.

While invasive BCIs receive much of the attention, non-invasive solutions remain crucial. For decades, electroencephalography (EEG) caps have been used in neuroscience research to capture brain signals, with applications ranging from wheelchair control to speech decoding. IDTechEx believes the next few years will be critical in determining whether non-invasive BCIs will break into consumer markets or remain confined to research and emotional monitoring applications.

Looking ahead, IDTechEx forecasts growth for both invasive and non-invasive BCI technologies, with the overall market expected to surpass $1.6 billion by 2045. Non-invasive solutions are likely to gain traction first, followed by the commercialization of invasive technologies from players like Neuralink. However, the long-term potential in the assistive technology market may well belong to companies able to provide successful, scalable solutions.

For a deeper dive into the global BCI landscape, including market forecasts over the next two decades, the full IDTechEx report, “Brain Computer Interfaces 2025-2045: Technologies, Players, Forecasts,” can be accessed at www.IDTechEx.com/BCI.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

XSpline Cloud, first-in-class cloud platform for personalized cardiac resynchronization therapy, evaluated in International Clinical Trial

BOLZANO/ BOZEN, Italy, 19-Mar-2023 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — XSpline SPA, a start-up company incorporated in Bolzano (Italy) and the Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen Hospital in Linz (Austria) today announced the first patient enrolled in a clinical study (ClinicalTrials.govID: NCT05327062) for the cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) guided by non-invasive electrical and venous anatomy assessment.  The international multicenter prospective study will include 150 patients from 16 centers in the U.S. and Europe.

XSpline Cloud provides a cloud-based non-invasive cardiac panoramic mapping technology to select individual CRT treatment strategy and predict outcomes.

Fast and fully automatic Artificial Intelligence based epi- and endocardial segmentation of cardiac structures, including coronary sinus veins, provides clear understanding of individual patient’s anatomy. The electrical assessment is based on a 3D panoramic electro-anatomical map based on 12 -lead ECG only, without requiring multichannel ECG recording or any kind of body surface potential mapping. XSpline Cloud is the first system in the world with AI based identification of the correct target zone for LV lead implantation.

The cloud-platform guarantees full operability with existing clinical standards and data formats; it supports IHE profiles, HL7 FIHR, DICOM, and a broad range of ECG formats. The platform also provides embedded medical grade visualization tools, such as an integrated multimodality DICOM viewer, an ECG viewer with measurement capabilities, a high-performance 3D viewer for segmented cardiac structures and electro- anatomical maps as well as an interactive navigator for LV lead placement.

Dr. Georgios Kollias, M.D., is the principal investigator for the clinical trial in Austria and performed the first procedure on a 71-year-old patient with ESV LV of 154 ml and EF LV of 20%.

“The XSpline Cloud software provides a unique approach to selecting an individualized CRT treatment strategy. It is a comprehensive tool for successful CRT implantation that can also predict outcomes, making the implantation procedure faster, easier, and safer for the patient. We are very pleased to start using this tool in our clinic”, said Dr. Kollias.

“XSpline SPA is supported by an international R&D team of skilled clinicians, mathematicians, and biomedical engineers with the shared goal of improving patient care. We think that the real-time visualization of each patient’s individual anatomy, the precise non-invasive electro-anatomical endo- and epicardial activation map and the interactive navigator will help to increase CRT responders”, said Mr. Werner Rainer, CEO of the company.

XSpline Cloud is an investigational device and not yet approved for commercial use.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Austrianova Secures Significant Investment from Real Tech Fund

 

SINGAPORE, 2021-Jul-7 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — Austrianova (the SG Austria group, Austrianova Singapore and Austrianova Thailand) is pleased and honoured to announce that, after extensive due diligence, Real Tech Fund (managed by Real Tech Holdings, Japan) has invested an undisclosed seven figure amount in Austrianova via its Real Tech Global Fund 1 to accelerate Austrianova’s growth. Real Tech Fund is a venture capital firm that invests specifically in innovative deep-technology startups mainly in Japan and Southeast Asia. Austrianova was assisted in this transaction by Square Associates. The financing from Real Tech coincides with, as well as bolsters, the Company’s next stage of growth in production capacity in order to satisfy the strong demand witnessed across the wide variety of applications that its unique protective cell encapsulation technology addresses. It also enhances and facilitates Austrianova’s entry into the Japanese market and specifically partnerships with clients benefiting from Austrianova’s Cell-ina-Box® and Bac-in-a-Box® technologies.

“We are pleased that Real Tech has decided to invest in Austrianova as well as that they are convinced of the value of the Cell-in-a-Box® and Bac-in-a-Box® technologies for solving serious problems faced by the planet and by humanity” stated Walter H Gunzburg, Chairman of Austrianova. “Real Tech already has proven to be a valued partner as well as a significant investor in Austrianova and we look forward to working closely together in the future” added Brian Salmons, CEO of Austrianova.

 

About Austrianova
Austrianova (the SG Austria Group), is a biotech company with a global footprint and operations in Singapore and Thailand. Austrianova utilizes a novel and proprietary technology for the encapsulation of living mammalian (Cell-in-a-Box®) and bacterial (Bac-in-a-Box®) cells. Cell-in-a-Box® protects the encapsulated cells from rejection by the immune system, allows cells to be easily transported, stored and implanted at specific sites in patients. The
technology, which has been proven safe and efficacious in clinical trials carried out in Europe, allows companies to develop any kind of cells as a one-for-all living pharmaceutical. Bac-in-a-Box® is a similar protective device adapted for encapsulation of probiotic bacteria where it has human food and animal feed applications as well as rebalancing the microbiome due to its ability to extend storage under lyophilized conditions and to protect encapsulated bacteria against destruction by stomach acid. Austrianova now also offers GMP4Cells that includes competitively priced Master Cell Bank and Working Cell Bank production as well as “Fill and Finish” services for cell therapy products (such as stem cell therapies, biologics produced from cells e.g. vaccines, antibodies, enzymes, recombinant proteins, exosomes etc).

About Real Tech
Real Tech Holdings / Real Tech Fund is a joint venture fund between euglena Co.,Ltd and Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.  It supports change makers who give their heart and soul to solve societal and environmental challenges. Real Tech Holding’s manages Real Tech Fund, Japan’s leading deep-tech focused venture capital fund.
For more information: https://www.realtech.holdings

Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Austrianova (the Company) and its respective businesses. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of each entity. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, including completion of the public offering, may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including risks affecting the Company, economic factors and the equity markets generally. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Austrianova undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities.

Financial Information Contact: pierre.faddoul@square-associates.com
Company and Technology Contact: salmons@sgaustria.com
For more information: http://www.austrianova.com

SOURCE Austrianova

Cells for Cells and Austrianova announce publication on novel method to produce stem cell exosomes

SINGAPORE, 2020-May-22 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — Austrianova and Cells for Cells have just jointly published a ground breaking, peer reviewed, scientific publication on a novel, cost and time-saving method to generate extra-cellular vesicles (EVs) from encapsulated Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). These EVs are known to mediate many of the therapeutic effects of stem cells. The authors show that Austrianova’s proprietary Cell-in-a-Box encapsulation technology can be used to produce and deliver EVs from encapsulated MSC’s, as demonstrated using Cells for Cells proprietary MSCs.  The publication, which was co-authored with their academic partners, the University of the Andes, Chile and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria appeared in prestigious international journal “Frontiers in Pharmacology” (Front. Pharmacol., 21 May 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00679   https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00679/full)

Currently, EVs have to be purified from cell culture conditioned media using tedious, costly and time-consuming protocols that are difficult to perform under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) conditions. The Cell-in-a-BoxÒ encapsulation technology allows efficient enrichment of EVs at high concentration since they are released from the encapsulated cells via the semipermeable pores, which selectively enable the release of small particles but not of the MSCs. Moreover, Cell-in-a-BoxÒ provides 3D culture conditions for the MSCs. The technology can be used in cell culture allowing GMP production. Alternatively, the encapsulated cells can be implanted into patients as a retrievable delivery device that shields the cells from clearance, whilst they continuously produce EVs, growth factors, hormones and other small therapeutically relevant molecules. Moreover, the EVs produced after encapsulation can themselves be used as drug-loaded delivery vehicles. This technology will be invaluable for the treatment of regenerative diseases and Inflammatory disease.

Maroun Khoury, CSO of Cells for Cells said “this is a multifaceted project bringing together different expertise  to support the burgeoning field of EV-based therapies. It will be interesting to test in the near future, the continuous  release of EVs in a in vivo context. At a personal level, it was  a great way to stay connected with colleagues that I met while living in Singapore ”.

Brian Salmons, CEO of Austrianova said “we are pleased that these results representing the culmination of a long term project with our colleagues at Cells for Cells are finally publicly available. The encapsulation of stem cells as a means to produce exosomes using our Cell-in-a-BoxÒ is an exciting technological breakthrough that is applicable for all stem cell types.”

About Austrianova

Austrianova, part of the SG Austria Group, is a biotech company with a global footprint and headquarters in Singapore. Austrianova utilizes a novel and proprietary technology for the encapsulation of living mammalian (Cell-in-a-Box®) and bacterial (Bac-in-a-Box®) cells. Cell-in-a-Box® protects the encapsulated cells from rejection by the immune system, allows cells to be easily transported, stored and implanted at specific sites in patients. The technology, which has been proven safe and efficacious in clinical trials carried out in Europe, allows companies to develop any kind of cells as a one-for-all living pharmaceutical. Bac-in-a-Box® is a similar protective device adapted for encapsulation of probiotic bacteria where it has human food and animal feed applications due to its ability to extend storage under lyophilized conditions and to protect encapsulated bacteria against destruction by stomach acid. Austrianova now also offers GMP4Cells that includes competitively priced Master Cell Bank and Working Cell Bank production as well as “Fill and Finish” services for cell therapy products (such as stem cell therapies, biologics produced from cells e.g. vaccines, antibodies, recombinant proteins etc).

About Cells for Cells

Cells for Cells is a Chilean biotechnological company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative cellular therapies, complying with high standards of scientific, technological and international quality, through manufacturing processes certified under ISO 9001: 2015. Each therapy is produced in our labs with GMP standards, being the first biotech company, with such high-quality standards at Latin American level. Our therapies are applied by duly certified specialists.

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Mr RICHARD GUILLAUME IS APPOINTED TO THE DIAFIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RENNES, FRANCE, 2019-Apr-08 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — DIAFIR, a medical technology company focused on the development, manufacture and sale of innovative diagnostic solutions in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and septic arthritis announces today the appointment of Mr Richard Guillaume to its Board of Directors

Mr Guillaume has a wide experience of over 30 years in international management and operations in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in the medtech. Drawing on his experience and knowledge in the field of medical devices and diagnosis, Mr Guillaume will advise and help the Company in its development.

Alongside his role at Diafir, Richard Guillaume has been the General Manager of Echosens from 2008 until 2013. He was previously Executive Vice President Global Sales and Marketing at Blatchford, a UK medical device company. He was also member of the board. Prior, he held various positions such as Director Global Marketing of Abbott International in Chicago and Director Category Development Europe of Mead Johnson. Richard holds a Master in Business Administration from Poitiers University and a DESS in Marketing from Paris Dauphine completed by a general management program at INSEAD.

Via EPR Network
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Global leader in flexible containment solutions ILC Dover expands its Irish production footprint by opening a location in Blarney, County Cork, Ireland

FREDERICA, DE, USA, 01-Nov-2018 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — ILC Dover, a global leader in flexible containment solutions for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry is expanding its Irish production footprint by opening a location in Blarney, County Cork, Ireland.

The building will be operational in the first quarter of 2019 and outfitted with 4,000 square feet of

ISO 7 clean room capacity and 6,500 square feet of Class 8, both dedicated to the company’s pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical product lines. When at full production, the company expects to hire 60-70 new ILC Dover employees. The company’s original operation in County Cork will be relocated to the Blarney site as part of the expansion project.

ILC Dover President and CEO Fran DiNuzzo expressed enthusiasm about the new launch: “The expansion of our production capabilities in Ireland will allow us to better serve our global customer base and strengthen our position as the leading single-use powder handling solutions provider to the global pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical marketplace.”

In addition to production space, the new facility will contain state-of-the-art offices, meeting rooms and a product demonstration area for client visits. Curtis Gingles, Vice President and General Manager of the company’s Pharmaceutical Division, added, “Clients of ILC Dover will be happy to see that we’re focused on providing additional capacity located in the region with expanded technical resources. The market for our products is experiencing incredible growth and this expansion will ensure we can keep up with the growing demand for the high-quality products used in manufacturing lifesaving therapies.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Asian Study Confirms Favorable Results of Fotona SMOOTH® Laser Therapy for Urinary Incontinence

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, 21-Sep-2018 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — The latest study published in the World Journal of Urology (Comparison between erbium‑doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser therapy and sling procedures in the treatment of stress and mixed urinary incontinence – https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-018-2445-x) provides further confirmation that Fotona SMOOTH® laser technology is a safe, effective and minimally-invasive solution for stress and mixed urinary incontinence (SUI and MUI). The article, written by Dr. Nobuo Okui, compares Fotona’s minimally invasive IncontiLase® Er:YAG laser therapy with the more conventional TVT and TOT surgical sling procedures.

Asian Study Confirms Favorable Results of Fotona SMOOTH® Laser Therapy for Urinary Incontinence

In the study performed by Dr. Okui, 50 Japanese women were treated either surgically (tension-free vaginal tape – TVT or transobturator tape – TOT) or with a Fotona laser. The 1-h pad test, ICIQ-SF, and overactive bladder-symptom score were used to assess the patients before and 12 months after treatment. Laser therapy was performed by first applying a local anesthetic to the vaginal wall and then inserting a probe into the vagina. Laser irradiation was performed for 20 min with an Er:YAG wavelength of 2940 nm (Dynamis XS, Fotona) for a total of three treatments (alternating every month). Results of the 1-h pad test and ICIQ-SF showed comparable improvements in SUI in the sling and laser therapy groups, while some of the patients with MUI in the TVT and TOT groups showed exacerbation. In conclusion, the TVT and TOT procedures and the laser therapy are comparable for SUI; however, laser therapy is superior in terms of MUI and complications. The study thus once again confirms the safety and efficacy of Fotona SMOOTH® laser therapy for urinary incontinence.

Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options

Conventional treatment options for urinary incontinence are surgical, and include TVT or TOT sling procedures, which involve inserting a synthetic material. Problems often arise with artificial meshes that require new treatment methods. With the Fotona SMOOTH® Er:YAG laser thermotherapy (also known as IncontiLase®), the goal is to provide a minimally invasive therapy based on vaginal collagen hyperthermia followed by collagen remodeling and new collagen synthesis, which results in overall regeneration of aged or stressed vaginal tissues and subsequently greater support to the bladder.

Unique Fotona SMOOTH® Technology for Maximum Safety

Patient safety is the primary concern and, for this reason, the patented Fotona SMOOTH® technology holds a very unique position within the spectrum of gynecological treatment options. It is a non-surgical procedure (no incisions) and without implants or appliances. The Fotona SMOOTH® method of dual-tissue regeneration is completely non-ablative and therefore minimally invasive to the vaginal wall. The treatment involves an additional superficial heat-shocking mechanism of tissue regeneration, and a unique self-regulating safety feature. These dual-tissue regeneration characteristics of the Fotona SMOOTH® Er:YAG laser allow for an exceptionally high degree of safety and efficacy in thermotherapy of the vaginal wall. This is what makes Fotona SMOOTH® a significantly safer alternative to many widely used and more-invasive procedures.

Evidence-Based Laser Medicine

Over the past few years numerous (over 35) other studies on Fotona SMOOTH® laser therapy have been published by distinguished gynecologists from around the globe in some of the most trusted and renowned international scientific journals, all with favorable results (https://www.laserandhealthacademy.com/en/practitioners/recommended-reading/gynecology/). One such noteworthy clinical paper published in March 2018 by Dr. Adolf Lukanovic and Dr. Mija Blaganje is the first randomized controlled trial study (on 114 premenopausal parous women) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-ablative Er:YAG laser therapy as an alternative non-invasive treatment of SUI and the improvement of sexual gratification (published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2018 (224): 153-158). The results from this study indicate that a single session of IncontiLase® treatment improves the impact of SUI symptoms on quality of life and sexual function in premenopausal parous women significantly better than placebo.

In another Asian study, Dr. Yi-Wen Tien et al. from the Chang-Hua Hospital in Taiwan examined the effects of laser treatment for female SUI on pad weight, urodynamics, and sexual function in 35 women (published in the International Urogynecology Journal. 2017; 28(3): 469-476). The study reveals that the effect of IncontiLase® treatment for mild SUI was moderate at the 6-month follow-up. Moreover, it improved LUTS, quality of life, and the sexual function of both partners. The authors conclude that the IntimaLase® procedure is very effective in the treatment of SUI and is not associated with any severe adverse effects.

Similarly, Dr. Yi-Hao Lin et al. from the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan obtained favorable results. Their study investigated the effects of non-ablative laser treatment on overactive bladder (OAB) syndromes, SUI and sexual function in 30 women with urodynamic stress incontinence (published in the Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017 (56): 815-820). The results showed that IncontiLase® treatment can resolve SUI and coexistent OAB symptoms three months after therapy, while repeated laser therapy may be necessary after six months. The results also revealed that sexual gratification improved, while no major adverse effects were noticed.

The quantity and quality of the studies performed with Fotona SMOOTH® laser therapy is such that Fotona’s Dynamis has been cleared in the European Union for SUI (IncontiLase®), vaginal laxity – vaginal relaxation syndrome (IntimaLase®), genitourinary syndrome of menopause – GSM (RenovaLase®) and pelvic organ prolapse (ProlapLase®), giving women the option to choose a safer and less-invasive treatment alternative. In Asia, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has already cleared Fotona Dynamis for mild to moderate SUI, and the Singapore Health Sciences Authority has cleared the Dynamis for the treatment of SUI and GSM.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

S-ACQUISITION CORP COMMENCES TENDER OFFER OF ASTRA LOGICS, INC.

New York, 2017-May-02 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — S-Acquisition Corporation is today commencing its tender offer for all 10,000,000 shares of Second Round financing of Common Stock of Astra Logics Inc., Hong Kong, at a price of US$7.00 per share, payable in cash. The offer, which has been unanimously approved and recommended by Astra Logic’s Board of Directors is being made pursuant to the agreement between the two companies.

The tender offer, which is currently scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight EST on Thursday, June 1st, 2017 (unless extended) is subject to the tender by Astra Logic’s shareholders and would represent a majority of the outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis, as well as other customary conditions.

Astra Logics, Inc. aims to become a leader in advanced drug delivery systems with Graphine Oxide being the key component. After extensive research and testing the firm’s proprietary protocols are now nearing completion of initial phase clinical trials in Hong Kong. Ken Holland, Head of Corporate Affairs for Astra Logics said, “When completed, this tender offer provides the company with substantial cash reserves allowing for continued product development. Institutional sponsorship is critical to strengthening our market position for the long term”.

S-Acquisition Corp’s Director of Bio-Pharm Transactional Services, Mr. Craig Kirkman, stated “Astra Logics’ unique delivery platform offers tremendous upside potential in a sector providing boundless opportunity for return. Our firm shares the same long-term vision and commitment necessary to allow the company to progress”.

About S-Acquisition Corp.
S-Acquisition Corp. is a global corporate advisory with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, valuation, and strategic consulting. The firm serves corporations, institutions, groups and individuals worldwide and has its headquarters located in the United States.

About Astra Logics, Inc.
Astra Logics, Inc. is an independent biotech firm based in Hong Kong with a focus on the research and development of Nano-particle, bio-therapeutic drug delivery systems for the treatment of cancerous tumors, in particular lung cancer. The firm’s core objective is to deliver highly innovative cancer therapies that currently have few, if any, effective treatment options.

Contact-Details: S-Acquisition Corp.

Via EPR Network
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Study: New laser-based imaging technique can detect inflammation more accurately

GERMANY, Mar-30-2017 — /EPR Biotech News/ — Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the most common inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Globally, more than 4 million people suffer from recurring inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. To date, non-invasive methods have not been able to detect these forms of IBD reliably. Researchers at the University Hospital Erlangen (Germany) have now shown for the first time how Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) can more reliably detect early stages of inflammation when compared with other non-invasive diagnostic methods. These results have recently been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Evaluating the inflammatory activity of the intestines early and accurately helps to prevent complications associated with IBD and guide an optimal therapy regime. Currently, doctors frequently rely on an invasive endoscopy procedure to assess the intestinal mucosa of patients with IBD. Additionally, non-invasive imaging methods are increasingly used in the clinic. For example, ultrasound allows clinicians to examine the structure, thickness and blood perfusion of the intestinal wall with changes in perfusion patterns indicating an onset of inflammation.

“With the MSOT procedure, we additionally use laser light, by which we can detect inflammation earlier than previously possible with ultrasound”, explains Prof. Dr. Maximilian Waldner, Professor at the University Hospital Erlangen. “The earlier we detect signs of an upcoming flare – i.e., a change in blood content – the quicker we can react and start a preventive treatment”. The MSOT technology was developed by iThera Medical in Munich, and was first used on IBD patients last year.

The researchers of the University Hospital Erlangen have recently published their results in the renowned New England Journal of Medicine. “We examined 108 patients with Crohn’s disease using the MSOT technology and compared the results to established non-invasive diagnostic procedures as well as endoscopy and histology”, says Prof. Waldner. “We were able to demonstrate that hemoglobin values in the tissue measured with MSOT indicate very accurately the inflammatory activity in the intestines. The method appears to be superior to other non-invasive procedures, as MSOT for the first time was able to detect even low levels of inflammation without having to perform endoscopy”.

Dr. Ferdinand Knieling, a physician at the University Hospital Erlangen, adds: “We are hoping that this principle can be applied to many applications and, in particular, also be used to enable safe evaluations of children and adolescents. With this new examination method, many of the currently invasive procedures might become obsolete.”

In optoacoustic imaging, the physician scans the intestines transabdominally through the skin, applying pulsed laser light in the near-infrared region. The energy of the light absorbed in tissue is converted into acoustic signals which are then acquired by an ultrasound detector. Christian Wiest, CEO of iThera Medical, comments: “MSOT is a new diagnostic imaging modality that can detect changes in tissue composition associated with a variety of diseases, without the use of contrast agents. The technology has already been applied in other clinical feasibility studies, e.g. for the detection of melanoma metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes or for the assessment of suspicious breast lesions”.

The results of the IBD study at the University Hospital Erlangen were published on March 30th 2017 in the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 376, Issue 13, pg.1292-1294).

SOURCE: EuropaWire

GenQual and R-Pharm collaborate to deliver predictive diagnostics for novel anti-IL-6 antibody for autoimmune diseases

Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA and Moscow, Russia, 2016-May-25 — /EPR Biotech News/ — R-Pharm and GenQual are pleased to announce a new collaboration focused on the development of novel predictive diagnostic tools in the area of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Autoimmune diseases.

The GenQual proprietary real-time PCR platform, when applied to the genes that are involved in the manifestation of several autoimmune diseases, allows us to detect and assess single nucleotide polymorphisms. Here, allelic determination is used as potential predictor of the treatment response by the novel anti-IL6 antibody, which is currently in development by R-Pharm.

GenQual Founder and CEO Jonathan Mirich said, “This partnership is exciting for GenQual as we advance in our goal to deliver predictive diagnostic tools for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. We are very excited about the possibilities in this space and are thankful to have quality partners in R-Pharm.”

R-Pharm CEO Vasily Ignatiev indicated the importance of the Autoimmune diseases as an area of the development and growth for R-Pharm, as well as the development of novel diagnostic tools aimed to increase the level of predictive response and efficiency of the upcoming treatment paradigm.

About GenQual
GenQual develops proprietary biomarker diagnostics for autoimmune and oncology indications.  Our personalized medicine products are designed to facilitate early disease detection and diagnosis, and to improve treatment approaches at the molecular level.  GenQual is a privately-held corporation based in Seattle, WA area, USA.

About R-Pharm
R-Pharm is a private Russian pharmaceutical company founded in 2001. It employs over 3,500 highly qualified specialists in 60+ branches. R-Pharm operates in Russia and CIS, USA, Germany, Japan, Turkey/MENA.

The company is involved in R&D, manufacturing (finished dosage forms, biotech and chemical APIs), marketing, sales and distribution of innovative pharmaceutical products in hospital/specialty care therapeutic areas.

R-Pharm collaborates with major international pharmaceutical companies and universities in the fields of drug discovery, development, clinical trials, manufacturing and commercialization.  The company operates several  GMP compliant manufacturing sites in Russia and Germany, research, BD/licensing and marketing affiliates in Japan, Germany, Turkey and US.

Marketed portfolio and pipeline features drugs used in oncology, hematology, autoimmune diseases, HIV, HCV, neurology, diabetes, cardiology, as well as antibiotics, contrast media and anesthesia agents.

Contact

R-Pharm
info@rpharm.ru
www.r-pharm.com/en/

 

GenQual

info@genqual.com
206.659.7825
www.genqual.com

 

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Austrianova expands its business area

SINGAPORE, January 26, 2016 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — Austrianova announced today that, having completed the set up of austrianova logoits new GMP facility, it is now offering clients a GMP cell banking (Master Cell Bank and Working Cell Bank) as well as a “Fill and Finish” service for cell therapy products, in addition to its encapsulation services and technology. Austrianova is able to offer the production of Master Cell and Working Cell Banks (MCB and WCB) at the size scale required for early (phase 1 and 2) stage clinical trials at highly competitive prices using its state of the art isolator based production facility, assuring that the highest quality standards are adhered to. The company can also fill bulk cell product into syringes or vials in its GMP facility. This new cell banking and filling service is called GMP4Cells. MCB’s and WCB’s are required for all cell therapy products such as stem cell therapies as well as biologics produced from cells such as vaccines, antibodies, recombinant proteins etc. Similarly, many companies, including those developing stem cell lines and products, are seeking high quality economic fill and finish for relative small lots.

“We see this as a natural add-on to our already established Cell-in-a-Box® cell encapsulation technology for which we have recently set up a GMP manufacturing facility in Thailand. This kind of MCB and WCB production as well as “Fill and Finish” services for cells are, however, stand alone services. Although these services are generally available to all customers, they should allow start up companies and academic based cell products, vaccines etc to enter clinical trials in a quality assured manner but at lower cost that other, more conventional, cell banking companies offer” stated Walter H. Gunzburg, Chairman and CTO of Austrianova.

“In addition to our state of the art facility, Austrianova offers services that comply with major international regulatory agencies using a customized German/Swiss based quality assurance system. Our team has many years experience with regulatory agencies around the world and has taken cell therapies into clinical trials” said Brian Salmons, CEO.

More information about the GMP4Cells cell banking but also the Cell-in-a-Box® and the related Bac-in-a-Box® encapsulation services can be found on our newly revamped website www.austrianova.com.

About Austrianova:
Austrianova, part of the SG Austria Group, is a biotech company with a global footprint and headquarters in Singapore. Austrianova utilizes a novel and proprietary technology for the encapsulation of living mammalian (Cell-in-a-Box®) and bacterial (Bac-in-a-Box®) cells. Cell-in-a-Box® protects the encapsulated cells from rejection by the immune system, allows cells to be easily transported, stored and implanted at specific sites in patients. The technology, which has been proven safe and efficacious in clinical trials carried out in Europe, allows companies to develop any kind of cells as a one-for-all living pharmaceutical. Bac-in-a-Box® is a similar protective device adapted for encapsulation of probiotic bacteria where it has human food and animal feed applications due to its ability for extending storage under lyophilized conditions and protection in stomach acid.

Austrianova Singapore Pte Ltd,
#05-19 Synapse,
3 Biopolis Drive,
Singapore 138623
Tel +65 6779 3867
Fax: +65 6268 4671

Austrianova Thailand Co., Ltd,
141 INC2 Building D, Room 401-404
Thailand Science Park,
Paholyothin Road, Klong 1,
Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120,
Thailand

www.austrianova.com

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ISOLATOR

 

VTU Technology and Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) entered into a development and commercialization agreement

VTU Technology to offer unique combination of technologies for the high-level production of proteins with human-like glycosylation using Pichia GlycoSwitch®

Tucson, Arizona and Grambach, Austria, December 03, 2014 — /EPR BIOTECH NEWS/ — VTU Technology and Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) announced today that they have entered into a development and commercialization agreement for VTU to combine both companies´ Pichia pastoris protein production technologies. Pichia GlycoSwitch® – a new expression system for the production of glycoproteins with human-like glycosylation patterns – and VTU´s yield enhancing Pichia pastoris expression platform are now available in one package from VTU. This unique combination of technologies acting synergistically is of great benefit for customers as it leads to a high performance production platform for recombinant glycoproteins with superior product yields and uniform Man5 – or other human-like glycoforms.

Under the terms of the agreement, RCT grants VTU Technology access to RCT´s Pichia GlycoSwitch® expression system for combination with VTU´s in-house high-yielding Pichia platform featuring different proprietary technologies such as AOX1 promoter libraries suited for both methanol-induced and methanol-free production. VTU Technology is now offering the combined technology suite as part of the company´s expression strain and corresponding bioprocess development contract services portfolio.

“We are delighted to offer Pichia GlycoSwitch® engineered with our broad portfolio of Pichia tools in this partnership with RCT and I am convinced that our yield enhancing technologies will give GlycoSwitch® an exciting extra edge for the production of glycoproteins with Man5 – or other human-like glycoforms”, states Thomas Purkarthofer, Ph.D., Head of Business Development of VTU Technology.

“Our partnership with VTU Technology brings together two technologies that will enable customers to uniquely tailor the glycosylation of their target protein and explore new biological functions. We are looking forward to working with VTU Technology to expand the potential of proteins manufactured in Pichia GlycoSwitch®”, states Kurt R. Gehlsen, Ph.D., Vice President and CSO of Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.

About Pichia

Pichia pastoris is a yeast widely used for recombinant protein expression. As a microbial eukaryotic organism, Pichia combines the post-translational modification systems similar to those found in mammalian cells, with the ease of use/manipulation of E. coli. Decades of processes development have been focused on efficiently growing Pichia to extremely high cell densities; and multiple generations of molecular biology tools have been created to engineer strains to produce tens of grams/liters of a recombinant protein product. Pichia can secrete high levels of properly folded, functional proteins into a simple, defined medium for easy purification. There have been more than 20,000 publications on the use of Pichia for the production of more than 5,000 proteins, with more than 70 products manufactured in Pichia on the market today. Pichia products include enzymes manufactured in 200,000-liter fermenters and two FDA-approved therapeutics.

Pichia GlycoSwitch® is a recombinant protein expression system that broadens Pichia’s applications to glycoproteins where N-linked glycosylation is important for biological function. Pichia GlycoSwitch® offers researchers the ability to control the glycosylation (sugar addition) of recombinant glycoproteins and explore the role of protein glycosylation and various glycan structures on protein function. Pichia´s typical high-mannose glycan patterns can also be eliminated to reduce immunogenicity caused by the unwanted hyperglycosylation. The Pichia GlycoSwitch® system consists of patents, strains and vectors that are useful for making proteins with a number of different human-like glycoforms.

For additional information about Pichia, please visit www.pichia.com.

About VTU Technology

VTU Technology, a leading contract research and development company, offers the broadest toolbox and most versatile technology platform available for Pichia pastoris recombinant protein expression / production enabling highest productivities delivering up to 22 g/L of secreted protein within a few weeks development time. VTU Technology´s powerful Pichia pastoris protein expression technology is based on its optimized gene design and cloning strategies, proprietary AOX1 promoter libraries & in-house expression platform and high-throughput screening & cultivation regime, combined with excellent know-how in fermentation and downstream process development.

Headquartered in Grambach/Graz, Austria, VTU Technology is a private company and a subsidiary of VTU Holding, an Austrian enterprise that combines several technology and engineering companies in chemistry, pharma & life science as well as power and fuel industry. For additional information about VTU Technology, please visit www.vtu-technology.com.

About RCT

RCT is a Tucson, Ariz.-based technology investment and management company that provides early-stage funding and development for promising biomedical companies and technologies. RCT focuses on technology investments with origins from universities and research institutions worldwide. RCT’s technology portfolio includes platforms and tools that support the discovery, development and manufacturing of therapeutics. Current platform technologies include Pichia and E.coli protein expression systems and novel protein binding scaffolds. To learn more about RCT, see www.rctech.com and www.pichia.com.

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VTU Technology and RCT announce partnership
VTU Technology and RCT announce partnership

RCT Color logo
RCT Color logo

VTU technology rgb
VTU technology rgb

For more information

Thomas Purkarthofer, Ph.D.
VTU Technology GmbH
Phone: +43 316 4009 4017
Email: thomas.purkarthofer@vtu.com

Kurt R. Gehlsen, Ph.D.
Research Corporation Technologies
Phone: 520-748-4460
Email: kgehlsen@rctech.com

HD Biosciences, Co., Ltd. and E. J. Corey Institute of Biomedical Research Reached Agreement for Drug R&D Collaboration

HD Biosciences Co., Ltd. (HDB) and E. J. Corey Institute of Biomedical Research (CIBR) announced that they have reached a risk-sharing agreement on collaborative drug discovery and development in the therapeutic areas of infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, and oncology. This joint effort will focus on both international and Chinese markets to provide innovative medicines for unmet healthcare needs. The agreement includes lead candidate selection pre-clinical development, IND filing, clinical trials, and NDA approvals. Both companies will share financial returns from any successes or products launches.

“We are delighted to enter this partnership. The collaboration will leverage HDB’s extensive capabilities in preclinical drug discovery and development, and create long term potentials for the company.” stated Xuehai Tan, Ph.D., President & CEO of HDB. “In combination of CIBR’s expertise in drug development, we are confident to deliver novel drug candidates over the next few years, and to make this partnership a success.”

“Working with HDB gives CIBR a unique opportunity to showcase its strength in innovative drug discovery and development,” said Wuyi Meng, Ph.D., President of CIBR. “This partnership further demonstrates CIBR’s commitment in the betterment of patient’s lives by bringing forward novel medicines. We will collaborate closely with HDB to accelerate the progress of our collaborative programs”

About HD Biosciences Co., Ltd.
HD Biosciences Co., Ltd. is a Shanghai-based, biology-focused preclinical drug discovery contract research organization (CRO). The company offers comprehensive service platforms around target validation, plate-based pharmacology, hit identification and lead discovery, therapeutic antibody discovery, in vivo pharmacology, as well as other research and development services. The company currently collaborates with eight of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and has established strategic partnerships on many key R&D areas with impacts to their portfolios. The strong scientific expertise, high quality and consistency in deliveries, constantly meeting or exceeding expectations, has earned the company a great reputation in the industry, and helped the company to build its widely recognized leadership in preclinical contract research services.http://www.hdbiosciences.com

About E. J. Corey Institute of Biomedical Research
Located in the Jiangyin High-tech Industry Development Zone in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, E. J. Corey Institute of Biomedical Research (CIBR) is a non-profit research organization founded by Nobel laureate Prof. E. J. Corey with the support from Jiangyin and Jiangsu government. CIBR is committed to scientific research in the broad biomedical field and to the development of novel therapeutics to meet the unmet medical needs of patients. In addition to its strong internal research and discovery capabilities in biomedical research and drug discovery, CIBR has established solid external capabilities in translational medicine and molecular toxicology to support drug development. Under the guidance of Nobel laureate Prof. Corey, CIBR is well poised to contribute to the discovery and development of novel medicines. http://www.cibrnobel.org

Contact Details:
HD Biosciences
Ms. Jessie Yang
Email: yangxiaojie@hdbiosciences.com

CIBR
Dr. Jiaquan Wu;
Email: jwu@cibrnobel.org

 

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LC Sciences Launches Online Searchable Knowledgebase

LC Sciences, LLC, a leading provider of microRNA analysis services, today announced the launch of a new online searchable knowledgebase that researchers can use to locate technical information on the company’s website. This announcement comes on the heels of the launch of LC Sciences’ re-designed company website last week. The knowledgebase contains technical information in the form of application notes, technical bulletins, customer publications, presentations, reviews of seminal publications in the field, etc. This documents database contains over one thousand entries and encompasses a wide range of research fields; from plant science to neuroscience. Additionally, all entries have been carefully meta-tagged to improve search results.

“Having served the microRNA research community for the past nine years, we’ve accumulated quite a large library of reference documents such as application notes and related customer publications. This new resource offers the community a simple, user friendly search interface that makes it easier for them to locate the information they’re looking for within that library.” – Chris Hebel (Vice President of Business Development, LC Sciences)

The knowledgebase is freely accessible to all at: http://www.lcsciences.com/Knowledgebase/

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Microtissues® Inc. and Sigma-Aldrich® Sign Worldwide Supply and Distribution Agreement for the 3D Petri Dish®

Microtissues® Inc. announced today the signing of a Supply and Distribution Agreement with Sigma-Aldrich® Corporation (Nasdaq: SIAL) for the worldwide sales and marketing of the 3D Petri Dish®, a new technology for the culture of living cells in three dimensions (3D). Invented at Brown University, the 3D Petri Dish® maximizes cell-to-cell interactions critical for replicating the function of natural tissues and organs. Shown in numerous peer reviewed papers to work with over fifty different cell types, including cell lines, primary cells and stem cells, the 3D Petri Dish® has applications in cancer research, drug discovery, toxicity testing and regenerative medicine.

“Researchers are rapidly recognizing the importance of 3D cell culture and its ability to reliably mimic in vivo function” said Brian Morgan, Director of Business Development, Microtissues® Inc. “The 3D Petri Dish® creates a natural 3D environment without artificial scaffolds and we’re excited that this distribution agreement will bring our unique and innovative line of products to the worldwide research community.”

Unlike the conventional plastic Petri dish where cells are grown as a thin layer on the surface of the dish, the 3D Petri Dish® forms 3D aggregates of cells. Spheroid size is controlled by the number of cells seeded and hundreds of uniform sized spheroids are formed in a single pipetting step. Spheroids are formed in a well ordered array in a stable platform suitable for long term culture. All spheroids are positioned on the same optical plane making them easy to image (phase contrast, fluorescent). Spheroid size is controlled by the number of cells seeded and a mixture of cells forms mixed spheroids, suitable for investigating tumor-stroma interactions. Spheroids can be grown from single cells, applicable to the study of cancer stem cells. For histology, Western blots and RT-PCR, spheroids are harvested by simply inverting the 3D Petri Dish®. No need to dissolve or digest the gel. The 3D Petri Dish® is a new fundamental tool for the world wide industry of life sciences research.

About Sigma-Aldrich®: Sigma-Aldrich® is a leading Life Science and High Technology company whose biochemical, organic chemical products, kits and services are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostics and high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich® customers include more than 1.3 million scientists and technologists in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals and industry. The Company operates in 38 countries and has nearly 9,000 employees whose objective is to provide excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich® is committed to accelerating customer success through innovation and leadership in Life Science and High Technology. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich®, please visit its website at www.sigma-aldrich.com.

About Microtissues® Inc: Microtissues® Inc. is a privately held company located in Providence, RI, advancing technologies and applications of 3D cell culture. Microtissues®, Inc.’s products are designed to serve the needs of researchers in a wide range of areas including cancer research, stem cell biology, toxicity testing, developmental biology, drug discovery, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Microtissues®, Inc. has an exclusive worldwide license from Brown University to US and international patent applications on the 3D Petri Dish®. For more information on Microtissues®, Inc., please visit www.microtissues.com.

Sigma-Aldrich and Sigma are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC registered in the US and other countries. Microtissues and 3D Petri Dish are registered trademarks of Microtissues, Inc.

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Is it a Moment or an Abuse: the Boom of iPSCs Research after 2012 Medicine Nobel Prize

On Creative Biomart website, we can read a report about the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine regarding the two winners. They bring hope for organ or tissue repair for human or even for rejuvenation, i.e. for long life through induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Since the first appearance in 2006, iPSCs became the hit and focus. But there are still lots of unknowns waiting for us before achieving the ideal status. Thus, numerous scientists, researchers and businessmen are struggling and investing for that goal. Here are some examples:

On Dec. 5, 2012, Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) announced today the launch of StemBANCC, a new academic–industry partnership that unites ten pharmaceutical companies and 23 academic institutions. Initiated and coordinated by Roche and managed by Oxford University, StemBANCC aims to use human induced pluripotent stem cells as research tools for drug discovery with the goal of using this ground-breaking new technology to develop human disease models and enhance drug development.

On Oct. 29, 2012, on the PANS Journal there is an article about Cartilage tissue engineering using differentiated and purified induced pluripotent stem cells.

On Oct. 4, 2012, on Cell Stem Cell, there is a report with the title be Genome Sequencing of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Retroelement Stability and Infrequent DNA Rearrangement during Reprogramming.

On Jan. 30, 2012, on the PANS Journal, there is a report about modeling hepatitis C virus infection using human induced pluripotent stem cells, which make the individual and tailor therapy further.

Above are only a small part of such studies. People still wonder does it is the moment or an abuse on the iPSCs research. When someone reviewed one of the winners, Shinya Yamanaka, about his opinion on the challenge of iPSCs research, he said, “I have two research directions, the first is to establish human iPSCs bank that comply with clinical application standards. The second is to study the cell mechanism of iPSCs regenerating. And I think the current threat is still to be the safety problem as good research respects both scientific and ethical standards.”

But no one deny the great potential of iPSCs.

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Sichuan Agricultural University and LC Sciences Uncover the Epigenetics of Obesity

In a new study published online in Nature Communications, researchers from Sichuan Agricultural University and LC Sciences report the miRNAome in porcine adipose and muscle tissues. The report provides a valuable epigenomic source for obesity prediction and prevention and furthers the development of pig as a model organism for human obesity research1.

Scientists now know that the genetic code alone isn’t responsible for adult phenotype or even the offspring of these adults. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression affecting phenotype that don’t involve changes to the DNA nucleotide sequence itself, and yet are heritable. DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA (miRNA) expression are examples of epigenetic mechanisms that have recently been identified as important regulators of gene expression in many biological systems.

Obesity is a huge problem worldwide. Recently, the World Health Organization reported that obesity levels doubled in every region of the world between 1980 and 2008, spurring rates of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer that now account for almost two out of three deaths globally. It has become evident that epigenetic factors, such as D N A methylation and miRNA expression, have essential roles in obesity development.

Now, a team led by Researchers at the Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, China has used a pig model to investigate the systematic association between epigenetic regulators and obesity. Pigs are an excellent model system to study obesity due to their similar physiology to ours including: metabolic features, cardiovascular systems, and propor­tional organ sizes . The researchers generated a genome-wide D N A methylation map as well as miRNA expression and gene expression maps for adipose and muscle tissues from three pig breeds living within comparable environments but displaying distinct fat levels.

The miRNA expression portion of this project was supported by team members from LC Sciences’ Hangzhou, China lab. LC Sciences is a specialist in miRNA sequencing and expression profiling and has previously collaborated with the group from Sichuan Agricultural University. In 2010 they performed a comprehensive search for porcine miRNAs that extended the repertoire of pig miRNAome to 777 unique miRNAs and enabled an atlas of miRNA regulation functions and networks to be constructed which has laid the groundwork for future miRNA studies in pig models2. Additional collaborations with the group include investigations of miRNA expression in porcine gonads3 and human breast milk4. LC Sciences has worked with other agricultural groups in China as well, including: Huazhong5, Yangzhou & Nanjing6 Universities on their porcine miRNA studies.

In the current study, numerous miRNAs having known or potential roles in obesity were identified. Additionally, the researchers found a differentially methylated region in males compared with females. This region is located in the promoter of a miRNA cluster that includes adjacent miR-99b, let-7e and miR-125a. Although no previous evidence exists for a direct relationship of these three miRNAs to obesity, the key functions and targets of these miRNAs potentially contribute to sexual differences in obesity development.

Dr. Qiulei Lang, Head of LC Sciences operations in Asia commented, ”miRNA has been a focus of LC Sciences’ since 2005. Back then we realized its importance and so have tailored our capabilities to support agricultural customers worldwide in their miRNA research. A proprietary RNA-Seq data analysis pipeline that was developed by LC Sciences enabled us to make sense of the tremendous amount of small RNA sequencing data that we generated in this study.”

That data analysis shows global epigenetic similarity and difference among breeds, sexes and anatomic locations. The epigenetically regulated regions in promoters are highly associated with obesity development via expression repression of both known obesity-related genes and novel genes. This comprehensive map provides a solid basis for exploring epigenetic mechanisms of obesity.

Dr. Mingzhou Li from Sichuan Agricultural University , said, “The domestic pig is of enormous agricultural significance and provides valuable models for human obesity research. Recently, epige­netic factors, especially DNA methylation and miRNA regulation have gained a greater appreciation as an alternative perspective on the aetiology of complex diseases. Although little is known about the transcription start site of primary miRNA transcripts, our results suggested that DNA methylation in 5′ upstream of stem-loop precursor could have a role in transcriptional silencing of mature miRNA. ”

In the modern industry, pigs have undergone strong genetic selection in the relatively inbred commercial lines for lean meat production, or in some cases, for adipose production, which has led to remarkable phenotypic changes and genetic adaptation, making these breed lines a perfect model for comparative studies.

Principal Investigator Ruiqiang Li from Peking University, said, “This work will serve as a valuable resource for future functional validation, promoting further development of pig as a model organism for human obesity research, as well as maximizing the economic benefits in producing high quality pork.”

About Sichuan Agricultural University - Sichuan Agricultural University (S IC AU) is a university located in Ya’an city, Sichuan province, China and part of the “Project 211”, specialized in biotechnology and agricultural sciences, and as well as offering degrees in physical science, engineering, economics, management, veterinary medicine, liberal arts, pedagogy and law. For more information, please visit www.sicau.edu.cn.

About LC Sciences – LC Sciences is a leader in miRNA discovery and profiling offering flexible services and delivering high quality results based on our innovative µParaflo® custom microarray platform and the latest next-gen sequencing technologies. We have developed complementary bioinformatics tools necessary for extracting biological and functional information from large microRNA and miRNAome data sets. LC Sciences provides microfluidic made-to-order microarrays and delivers the most up-to-date genomics application tools for advancement in basic science and applied biomedical fields. For more information, please visit www.lcsciences.com.

    1. Li, M. et al. (2012) An atlas of DNA methylomes in porcine adipose and muscle tissues. Nat Commun [Epub ahead of print]. [ abstract ]
    2. Li, M. et al. (2010) MicroRNAome of porcine pre- and postnatal development. PLoS One 5, e11541. [ article ]
    3. Li, M. et al. (201 1 ) Repertoire of porcine microRNAs in adult ovary and testis by deep sequencing. Int J Biol Sci, 7(7), 1045-1055. [ abstract ]
    4. Zhou, Q. et al. (2012) Immune-related Immune-related microRNAs are abundant in breast milk exosomes. Int J Biol Sci, 8(1), 118-123. [ abstract ]
    5. Luo L. et al. (2010) Microarray-based approach identifies differentially expressed microRNAs in porcine sexually immature and mature testes. PLoS One 5(8), e11744. [ article ]
    6. Zhou B, Liu HL, Shi FX, Wang JY. (2010) MicroRNA expression profiles of porcine skeletal muscle. Anim Genet 41(5), 499-508. [ abstract ]

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Advinus, SignalChem Start The Multi-Year, Multi-Target Collaboration On New Anti-Cancer Drugs

Advinus Therapeutics, a research-based pharmaceutical development company promoted by the TATA Group, and SignalChem Pharmaceuticals, a British Columbia-based drug discovery company, have started working on 15 programs based on SignalChem’s proprietary Kinase platform for targeted therapies in oncology. Each program is being developed with corresponding diagnostics and tracers for patient selection and biomarkers for follow up offering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. The companies have received a very high level of interest from pharma companies to license and collaborate on the programs and therefore see a rapid progression to the clinic.

Dr. Jasbinder Sanghera, CEO of SignalChem said – “This is a path-breaking partnership that leverages SignalChem’s extensive biology and kinase expertise and Advinus’s end-to-end capabilities of medicinal chemistry, lead optimization, preclinical development and early-clinical development capabilities to rapidly and efficiently advance new anti-cancer drug candidates into human clinical trials.”Dr. Rashmi Barbhaiya, CEO and MD of Advinus said– “This collaboration is an exemplary model of polycentric and globally networked innovation for enhancing probability of success, reducing timelines, and focusing on cost-effective partnerships to bring innovative medicines to the market. This collaboration would also leverage leading edge biomedical research of British Columbia research institutions and Advinus’s capabilities and infrastructure to translate biomedical research discoveries into potential life saving drugs.”

The collaboration was announced by B.C. Premier Christy Clark during her visit to India who said – “This is what our Jobs Trade Mission is all about – helping local companies make connections that will allow them to do business in India. We have an innovative technology and life sciences sector in B.C., which has a lot to offer India to support its economic growth. The partnership between Advinus and SignalChem will benefit people around the world.”

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CYTOO Raises 10 M$ (7M€) in Series C Round

CYTOO SA, a company that specializes in cell-based assays, is pleased to announce the closing of a series C funding round of USD 10M (EUR 7M). New investors, Sham and Entrepreneurs Fund (EF), led the round. Existing investors AURIGA Partners and Jacques Lewiner, co-founder and president of the supervisory board at CYTOO, also participated.

CYTOO will use the financing to fully exploit its fast growing business within the global market of cellbased assays and screening, and bring the company up to profitability. Having the potential to lead the next innovation wave in cell-based drug discovery and in vitro toxicology, CYTOO is already on the radar screen of several key industrial actors.

“We are very excited about joining CYTOO as it enters a new phase in its development,” says Olivier Szymkowiak, Chief Investment Officer at Sham. “There is an exceptional opportunity for CYTOO to revolutionize the cell culture for low and high throughput applications,” added Maciek Drozdz, Investment Manager at EF and future Supervisory Board member.

Leveraging its exclusive technology of adhesive micropatterning, CYTOO’s products and services bring robustness, sensitivity and powerful quantification to cell-based assays, high content analysis and cell screening for the life science research market.

CYTOO holds an exclusive worldwide license from the Institut Curie and the CNRS (The French national scientific research center) for the adhesive micropattern patent portfolio, as well as license agreements with Harvard University (USA) and CEA, the largest government-funded technological research organization in France.

“This funding represents a strong achievement in the young history of CYTOO: the company has now the financial means for turning its technological advantage into a commercial success. A shift that the company has already initiated with the commitment of existing investors and our support through the expertise of Jacques Mallet, partner at Auriga Partners” added Franck Lescure, partner at Auriga Partners and member of the supervisory board at CYTOO.

François Chatelain, CEO of CYTOO, commented: “I am excited to lead the company and thrilled to close our series C financing round with a renowned international venture capital investors syndicate. We are welcoming Entrepreneurs Fund and Sham who bring their high level experience in building up successful biotech and medtech companies, we are also pleased with the continued commitment of our historical investors. Together we are looking to move our business and technology onto the next level of growth.”

CYTOO was advised for its capital raising by Silver Ocean Ventures’ Managing Partner Dr John Tchelingerian.

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Michigan Institute of Urology, P. C. to Perform Clinical Trial Using Cellay, Inc’s Same Day OligoFISH® Probes for Prostate Cancer

St. Clair Shores, Michigan and Cambridge, Massachusetts – Michigan Institute of Urology, P. C. (MIU) and Cellay, Inc. today announced that MIU will exclusively perform a clinical trial for prostate cancer using Cellay’s Same Day OligoFISH® probe panel. Data from this trial will be included in Cellay’s premarket approval (PMA) application for submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This novel, non-invasive screening test is designed to detect chromosomal abnormalities in prostate cells obtained in a urine sample after a digital rectal exam. This investigational use test uses fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technology to detect chromosome gains and losses which have been associated with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males in the United States, and there are approximately 200,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 38,000 deaths per year. However, due to inaccuracies of the current screening method, the PSA blood test, more than 600,000 invasive biopsies are performed annually. The ability to differentiate non-aggressive from aggressive, metast atic prostate cancers has been a continuous clinical and diagnostic challenge. Cellay expects that the clinical trial will demonstrate that its rapid non-invasive, Same Day OligoFISH® panels will improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment using a cost effective, patient friendly assay.

Alphonse M. Santino, M.D., CEO and a Founder of MIU, noted, “MIU is pleased to be the exclusive clinical trial site for Cellay’s Same Day OligoFISH® probe panels for prostate cancer for its PMA submittal. Our relationship with Cellay reinforces our commitment to the people of Michigan to provide the most effective diagnosis and treatment for urological disorders and disease. This is an important relationship for us and our community, since African-Americans are 3.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than the rest of the male population. Moreover, this group presents with the aggressive type of prostate cancer at an earlier age with higher rates of mortality.”

“Cellay appreciates that MIU has committed to serve as exclusive site for the clinical trial of our Same Day OligoFISH® probe panels for prostate cancer. MIU’s physicians’ group is recognized as one of the nation’s premier urology practices and sets the standard for diagnosis and treatment of urologic disorders. Cellay welcomes MIU’s support and participation in this novel clinical trial,” said Ed O’Lear, President & CEO of Cellay.

About Michigan Institute of Urology
As one of the oldest and largest sub-specialty Urology practices in Michigan, MIU is dedicated to providing its patients the most up to date, state of the art urologic care. Its specialists have joined MIU from the most respected research universities and hospitals in the United States.

About Cellay
Cellay is a privately held, manufacturer of Same Day OligoFISH® probes for high complexity, physician owned laboratories, which contract with Cellay to manufacture and supply individual probes or multiple probes of the laboratories’ choice pursuant to FDA and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. Cellay is registered with the FDA.

About FISH
FISH is an established cytogenetic technique that is used to detect and localize the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences on chromosomes. FISH uses fluorescent probes that bind to only those parts of the chromosome with which they show a high degree of sequence complementarity. Same Day OligoFISH® probes were introduced in 2007 and hybridize extremely fast with much higher analytical sensitivity and penetrability in cells and tissues than traditional probes.

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