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ImmunoGen announces start of IMGN853 Phase I trial for ovarian cancer, other solid tumors

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops anticancer therapeutics using its antibody expertise and Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology, today announced the start of clinical testing with its IMGN853 product candidate.

11 Jul 2012

Physicians strongly support positive clinical and social impact of using robots in ICUs

Remote presence robots are used in intensive care units (ICUs) to help critical care physicians supplement on-site patient visits and maintain more frequent patient interactions. Physicians who employ this technology to supplement day-to-day patient care strongly support the positive clinical and social impact of using robots, according to a report published in Telemedicine and e-Health, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

11 Jul 2012

Article addresses tremendous impact of genetic testing for Alzheimer’s

Genetic tests exist to identify risk for the rare inherited form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to predict susceptibility to the more common, late-onset form of AD, but do people want to know, and how do they react? The answers can be found in the article published in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

11 Jul 2012

Improving access to health care for minority women could reduce racial disparity in infant mortality

Improving access to health care for minority women of childbearing age could improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce racial differences in infant mortality, according to an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

11 Jul 2012

New algorithm for faster human genome sequencing

In 2001, the Human Genome Project and Celera Genomics announced that after 10 years of work at a cost of some $400 million, they had completed a draft sequence of the human genome. Today, sequencing a human genome is something that a single researcher can do in a couple of weeks for less than $10,000.

11 Jul 2012

K2M expands biologics portfolio

K2M, Inc., a spinal device company developing innovative solutions for the treatment of complex spinal pathologies and minimally invasive procedures, today announced a major expansion of the company’s U.S. biologics offering with the launch of its VESUVIUS™ Osteobiologic Systems and new additions to its VIKOS® Allograft Systems. K2M is working with LifeNet Health®, a leading allograft bio-implant and regenerative medicine company, to bring to market quality implants to enhance bone regeneration and osteoconductivity.

10 Jul 2012

ImmunoCellular receives Japanese patent allowance for brain cancer technology

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, announced the allowance of a Japanese patent relating to a technology for the treatment of brain cancer for which the Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license.

10 Jul 2012

New blood sugar monitor works better than conventional methods

Newer technologies designed to help people with type 1 diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels daily work better than traditional methods and require fewer painful needle sticks, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

10 Jul 2012

Researchers develop new silk-based stabilizer for vaccines and antibiotics

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have developed a new silk-based stabilizer that, in the laboratory, kept some vaccines and antibiotics stable up to temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

10 Jul 2012

SUNY Downstate receives PCORI award to develop mobile phone apps for stroke patients

SUNY Downstate Medical Center has received an award to develop mobile phone applications for stroke patients and their caregivers. Steven R. Levine, MD, professor of neurology and emergency medicine and vice chair of neurology at SUNY Downstate, is scientific principal investigator on the $500,000 award, which is from the federally funded Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

10 Jul 2012

Special surface coating for stents to keep them in place

If a person's windpipe is constricted, an operation in which the surgeon inserts a stent to enlarge the trachea is often the only way to relieve their respiratory distress. But this grid-like implant can slip out of position, closing off the windpipe altogether. Researchers are working on a special surface coating for the stents to keep them in place.

9 Jul 2012

Enrollment complete in Lux Biosciences Luveniq Phase 3 study for non-infectious uveitis

Lux Biosciences, Inc. today announced the completion of patient enrollment in its Phase 3 clinical study of Luveniq (oral voclosporin) for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis. Lux Biosciences anticipates that data from the Phase 3 study will be available early in the first quarter of 2013.

9 Jul 2012

Luminex to acquire molecular diagnostics company, GenturaDx

Luminex Corporation today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held, GenturaDx, a molecular diagnostics company focused on making nucleic acid testing both affordable and practical for any laboratory. GenturaDx is in late stage development of a fully integrated, highly automated, real-time PCR system that employs a single-use cassette for true sample-to-answer workflow.

From Luminex 9 Jul 2012

FDA approves Capricor’s IND application for myocardial infarction study

Capricor, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved initiation of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the ALLSTAR study, which will use allogeneic cardiac-derived stem cells (CDCs) to treat patients following large myocardial infarctions (MI).

9 Jul 2012

Merck, OMT announce new antibody discovery collaboration

Open Monoclonal Technology, Inc. (OMT) today announced an antibody discovery collaboration with Merck KGaA. OMT and Merck KGaA have entered into a collaboration whereby OMT will use its OmniRats to generate antibodies against several targets selected by Merck KGaA.

9 Jul 2012

Next generation predictive 3D cell toxicity assays to be developed by Medicyte GmbH and Reinnervate Ltd

Two market leading companies in the field of cell based assays and predictive toxicology today announced a new product collaboration. Medicyte (inventors of the upcyte® technology) and Reinnervate (market leaders in the growing field of 3D cell culture) said they will work together to combine their upcyte® and Alvetex®Scaffold technologies to bring next generation cell bases assays to the biopharma and academic research markets.

9 Jul 2012

PsiOxus closes Series B round of equity financing

PsiOxus Therapeutics, Ltd. announced that it has closed a Series B round of equity financing totaling £22 million ($34 million).

9 Jul 2012

Merck, PDS Biotechnology enter licensing agreement for Versamune

PDS Biotechnology Corporation announced today that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for use of PDS Biotechnology's novel Versamune nanotechnology platform in two of Merck's investigational antigen-specific cancer immunotherapies currently in pre-clinical development.

9 Jul 2012

New somatostatin vaccines promote weight loss

New vaccines promote weight loss. A new study, published in BioMed Central's open access journal, Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, assesses the effectiveness of two somatostatin vaccinations, JH17 and JH18, in reducing weight gain and increasing weight loss in mice.

9 Jul 2012

MDI and CSIRO ink tech deal for next generation production of 'Green Whistle'

Australian healthcare company Medical Developments International (MDI) and CSIRO have signed a technology deal to develop a new production process for the drug methoxyflurane - the pain-relieving ingredient used in Penthrox™ (commonly known as the green whistle).

9 Jul 2012