Archive for the ‘Europe’ Category
Vanderbilt University Announces Partnership with Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. for Schizophrenia Drug Research
Last Updated on Monday, 12 January 2009 03:46 Written by Editor Monday, 12 January 2009 03:46
The licensing and research agreement provides for a total of $10 million in upfront payment and committed research funding to the laboratory of Jeffrey Conn, Ph.D., Director of Vanderbilt’s Program in Drug Discovery. Additional payments will be made based on meeting certain milestones and through royalties on product sales.
Vanderbilt will use its state-of-the-art drug discovery infrastructure, including high throughput screening, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology testing, to create novel compounds with properties compatible with becoming schizophrenia drugs. In addition to carrying selected compounds from the collaboration into clinical development and through commercialization, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. will bring its expertise to the partnership through input on compound design, synthesis and later -stage safety and pharmacokinetic studies.
“This is another milestone for our Program in Drug Discovery and we are excited to be teaming up with one of the world’s leading developers of drugs for treatment of schizophrenia, said Conn. “It is also a testament to Vanderbilt’s commitment to new approaches to drug discovery and developing new models by which academic institutions work closely with industry partners to deliver new breakthrough medicines that have a fundamental impact on human health.â€
Stef Heylen, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, CNS Research and Early Development at Janssen, said, “Academic collaborations are an important part of our drug discovery strategy. This collaboration underscores the synergies between industry and academia that can help to create solutions for addressing unmet medical needs. It is a great example of how we can work together with academia to better understand complex diseases and hopefully bring improved treatments to patients.”
Posted under Collaborations, Europe, Medicinal Chemistry, North America, Press Releases | Comments Off
Seegene Receives Approval from Health Canada for Its Respiratory Virus Multi-Pathogen Detection Tests
Last Updated on Sunday, 11 January 2009 05:52 Written by admin Sunday, 11 January 2009 05:52
Seegene Receives Approval from Health Canada for Its Respiratory Virus Multi-Pathogen Detection Tests
Seeplex(R) RV5 and RV12 give Canadian caregivers an effective way to test for a broad range of respiratory viruses and pathogens in one single test.
ROCKVILLE, Maryland and SEOUL, Korea, December 3, 2008 — Seegene, Inc., a leader in multi-pathogen diagnostic testing, today announced that it has received a Medical Device License from Health Canada for its Seeplex(R) RV5 ACE (Auto Capillary Electrophoresis) Screening and RV12 ACE Detection tests. Built on the novel and proprietary Seeplex(R) molecular diagnostic platform that delivers maximum specificity, reproducibility and sensitivity, the Canadian healthcare system can now use the RV5 and RV12 diagnostic tests to further improve patient care, reduce healthcare costs and prevent inappropriate antibiotic use.
Quickly detecting the specific cause of respiratory infections, especially for children, the elderly, and patients whose conditions are compromised by asthma or immune system complications is critical due to the high incidence of these pathogens developing into serious diseases. Unfortunately, respiratory disease caused by viral infection cannot be simply determined from clinical symptoms as most viruses induce both upper and lower respiratory infections.
Using the Seeplex RV5 test, doctors can now simultaneously detect the most prevalent flu viruses such as influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus A/B, and screen for 11 viruses, while the RV12 test identifies 12 viruses individually.
Already permitted for use in more than 30 countries recognizing the CE Mark, the license from Health Canada will bring the RV5 ACE Screening and RV12 ACE Detection tests to North America for the first time. In the United States, more than 50 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions are written each year for patients outside of hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The advantages of Seegene’s novel rapid diagnostic tests will be manifold. With these tests, the therapies targeting a specific pathogen causing the infection for a specific patient can be prescribed much earlier. Another benefit of the test is its ability to enable the continual monitoring of the infection status, which offers a strong potential for reducing hospital stays and freeing up scarce resources for other healthcare needs,” said Jong-Yoon Chun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Seegene.
The ease-of-use for caregivers administering the Seeplex RV5 and RV12 tests and the rapidity of receiving conclusive results belies the power of these multi-pathogen assays to simultaneously test for the most prevalent respiratory viruses.
Jong-Yoon Chun added, “The issuing of a Medical Device License from Health Canada is another important milestone for Seegene. In this era of viral epidemics clinicians require the ability to routinely test for a wide spectrum of respiratory pathogens in a single test. The Seeplex RV tests are uniquely performed with one multiplex PCR in a single tube and capillary electrophoresis for automated detection of pathogens providing a new standard for test reproducibility, specificity and sensitivity.”
About Seegene
Seegene, Inc. is a biotechnology company specialized in molecular diagnostics and research applications. It holds a novel detection platform named “Seeplex(R),” which sets a standard in high-throughput and simultaneous multi-pathogen detection called “multiplexing.” Seeplex(R) technology accurately detects multi-pathogens with high-throughput speed, ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and cost. Seegene develops, manufactures and markets innovative molecular diagnostic products and services to a worldwide community. The company has more than 47 distributors in 28 countries, including 2 subsidiary offices in the US and Japan. Its mission is to maintain leadership in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and oncology, and chromosomal analyses using innovative proprietary technologies. For more information please visit www.seegene.com or call +301-762-9066.
Posted under Asia, Collaborations, Europe, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
MorphoSys and Galapagos Enter Alliance to Co-develop Novel Therapeutic Antibodies in Bone and Joint Disease
Last Updated on Monday, 1 December 2008 12:59 Written by Editor Monday, 1 December 2008 12:59
Combination of Proprietary Drug Targets and Unique Technologies to Create Range of New Therapeutic Antibodies
MUNICH, GERMANY — (Marketwire) — 11/26/08 — MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime StandardSegment, TecDAX) and Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today the launch of a long term co-development alliance aimed at discovering and developing antibody therapies based on novel modes of action in bone and joint disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
The alliance spans all activities from target discovery through to completion of proof of concept clinical trials of novel therapeutic antibodies. Both companies will contribute their core technologies and expertise to the alliance. Galapagos will provide antibody targetsimplicated in bone and joint disease in addition to its adenoviral target discovery platform to discover further targets for antibody development.MorphoSys will contribute its HuCAL antibody technologies to generate fully human antibodies directed against these targets. The initial goal is to further validate the targets through disease-specific in vitro and in vivotesting of the antibodies. After successful validation, the alliance will select antibody programs for pre-clinical and clinical development.Following proof of concept in human clinical trials, programs will be partnered for subsequent development, approval and marketing.
Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos and MorphoSys will share the research and development costs, as well as all future revenues equally.Decisions will be made by a Joint Steering Committee comprising members of both companies. An initial set of three targets implicated in bone and joint disease has been selected for the collaboration, and Galapagos isalready commencing with production of these proteins for the alliance.Generation of antibodies directed against these targets will start in2009. More targets will be selected using Galapagos’ target discovery platform to fuel the alliance in the coming years. If successful, the first antibody programs based on these novel targets could enter the clinic within four to five years.
“With this alliance, we are adding a biologics strategy to our small molecule drug discovery. Galapagos is the world leader in discovery ofnovel targets, and this alliance with MorphoSys enables us to explore the potential of proprietary antibody targets. Antibody approaches have provento be successful in developing new therapies for major diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Having both approaches, small molecules andantibodies, to fill our product pipeline in bone and joint disease willfurther establish Galapagos as the leader in this field,” said Onno van deStolpe, Chief Executive Officer of Galapagos. “With our cash position and revenue streams from both BioFocus DPI and our pharma alliances, we are in a good financial position to enter into this alliance to create value for our shareholders.”
“This alliance represents a major step in our efforts to gain access to novel antibody targets for proprietary drug development in disease areas with a high unmet medical need. The partnership with Galapagos combines both the scientific and financial strength of two leading companies in their space,” said Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys. “We are excited to combine our broad antibody expertise with Galapagos’ target discovery capabilities and disease know-how to form a successful partnership. The access to novel disease-related target molecules from a renowned partner accelerates the expansion of our proprietary antibody pipeline. This alliance also complements our development efforts in the field of inflammation and arthritis includingour lead program MOR103.”
With this strategic alliance, MorphoSys gains access to a proven target discovery engine as well as to Galapagos’ expertise in bone and joint disease, to support its therapeutic antibody pipeline expansion. The threemain indications of bone and joint disease – rheumatoid arthritis,osteoporosis and osteoarthritis – all represent very significant marketopportunities with several million people affected worldwide and combinedsales of drug treatments of more than US$ 15 billion in 2006.
Through the alliance with MorphoSys, Galapagos enters the rapidly growingmarket for therapeutic antibodies. In 2007, total sales for the 20antibody drugs on the market amounted to more than US$ 25 billion andantibody sales are forecast to increase to approximately US$ 50 billion in 2013. Fully human antibodies are recognized as the next generation and the majority of therapeutic antibodies currently in development are humanized or fully human. The average industry timescale from discovery to pre-clinical development of antibody therapies is only two to three years, considerably shorter than the average six years for small molecules.Antibodies also incur lower attrition rates than small molecules.
Galapagos and MorphoSys will conduct a conference call and live audio webcast today at 02:00 p.m. CET (8:00 a.m EST) to provide detailed information on the alliance.Dial-in number for the Conference Call (listen-only):Germany & U.K. residents: +32 2 401 53 06For U.S. residents: +1 866 931 1567 Please dial in 10 minutes before the beginning of the conference.Approximately two hours after the press conference, the archived webcast will be available for replay of the conference on http://www.morphosys.comand http://www.glpg.com.
For further information please contact: Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser, Head ofCorporate Communications & Investor Relations, Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122, gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com or Mario Brkulj, Manager CorporateCommunications & Investor Relations, Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454,brkulj@morphosys.com
About Galapagos:
Galapagos (Euronext Brussels: GLPG; Euronext Amsterdam: GLPGA; OTC: GLPYY)is a drug discovery company with pre-clinical programs in bone and jointdiseases and bone metastasis. Its BioFocus DPI division offers a fullsuite of target-to-drug discovery products and services to pharmaceuticaland biotech companies, encompassing target discovery and validation,screening and drug discovery through to delivery of pre-clinicalcandidates. BioFocus DPI also provides adenoviral reagents for rapididentification and validation of novel drug targets, compound libraries fordrug screening as well as chemogenomics and ADMET database products toselect targets and compounds. Galapagos currently employs about 450 peopleand operates facilities in six countries, with global headquarters inMechelen, Belgium. More information about Galapagos and BioFocus DPI canbe found at www.glpg.com and www.biofocusdpi.com.
About Galapagos’ target discovery technology:
Galapagos’ target discovery engine is based on adenoviruses thatefficiently introduce human gene sequences into a wide variety of humancells to knock-down specific proteins. High-throughput assays thatrepresent a selected human disease state are then used to functionallyselect for those proteins that have a causative effect in those models ofhuman disease. After rigorous validation of these protein targets, theyform the basis for the development of novel drugs.
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on thegeneration of fully human antibodies as a means to discover and developinnovative antibody-based drugs against life-threatening diseases.MorphoSys’s goal is to establish HuCAL as the technology of choice forantibody generation in research, diagnostics and therapeutic applications.The Company currently has therapeutic and research alliances with themajority of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies includingBoehringer Ingelheim, Centocor/Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Pfizer andRoche. Within these partnerships, more than 50 therapeutic antibodyprograms are ongoing in which MorphoSys participates through exclusivelicense and milestones payments as well as royalties on any end products.Additionally, MorphoSys is active in the antibody research market throughits AbD Serotec business unit. The business unit has operations in Germany(Munich), the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) and U.K. (Oxford). For further informationplease visit http://www.morphosys.com/
HuCAL® and HuCAL GOLD® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG
Posted under Business and Investment, Clinical Trials, Collaborations, Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Drug Development, Europe, Industry News, Medicinal Chemistry, New Drugs, News by Region, News by Subject, North America, Press Releases | Comments Off
Trends in Drug Research 27th Noordwijkerhout-Camerino-Cyprus Conference Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, May 3 – 8, 2009
Last Updated on Thursday, 27 November 2008 10:24 Written by admin Thursday, 27 November 2008 10:24
The Symposium is sponsored by the European Federation of Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC).
The Organising and Scientific Committees cordially invite you to attend the 27 edition of this meeting on Trends in Drug Research. The interplay between molecular structure and biological activity is central to contemporary biomedical and translational research, relevant not only to structural biologists but also to diverse scientists involved in the study of bioactive compounds and signalling mediators and those working in drug discovery and development.
The scientific programme will include plenary lectures, oral communications and poster sessions. Registration will open on Sunday May 3, followed by an inaugural evening lecture and a welcome gathering.
The scientific programme ends on Thursday May 7 and the meeting will be concluded by the symposium dinner on Thursday evening. On Friday after the conference, a complimentary workshop “Virtual Screening and De Novo Design” is offered by BioSolveIT.
REGISTRATION Information and the complete SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME is available on the SYMPOSIUM’S WEBSITE: WWW.NOORDWIJKERHOUTMEDCHEM.ORG
PROGRAMME
Opening keynote lecture
Chairman Prof. Henk TIMMERMAN (VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Chemistry’s Role In Target Identification And Validation Dr. Scott A. BILLER (NOVARTIS, Cambridge, United States)
KINASE INHIBITORS: TARGETING THE NON-ATP SITE
Chairman: Dr. Edmond DIFFERDING (UCB, Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium)
Discovery And Development of Selective, Orally Bioavailable Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors For Targeted Treatment Of Human Cancers Prof. Stephen K. BURLEY (SGX PHARMACEUTICALS, SAN DIEGO, United States)
Non-Competitive Inhibitors of MEK1: from Discovery to the Clinic Dr. Jeffrey OHREN (PFIZER, GROTON, United States)
Allosteric Inhibition of Kinase Function Philip E. SANDERSON (MERCK, Rahway, United States)
CHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC MODIFICATION OF THERAPEUTIC PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS TO IMPROVE THEIR MODE OF ACTION
Chairman: Dr. Stan VAN BOECKEL (ORGANON, Oss, The Netherlands)
Title to be announced
Dr. Jesper LAU (NOVO NORDISK, Maaloev, Denmark)
Sugars and Proteins
Prof. Ben DAVIS (OXFORD UNIVERSITY, Oxford, United Kingdom)
CarboCarrier(TM): a Novel Technology to Extend the Half-life of Small Proteins and Peptides Martin DE KORT (ORGANON, Oss, The Netherlands)
PROMISES IN GPCR DRUG DISCOVERY
Chairman: Prof. ROB LEURS (LEIDEN/AMSTERDAM CENTER FOR DRUG RESEARCH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Structural Genomics of GPCRs; New Opportunities for Drug Discovery Chris TATE (MRC LABORATORY OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Cambridge , Belgium)
GPCR Hetero-Dimerisation: Contribution to Receptor Pharmacology and Function Prof. Graeme MILLIGAN (UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, Glasgow, United Kingdom)
Dicovery & Development of Allosteric Modulators: Hopes and Promises Dr Emmanuel LE POUL (ADDEX PHARMA, Plan les Ouates, Switzerland)
TRANSPORTERS
Chairman: Prof. Gerhard ECKER (UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA, Vienna, Austria)
Predicting Substrate Properties for ABC-Transporter – Safety Sciences on the Molecular Level Prof. Gerhard ECKER (UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA, Vienna, Austria)
Drug Transport and Metabolism: Value of Knockout and Transgenic Mouse Models Dr. Alfred SCHINKEL (HET NEDERLANDS KANKER INSTITUUT , Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Title to be announced
Prof. Robert FORD (THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER, Manchester, United Kingdom)
OFF-TARGET EFFECTS
Chairman: Prof. Hugo KUBINYI (Weisenheim am Sand, Germany)
GPCR Antitargets – Prediction and Prevention of Side Effects Dr. Thomas KLABUNDE (SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
Understanding Ion Channels Using Computational Approaches Dr. Marcel J. DE GROOT (PFIZER, Sandwich, United Kingdom)
The QSARome of the Receptorome: Development of Robust QSAR Models Capable of Predicting Compound Binding Profiles against Multiple Targets Prof. Alexander TROPSHA (UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, Chapel Hill, United States)
FRAGMENT BASED DRUG DISCOVERY
Chairman: Dr. Iwan DE ESCH (VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Experiences in Fragment-based Lead Discovery Prof. Roderick E. HUBBARD (UNIVERSITY OF YORK, York, United Kingdom)
SPR Biosensor-Based Fragment Screening and Lead Characterization Prof. U. Helena DANIELSON (UPPSALA UNIVERSITY, Uppsala, Sweden)
Novel-Generation Kinase Inhibitors: Deep Pocket Binders by Fragment- Based Design Dr. Gerhard MÃœLLER (CSO PROTEROS FRAGMENTS GMBH, Munich/Martinsried, Germany)
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG DISCOVERY
Chairman: Robin THURMOND (JOHNSON & JOHNSON, San Diego, United States)
Histamine H4 Antagonists as Future Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Robin THURMOND (JOHNSON & JOHNSON, San Diego, United States)
JAK3 Kinase: a Molecular Target for Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases and Renal Transplant Rejection Dr. Paul S. CHANGELIAN (CHANGELIAN BIOSCIENCE, LLC, , United States)
Molecular Mechanim of Action for Chemokine and Other Anti-inflammatory Agents on 7TM Receptors Dr. Thue W. SCHWARTZ (UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN, Copenhagen, Denmark)
Complimentary Workshop on Friday: “Virtual Screening and De Novo Design” offered by BioSolveIT Late Departure – the transportation will be provided by the organisers.
http://www.LDOrganisation.com
Posted under ADMET Studies, Drug Development, Europe, Europe, Press Releases, Targeted Libraries | Comments Off
Fragment Based Screening Service at CRELUX and ZoBio
Last Updated on Thursday, 27 November 2008 10:04 Written by admin Thursday, 27 November 2008 10:04
Munich (D) and Leiden (NL), November 24, 2008 / b3c newswire / – CRELUX and ZoBio announced today that they have successfully executed their first fragment based screening projects from a jointly established platform.
One of the first targets, which also will be made accessible to customers, was Pim1, a kinase that has been implicated in the progression of several haematological malignancies. In addition to the “off the shelf†data on Pim1, tailor made fragment based screening projects are available for customers upon request.
The joint technology platform combines ZoBio’s proprietary Target Immobilized NMR Screening (TINS) technology with CRELUX’s high performance kinase crystallography platform. In the first campaign Pim1 was screened by TINS using ZoBio’s fragment library, hits were assessed in an in vitro kinase assay and the top 50 hits have been soaked into protein crystals. 37 out of these 50 fragments showed defined binding modes. Together with this high hit rate the structural diversity within this group generated multiple points for optimization and clearly proved the power of this technology combination.
“We are delighted to have found a perfect partner for entering into high performance fragment based screening. The collaboration with ZoBio adds another crucial drug discovery technology to our service portfolioâ€, commented Dr. Michael Schäffer, CEO of CRELUX.
“This project demonstrates the power of the combination of TINS with top notch crystallography. I am absolutely convinced that together we can provide our customers with critical starting point to jump start their challenging or failed targets.†noted Dr. Gregg Siegal, CSO of ZoBio.
CRELUX has used its state-of-the-art structural biology platform to solve more than 270 crystal and co-crystal structures for pharma and biotech companies. This platform encompasses all steps – from target cloning and expression all the way to high-throughput protein crystallization and in-house x-ray crystallography.
ZoBio provides fragment discovery and characterization services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries using its proprietary Target Immobilized NMR Screening (TINS) platform. TINS, with its unparalleled sensitivity and reliability, has been used to discovery highly diverse, efficient ligands for a variety of targets including kinases, protein-protein interactions, viral targets and membrane proteins.
Posted under Collaborations, Diversity Libraries, Europe, HT Screening, New Products, Press Releases, Targeted Libraries | Comments Off
Nanion Increases Throughput and Cuts Costs with a New Industrial 96-Channel Patch Clamp Screening Robot
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 01:38 Written by Editor Wednesday, 26 November 2008 01:38
Today, Nanion announces the late-stage development of a new automated patch clamp platform: the SyncroPatch 96. Developed to meet the throughput demands of industrial ion channel drug screening and safety profiling, and with a price-per-data-point compatible with screening standards, the SyncroPatch 96 will offer the highest throughput in the market for high quality HTS-oriented ion channel screening.
Munich, Germany, November 20, 2008 –(PR.com)– Following the successful market introduction of two automated patch clamp devices, the Port-a-Patch (2004) and the Patchliner (2006), Nanion now introduces the SyncroPatch 96. Nanion’s Patchliner and Port-a-Patch platforms enjoy great popularity in both academic and industrial settings and have received enthusiastic user feedback in customer surveys such as the HTStec report. Building on their success, the new SyncroPatch 96 vastly increases throughput while reducing the cost per data point to a level compatible with industrial ion channel screening requirements.
“There is a gap between the demands in ion channel drug screening and the capability of the high quality automated patch clamp platforms currently available on the market. Pharmaceutical companies want higher throughput and lower cost per data point, whilst maintaining data quality. The SyncroPatch96 will fill this gap, by providing high throughput, high quality patch clamp recordings, at a low enough cost to keep screeners happy.†says Dr. Niels Fertig, CEO of Nanion.
The SyncroPatch 96 acquires simultaneous recordings from 96 individual cells in a well-plate format and allows for screening of both ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels. The platform supports giga-seal recordings, continuous recording during compound application and addition of multiple compounds to each of the 96 cells. The SyncroPatch 96 will be launched in 2009.
About Nanion:
Nanion Technologies GmbH is a German Private Limited Company and was founded in 2002 as a spin-off from the Center for Nanoscience (CeNS) of the University of Munich. Nanion’s team has developed and globally established two highly successful automated patch clamp instruments as enabling tools for sophisticated and high throughput applications for ion channel research and drug discovery.
Nanion’s instruments use planar patch clamp chips which replace the traditional glass pipette used in the technique of patch clamping. Nanion was nominated in 2007 for Germany’s most prestigious innovation award the Deutscher Zukunftspreis (German Future Prize, Federal President’s Award for Technology and Innovation).
Posted under Compound Screening, Europe, Industry News, New Products, News by Region, News by Subject, Press Releases | Comments Off
A new approach to functional screening of siRNA knockdown
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 01:55 Written by Editor Wednesday, 26 November 2008 01:37
KINGSTON, England, Nov. 25, 2008-Guava Technologies, Inc. presented at the recent Molecular Targets & Cancer Therapeutics Symposium* information on their recent advancements that describe an experimental methodology and the new Guava® Simplicity Analysis Software which exploit the advantages of plate based flow technology. These technological improvements result in an overall process that can significantly expedite the drug discovery process by providing a means for extraction of key findings from the highly complex data sets encountered with functional screening of siRNA knockdown assays.
Solid tumors comprise genetically heterogeneous cell populations whose growth and survival depends on the complex interplay of distinct, yet overlapping, signaling networks. A major challenge in developing a course of therapy is determining which signaling nodes to target for a specific malignancy. Profiles from siRNA gene silencing are integral to mapping disease-specific signaling cascade(s) and provide insight to key targets for therapeutic intervention. Successful siRNA screening relies not solely upon optimizing transfection, but also cell analysis systems capable of high content screening (HCS) at the single cell level, within overall populations (sample well), and across multiple data sets.
The presentation describes how the Guava EasyCyteâ„¢ Plus System, with integrated Guava Simplicity Software, provides a revolutionary platform for secondary target validation and compound screening. Guava Technologies’ flow cytometers overcome the limitations of inference-based measurements of transfection efficiency and protein knockdown through direct quantitiative analysis of populations at the single cell level. The Simplicity Analysis Software’s intuitive architecture and ease of use facilitates the process of asking biological questions on multi-dimensional data sets through visualisation of user-defined parameters in the form of heat-maps. Most importantly, comparative results are displayed at the experiment level rather than on an individual well/sample basis.
Specifically, using the EasyCyte Plus System in tandem with Simplicity Analysis Software, 23 agents were identified that had growth restrictive properties although significant variation across cell lines was observed. Further targeted gene knockdown via siRNA confirmed the presence of both activators and inhibitors of Camptothecin-induced apoptosis as well as gene targets for growth arrest. Screens for apoptosis and cell cycle, as well as phospho-signaling intermediates, defined compounds with mechanisms of action similar to and different from Camptothecin. Cell-based assays for phenotype and function revealed a number of cooperative and antagonistic interactions between signaling intermediates, their respective cascades, and cytoactive agents.
Overall, the acquired multiplex data set is shown to provide a more detailed view on the behaviour of each of the test compounds with respect to apoptotic induction, cell cycle progression, and the signaling cascades that regulate these cellular responses to drug treatment. In total, this experimental methodology, when used in conjunction with Guava Technologies’ cell analysis platforms and Simplicity Analysis Software, significantly expedites the drug discovery process by providing a means for extraction of key biological findings from complex result sets.
If you would like more information on this application it is available for download from http://guavatechnologies.com/cm/Resources/Scientific%20Pubs.html. More information about the company and its products is available at www.guavatechnologies.com.
Guava Technologies, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, is the leading provider of on-demand, easy-to-use single cell analysis systems. Guava® Systems, including the Guava® Personal Cell Analysis (PCA), Guava Auto CD4/CD4%, Guava® PCA-96 and Guava EasyCyteâ„¢ Systems, are integrated, fully optimised, microcapillary cytometry systems with embedded absolute cell counting capability. Used worldwide by the life sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as clinical testing institutions (outside the United States and Europe), products from Guava Technologies have broad applications in scientific research and throughout the drug discovery and lead optimisation process, as well as for cell counting and optimisation of commercial biopharmaceutical production. Guava Technologies offers a variety of assays and dedicated software modules for the Guava Systems, enhancing the system’s overall ease-of-use.
* Guava, Guava Technologies Logo, and all other trademarks are property of Guava Technologies, Inc. * Guava® Simplicity Analysis Software is for Research Use Only. Not for use in Diagnostic procedures. * This symposium took place at the EORTC-NCI-AACR meeting in Geneva, Switzerland (21-24 October 2008)
Posted under BioInformatics, Cell-based Assays, Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Equipment & Supplies, Europe, Industry News, News by Region, News by Subject, Press Releases, RNA Reasearch | Comments Off
Nanion increases throughput and cuts costs with a new industrial 96-channel patch clamp screening robot
Last Updated on Friday, 21 November 2008 09:26 Written by admin Friday, 21 November 2008 09:26
Munich, Germany, November 18th, 2008; Today, Nanion announces the late-stage
development of a new automated patch clamp platform: the SyncroPatch 96.
Developed to meet the throughput demands of industrial ion channel drug screening
and safety profiling, and with a price-per-data-point compatible with screening
standards, the SyncroPatch 96 will offer the highest throughput in the market for high quality HTS-oriented ion channel screening.
Following the successful market introduction of two automated patch clamp devices, the Port-a-Patch (2004) and the Patchliner (2006), Nanion now introduces the SyncroPatch 96. Nanion’s Patchliner and Port-a-Patch platforms enjoy great popularity in both academic and industrial settings and have received enthusiastic user feedback in customer surveys such as the HTStec report. Building on their success, the new SyncroPatch 96 vastly increases throughput while reducing the cost per data point to a level compatible with industrial ion channel screening requirements.
“There is a gap between the demands in ion channel drug screening and the capability of the high quality automated patch clamp platforms currently available on the market. Pharmaceutical companies want higher throughput and lower cost per data point, whilst maintaining data quality. The SyncroPatch96 will fill this gap, by providing high throughput, high quality patch clamp recordings, at a low enough cost to keep screeners happy.†says Dr. Niels Fertig, CEO of Nanion.
The SyncroPatch 96 acquires simultaneous recordings from 96 individual cells in a well-plate format and allows for screening of both ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels. The platform supports giga-seal recordings, continuous recording during compound application and addition of multiple compounds to each of the 96 cells. The SyncroPatch 96 will be launched in 2009.
About Nanion:
Nanion Technologies GmbH is a German Private Limited Company and was founded in 2002 as a spinoff from the Center for Nanoscience (CeNS) of the University of Munich. Nanion’s team has developed and globally established two highly successful automated patch clamp instruments as enabling tools for sophisticated and high throughput applications for ion channel research and drug discovery.
Nanion’s instruments use planar patch clamp chips which replace the traditional glass pipette used in the technique of patch clamping. Nanion was nominated in 2007 for Germany’s most prestigious innovation award the Deutscher Zukunftspreis (German Future Prize, Federal President’s Award for Technology and Innovation).
Posted under Equipment & Supplies, Europe, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
Vienna to Host BIO-Europe 2009
Last Updated on Friday, 21 November 2008 09:23 Written by admin Friday, 21 November 2008 08:20
Zurich, Switzerland; Carlsbad, USA; Vienna, Austria, November 20, 2008 – At the closing of BIO-Europe 2008 in Mannheim/Heidelberg which saw 2400 life science executives engage in an astounding 10,250 one-to-one meetings, EBD Group today announced that next year’s BIO-Europe partnering conference will pay a visit to Vienna, Austria. The 15th annual edition of BIO-Europe, the world’s largest stand-alone partnering event will gather leaders of the life science industry at the Wiener Messe on Nov. 2–4, 2009 to take dealmaking to a new level. This represents the first time in the conference’s 14 year history that it will venture outside of Germany, and is testimony to the recognition of the Vienna region’s emergence as a robust cluster of biotech innovation.
Joining LISA VR in welcoming BIO-Europe 2009 will be the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labor, the City of Vienna, the Austrian Business Agency and the Center for Innovation and Technology. In the recent years over 140 life science companies have been established in Vienna.
“The biotechnology scene in our region already employs nearly 10,000 people many of whom specialize in red biotechnology. Five life science universities, outstanding research institutions such as IMP and IMBA, international corporations with headquarters in Vienna for the Eastern and South Eastern European markets and numerous dynamic start-up companies have combined to make the industry a showpiece for Austrian technology policy,” said Michaela Fritz and Eva Czernohorszky, Managing Directors of LISA VR.
Latest news from the Viennese emerging start-up scene offer proof of the dynamism of this young life science location. For example, Affiris recently secured EUR 430 million from GlaxoSmithKline for the rights to its Alzheimer’s vaccines currently under development, emerging company Intercell is close to market with its Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine, and Fibrex is a company worth monitoring after its positive Phase II results for FX06, a fibrin derived peptide for the treatment of reperfusion injury in myocardial infarction.
Vienna is home to the Research Institute for Molecular Pathology, the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, the Austrian Center of Biopharmaceutical Technology, the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group and the Gregor Mendel Institute for Molecular Plant Biology.
The University of Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, the University of Veterinary Medicine and the Vienna University of Technology represent five of the universities with a focus on life sciences located in the capital.
Global life science players in Vienna include Baxter BioScience, Boehringer Ingelheim Austria, Eli Lilly’s Vienna School for Clinical Research, Sanochemia and Octapharma.
About EBD Group
EBD Group is the leading partnering firm for the global life science industry. Since 1993, biotech, pharma and medical device companies have leveraged EBD Group’s partnering conferences, technology and services to identify business opportunities and develop strategic relationships essential to their success.
EBD Group’s conferences are run with the support of leading corporations and international trade associations and include:
•    BIO-Europe and BIO-Europe Spring(R), the world’s largest stand-alone life science partnering conferences, supported by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
•    BioPharm America(TM), EBD Group’s North American partnering event
•    EuroMedtech(TM), EBD Group’s new partnering event for the innovative medical technology industry
•    BioEquity Europe, the investor conference co-organized with BioCentury Publications and BIO
EBD Group’s sophisticated Web-based partnering service, partneringONE(TM), is used as the partnering engine at numerous third-party events around the world. Outside of the conference format, EBD Group’s consultants provide hands-on assistance for firms seeking to in- or out-license products and technologies.
EBD Group has offices in the USA and Europe.
For more information please visit www.ebdgroup.com
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
Posted under Europe, Europe, Press Releases | Comments Off
Galapagos and Merck Serono Enter New Collaboration Agreements
Last Updated on Thursday, 20 November 2008 04:30 Written by Editor Thursday, 20 November 2008 04:30
Mechelen, Belgium; 18 November 2008 – Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today new collaboration agreements with Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Total value of the contracts for Galapagos is €1.1 million over one year.
Galapagos’ service division BioFocus DPI will provide SoftFocus© compounds for use in Merck Serono’s drug discovery programs. In a separate agreement, BioFocus DPI will perform medicinal chemistry services on an undisclosed Merck Serono program; this represents an extension of a long running collaboration which was last expanded in 2005.
“BioFocus DPI has a long relationship with Merck Serono in medicinal chemistry, which we are pleased to extend again this year,†said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos. “The purchase of BioFocus DPI’s SoftFocus libraries underscores our ability to grow business with clients.â€
About Galapagos and BioFocus DPI
Galapagos (Euronext Brussels: GLPG; Euronext Amsterdam: GLPGA; OTC: GLPYY) is a drug discovery company with pre-clinical programs in bone and joint diseases and bone metastasis. Its BioFocus DPI division offers a full suite of target-to-drug discovery products and services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, encompassing target discovery and validation, screening and drug discovery through to delivery of pre-clinical candidates. BioFocus DPI also provides adenoviral reagents for rapid identification and validation of novel drug targets, compound libraries for drug screening as well as ADMET database products to select compounds. Galapagos currently employs about 460 people and operates facilities in six countries, with global headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium. More information about Galapagos and BioFocus DPI can be found at www.glpg.com and www.biofocusdpi.com.
Posted under Collaborations, Compound Libraries, Drug Development, Europe, Industry News, News by Region, News by Subject, Press Releases, Reagents | Comments Off
Otava develops virtual screening system
Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 03:01 Written by admin Tuesday, 11 November 2008 03:01
Mathematical modelling in biology is often a problem with interactions estimation between a biomolecular target and small molecule compounds.
Knowledge of this interaction allows the interruption of certain processes in cells, for example it can impede diseases such as cancer.
This is why so many efforts focus on designing better models and algorithms for high-throughput virtual screening techniques.
Otava began developing its own virtual screening system in 2004 to incorporate entropy change that occurs during ligand-receptor binding into virtual screening protocol.
This project was initially restricted to model entropy change in harmonic oscillation approximation.
This model is closely related to quality of potential energy calculations.
Otava’s scientists designed a universal polarisable force field to achieve reasonable entropy change accounting (on the basis of unique empirical charges definition scheme).
Spanning entropies with traditional enthalpy calculations for free energy of binding prediction was inaccurate.
Adding ligands desolvation free energy that was calculated with modified GBSA method (up to 0.95 regression coefficient with experimentally derived data) improved the accuracy.
Further testing of the improved virtual screening system showed its efficiency depended on the nearest environmental water molecules, which are usually ignored in high-throughput virtual screening.
Otava’s scientists proposed a new algorithm of molecular docking code to implement fast and accurate water position finding.
Posted under BioInformatics, ChemInformatics, Europe, Press Releases | Comments Off
DEFINIENS AND BIOSCAN TEAM UP FOR COOPERATIVE MARKETING EFFORTS
Last Updated on Sunday, 2 November 2008 05:52 Written by admin Sunday, 2 November 2008 05:52
Morristown, New Jersey / Munich, Germany – December 2, 2008 – Definiens, the number one Enterprise Image Intelligenceâ„¢ company, has signed a co-marketing agreement with Bioscan, Inc., a leading developer of advanced imaging instrumentation for radiolabeled compounds. Under the terms of the agreement, Bioscan and Definiens will conduct cooperative marketing activities and host joint workshops and events. Customers will benefit through integrated training and implementation programs and streamlined access to the market-leading solutions offered by both companies.Â
Non-invasive in vivo animal imaging offers researchers a window into living biological systems. It provides the means to track a range of biological processes, from metabolism to receptors and gene-expression, and enables the effects of candidate pharmaceutical treatments to be monitored more accurately.  Recent improvements in molecular imaging technologies have made in vivo preclinical imaging increasingly important to researchers, and especially to those involved in the drug development process. However, intelligent image analysis is required to extract meaningful insight from the prodigious amounts of data generated by advanced preclinical in vivo imaging systems.
Bioscan develops advanced instrumentation for the detection, synthesis and imaging of radiolabeled compounds used in life science research, molecular imaging, pharmaceutical development and nuclear medicine. The company’s dual modality NanoSPECT/CT and NanoPET/CT in vivo animal imaging systems provide unparalleled insight into molecular function at the nanoliter precision level.  With these nano-nuclear imagers, Bioscan allows researchers to overcome the challenge of balancing resolution and sensitivity that has hampered the advancement of non-invasive imaging in preclinical studies. Â
“Definiens and Bioscan share a commitment to developing the most advanced imaging technologies on the market,†said Dr. York Hamisch, Vice President of Imaging Technologies at Bioscan.  “This cooperative agreement will provide our customers with special access to Definiens’ image analysis technology, enabling them to extract information from their imagery with a high level of automation.â€
Definiens provides life science organizations with software applications for analyzing and interpreting images on every scale, from cell and tissue-based assays to in-vivo imaging systems. The company’s proprietary Definiens Cognition Network Technology® is context-based, emulating human cognitive processes to extract intelligence from images of all modalities, sizes,  and resolutions.  Definiens image analysis software complements Bioscan’s imaging systems, enabling researchers to extract additional quantitative and anatomical information from 3D images of small animal models.
Â
“Increased adoption of non-invasive imaging is indicative of the life science research community’s move toward a systems biology approach,†said Manfred Voglmaier, Vice President of Business Development, Life Sciences at Definiens.  “Partnering with Bioscan provides an opportunity for Definiens to introduce its imaging technology to an established community of molecular imaging researchers.â€
Definiens and Bioscan will continue to explore further opportunities for cooperation, which may include the co-development of user interfaces to incorporate Definiens software into Bioscan hardware. Existing Bioscan customers will also benefit from introductory offers on Definiens applications beginning in late 2008.
Posted under BioInformatics, Collaborations, Europe, North America, Press Releases | Comments Off
The German Cancer Research Center Investigates the Role of miRNAs in Carcinogenesis Using febit’s Geniom RT Analyzer
Last Updated on Friday, 24 October 2008 02:14 Written by admin Friday, 24 October 2008 02:14
LEXINGTON, Mass. (USA), and HEIDELBERG, Germany, Oct. 20, 2008 – The German Cancer
Research Center, also known as DKFZ, in Heidelberg (Germany) chose febit´s newly
introduced Geniom® RT Analyzer to investigate the association of microRNAs (miRNAs)
and cancer.
miRNAs are small pieces of RNA with a maximum length of 23 nucleotides, which have
become an important focus of life-science research in the past couple of years.
Since they do not encode any proteins, they remained largely unappreciated for many
decades. Recently, however, scientists began to realize their crucial role in the
regulation of intracellular events such as differentiation or apoptosis of cells.
The number of miRNA being discovered is growing by the day.
DKFZ scientists therefore searched for a technology that would allow them to keep
pace with the rapidly evolving miRNA databases, continually incorporating the latest
information into their research on the role of miRNAs in carcinogenesis. The newly
developed Geniom RT Analyzer ideally meets this requirement: it exploits freely
configurable biochips produced on demand at febit for microarray analysis of miRNA
profiles in biological samples.
“Our positive experience with the flexibility of febit´s Geniom contributed to our
decision to use the new Geniom RT Analyzer,” said Joerg Hoheisel, director of the
DKFZ Functional Genome Analysis Division. “Preliminary tests indicate an excellent
quality of microarray analysis. In addition, my team is enthusiastic about the
straight-forward operation and outstanding efficiency of the instrument.”
In addition to flexibility, the Geniom RT Analyzer offers a high degree of
automation and numeÂrous user-friendly features: all steps in the workflow,
including sample addition, hybridization, staining, washing, shaking and detection,
are performed in one single instrument requiring a minimum of operator time. The
efficient operation results with minimal error rates and offer consistent
experimental parameters providing highly reproducible results. Data read out by the
Geniom Wizard software may then be analyzed with standard software solutions.
In addition to miRNA analysis, the Geniom RT Analyzer offers a variety of other
high-performance applications. For example, a patented biochip protocol enables the
fragmenÂtation and sorting of large genomes in smaller well-defined fractions.
Without this essential fractionation step, the complexity of the genomic DNA would
preclude any effective analysis. These may then serve as samples in mutation
analysis and high-throughput sequencing with next-generation sequencers.
febit’s new Geniom RT Analyzer combines extraordinary flexibility with a high degree
of automation for microarray analysis. (Photo: febit)
About febit
febit enables scientists to read, write and understand the code of life: DNA. With
its unique Geniom technology and services, febit is the only company that puts the
control of simplified genomic research in the hand of the user. The seamless
integration of DNA synthesis and analysis and the superior support in experiment
design and bioinformatics helps to understand data and turn it into results. febit’s
team of experienced scientists is dedicated to support customers to solve the
challenge of understanding biological processes. Geniom is a technological and
service platform successfully implemented in basic and applied research by renowned
institutions and companies. Geniom exploits cutting-edge microarray technology for
analysis and synthesis of genes and genomes, providing superior time- and
cost-efficiency combined with an unsurpassed spectrum of applications.
For more information about febit and its products please visit
www.febit.com
About the DKFZ, Division of Functional Genome Analysis
Research at the division of Functional Genome Analysis at the DKFZ (German Cancer
Research Center) aims at the development and immediate application of new
technologies for the production and processing of molecular information at a global
cellular level. The overall objectives are an analysis, assessment and description
of the realisation of cellular function from genetic information as well as the
understanding of the regulation of the relevant processes. Many projects are pursued
in national and international collaborations and programmes.
For more information on Functional Genome Analysis at the DKFZ, please visit
www.dkfz.de/funct_genome/
Posted under Cancer Research, Collaborations, Europe, Genomics & Pharmacogenomics, Press Releases, RNA Reasearch | Comments Off
Tepnel Expands Genetic Services Portfolio with Addition of Illumina iScan Rapid Reader
Last Updated on Friday, 24 October 2008 10:36 Written by admin Friday, 24 October 2008 10:36
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom & STAMFORD, Conn.–Tepnel Life Sciences PLC (AIM:
TED) today announced that it has expanded its molecular genetic services
offering through the addition of Illumina’s iScan System, a next-generation
scanner that provides researchers conducting genetic variation studies with
significantly greater throughput and application diversity. This
announcement marks the first anniversary of Tepnel’s new pharmaceutical
services facility and makes Tepnel the first commercial provider of iScan
services within the UK.
Combined with Tepnel’s established range of upstream and downstream genetic
capabilities, the Company now offers a full suite of complementary services
from DNA extraction through to Bioinformatics. Illumina’s iScan platform
supports both human and non-human applications and is capable of generating
up to 225 million genotypes per day.
Tepnel also has a variety of other platforms and techniques for SNP-based
investigations for both human and non-human research and clinical
applications. This breadth of service enables Tepnel to provide a complete
solution from DNA extraction through to SNP genotyping and DNA sequencing,
all undertaken in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).
“Tepnel can offer customers a broad portfolio of innovative genetic analysis
assays some of which are supported on our new high-throughput iScan reader,”
said David Scott, General Manager of Tepnel’s Livingston facility. “This new
addition to our service opens up the possibility to our customers of whole
genome association, focused content analysis, copy number variation analysis
and, epigenetics on both human and non-human samples, all within a
regulatory compliant environment.”
“Accelerating and expanding our molecular genetic services at this rapid
pace reflects our commitment to the long-term strategy of building Tepnel’s
market presence in the fast-growing sectors of
pharmacogenomics/pharmacogenetics and genetic disease disposition testing,”
said Allan Brown, Managing Director, Tepnel Research Products & Services.
About Tepnel Life Sciences plc
Tepnel Life Sciences (AIM:TED) is a UK-based international life sciences
products and services Group with two divisions, Molecular Diagnostics and
Research Products & Services. The Company has laboratories, manufacturing
and operations in the USA, UK and France with over 200 employees. Tepnel
provides test kits, reagents and services to two highly synergistic markets,
these being Molecular Diagnostics and Biomedical Research. The Company’s
strategy has been to identify high growth niche opportunities within these
multi-billion pound markets. Tepnel focuses on these niche operations with
internally developed products, patents, expertise and know-how as well as
strategic acquisitions, to develop a leadership position within these
defined market segments. For more information please visit www.tepnel.com.
Posted under BioInformatics, Clinical Trials, DNA Reasearch, Europe, Genetics & Pharmacogenetics, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
BNC Collaborators Author High-profile Paper in Nature Nanotechnology
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 October 2008 02:28 Written by admin Thursday, 23 October 2008 02:28
London, UK – 17 October 2008: Research by scientists collaborating with specialist product development consultancy, Bio Nano Consulting (BNC), into the workings of vancomycin – one of the few antibiotics that can be used to combat increasingly resistant infections such as MRSA – has been published in Nature Nanotechnology (October 2008). The researchers, led by Dr Rachel McKendry and Professor Gabriel Aeppli at the London Centre for Nanotechnology, developed novel, ultra-sensitive nanomechanical probes capable of providing new insight into how antibiotics work, paving the way for the development of more effective new drugs.
Commenting on the new research, Bio Nano Consulting CEO, Dr David Sarphie said “BNC was set up specifically to help companies apply nanotechnology tools to address real-world biomedical problems such as antimicrobial resistance. Working with the BNC allows companies access scientists who have expertise in numerous ground-breaking nanotech-related research areas, and this paper in Nature Nanotechnology is a great example of the highest quality research that they are undertaking.â€
During the study Dr McKendry, Joseph Ndieyira, Moyu Watari and coworkers used cantilever arrays – tiny levers no wider than a human hair – to examine the process which ordinarily takes place in the body when vancomycin binds itself to the surface of the bacteria. They coated the cantilever array with mucopeptides from bacterial cell walls and found that as the antibiotic attaches itself, it generates a surface stress on the bacteria which can be detected by a tiny bending of the levers. The team suggests that this stress contributes to the disruption of the cell walls and the breakdown of the bacteria.
The interdisciplinary team went on to compare how vancomycin interacts with both non-resistant and resistant strains of bacteria. The ‘superbugs’ are resistant to antibiotics because of a simple mutation which deletes a single hydrogen bond from the structure of their cell walls. This small change makes it approximately 1,000 times harder for the antibiotic to attach itself to the bug, leaving it much less able to disrupt the cells’ structure, and therefore therapeutically ineffective.
“There has been an alarming growth in antibiotic-resistant hospital ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE),†said Dr McKendry. “This is a major global health problem and is driving the development of new technologies to investigate antibiotics and how they work.
“The cell wall of these bugs is weakened by the antibiotic, ultimately killing the bacteria,†she continued. “Our research on cantilever sensors suggests that the cell wall is disrupted by a combination of local antibiotic-mucopeptide binding and the spatial mechanical connectivity of these events. Investigating both these binding and mechanical influences on the cells’ structure could lead to the development of more powerful and effective antibiotics in future.â€
Established in late 2007, BNC provides a seamless concept-to-market route for the bio-nanotechnology sector.
Image caption:
A schematic representation to show the nanomechanical detection of antibiotic-peptide interactions on multiple cantilever arrays. The blue and white structures show chemical binding interaction between vancomycin and the bacterial mucopeptide analogue, DAla. The red line represents the mechanical connectivity of the chemically reacted regions on the cantilever.
For more information please visit www.bio-nano-consulting.com
Editors’ notes
About the paper and authors:
The article ‘Nanomechanical Detection of Antibiotic Mucopeptide Binding in a Model for Superbug Drug Resistance’ by J. W. Ndieyira et al., was published in Nature Nanotechnology, October 12 2008.
About Bio Nano Consulting
The BNC is a specialist research and development consultancy operating in the convergent field of bionanotechnology. A joint venture of Imperial College London and University College London, the BNC is funded through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) with additional support from the London Development Agency (LDA).
Along with its partner organisation, the National Physical Laboratory, the BNC offers a service to the biomedical and healthcare industries in microsystems and nanotechnology. This encompasses design, 3-D modelling and visualisation, rapid prototyping, and characterisation.
Posted under Collaborations, Drug Development, Europe, Medicinal Chemistry, Nanotechnology, New Products, Peptide Research, Press Releases | Comments Off
It shouldn’t be that difficult to stick a label to a frozen vial!
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 October 2008 01:19 Written by admin Thursday, 23 October 2008 01:11
Brady Freezerbondz labels overcome the virtually impossible task of labelling already frozen samples. Gone are the days where a sample needs to be thawed before a tracking and identification label can be applied. Now with Freezerbondz labels, you can quickly and easily identify samples in their frozen state.
The specially formulated permanent adhesive on Freezerbondz labels will stick and stay to samples that are taken from a cryogenically frozen state to a hot water bath without the loss of any sample information. As well as staying power Freezerbondz also withstand contact with chemicals such as DMSP and Xylene.
* Easy to identify frosted, frozen, or room temperature samples without the need to overlap the label
* Superb resilience in common laboratory environments such as liquid nitrogen -196ºC, Freezer -80ºC, Autoclave, 100ºC, hot water and room temperature baths.
* Extreme chemical resistance
* HIPAA compliant
* Especially designed for use on curved surfaces
* Easy to handle and remove from the liner
www.bradylab.com
Posted under Equipment & Supplies, Europe, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
Bibby Scientific’s latest personal thermal cycler takes more samples, but no more space
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 October 2008 01:20 Written by admin Thursday, 23 October 2008 01:08
Bibby Scientific announces an addition to the Techne range of personal thermal cyclers – the expanded capacity TC-3000X. With a highly successful half-century track record in the design and manufacture of temperature control equipment, Bibby Scientific’s world-leading Techne brand is synonymous with robust, reliable, reproducible DNA amplification.
The new TC-3000X has two interchangeable block options. The 6 x 8 format 48-well block can be used with 0.2 ml microtubes or, for greater ease of handling when higher throughput is required, Techne has introduced 24 and 48-well plates and 8-tube strips. Alternatively, the 30 x 0.5 ml block offers significantly greater capacity than the usual 12 or 20 tubes of this size. The defined pressure, heated lid of the TC-3000X is fully height-adjustable, giving researchers the widest possible choice of consumables.
Rob Skehens, Marketing Director, Bibby Scientific, puts the new Techne thermal cycler in context: ‘With the increased use of PCR techniques, demand for higher throughput has grown and the traditional 25-tube capacity of personal thermal cyclers is no longer sufficient for many users. The TC-3000X not only fits a 48-well block for 0.2 ml tubes within the same small footprint as our lower capacity TC-3000 model, it is also unique among personal thermal cyclers in accommodating as many as 30 x 0.5 ml tubes. With two block types which are easily interchangeable, plus an adjustable lid enabling a multitude of different consumables to be used, the TC-3000X offers unrivalled versatility – and at low cost.’
The TC-3000X has exceptional block uniformity of less than ±0.2 °C at 50 °C, as well as the fastest heating rate of all 48-well cyclers in the market at 3.3 °C per second. Intuitive software with speed dial functionality facilitates fast program location and, utilising the USB connection, one standalone unit or up to 32 cyclers linked together can be controlled by Techne’s free Gensoft PC software.
www.bibby-scientific.com
Posted under Equipment & Supplies, Europe, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces New Low Binding Surface for Cell Culture
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 October 2008 01:01 Written by admin Thursday, 23 October 2008 01:01
ROSKILDE, Denmark (October 21, 2008) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, has introduced the new Nuncâ„¢ HydroCellâ„¢ Surface for the cultivation of single cells and cell clusters in suspension. Designed to prevent cell attachment, the Nunc HydroCell Surface allows scientists to grow in suspension cells that are sensitive to unwanted activation and differentiation signals arising from cell adhesion. Furthermore, the adsorption of culture medium-derived proteins and cell-secreted proteins to the Nunc HydroCell Surface is minimal.
With the Nunc HydroCell Surface, more homogenous suspension cultures and higher yields of cells and cell-secreted proteins can be achieved across many cell culture applications, including those involving monocytes/macrophages and different types of stem cells. The Nunc HydroCell Surface is a thin layer of a covalently-immobilized super hydrophilic polymer and is available as sterile MicroWellâ„¢ plates, dishes and multi-dishes, all with a certificate-stating conformance to functional, sterility, non-pyrogenic and toxicity tests.
For more information on the new Nunc HydroCell, please visit www.thermo.com/hydrocell
HydroCell Surface is licensed from CellSeed Inc. in Japan.
Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
Posted under Cell-based Assays, Europe, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces Novel Temperature-Responsive Cell Culture Surface
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 October 2008 12:58 Written by admin Thursday, 23 October 2008 12:58
ROSKILDE, Denmark (October 21, 2008) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, has introduced the new Nuncâ„¢ UpCellâ„¢ Surface for temperature-induced cell harvesting. Designed to enable quick dissociation of cells from the culture surface upon a simple change in temperature, the Nunc UpCell Surface negates the need for enzymatic treatment (trypsinization) and cell scraping, while maintaining cell viability and the integrity of surface receptors and antigens. Even cell types that are difficult to detach by other methods and contiguous cell sheets can be harvested from the Nunc UpCell Surface, and harvested cell sheets can be stacked on top of each other in order to create 3-D tissue models and co-cultures. The Nunc UpCell Surface is available as sterile MicroWellâ„¢ plates, dishes and multi-dishes, all with a certificate stating conformance to functional, sterility, non-pyrogenic and toxicity tests.
The novel Nunc UpCell surface consists of a covalently-immobilized polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), or PIPAAm, which forms a thin, even layer on the culture dish or plate. Slightly hydrophobic at 37°C, the surface allows cells to attach and grow, but hydrophilic when the temperature is reduced to below 32°C, the surface will bind water and swell, resulting in the release of adherent cells with their underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). The retention of the ECM under the cells enables the harvesting of contiguous cell sheets with preserved cell polarization and cell-cell junctions and the attachment of one cell sheet to another cell sheet or a graft site without the use of fibrin glue or sutures. 3-D tissue models and co-cultures can thus be created without scaffolds and exogenous materials, greatly simplifying cell culture for tissue engineering.
For more information on the benefits of the new Thermo Scientific Nunc UpCell Surface and to see how this could transform cultures, please visit www.thermo.com/UpCell.
UpCell Surface is licensed from CellSeed Inc. in Japan.
Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and
biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
Posted under Cell-based Assays, Europe, New Products, Press Releases | Comments Off
Thermo Fisher Scientific Holds European Proteomics Seminar Series on Protein Quantitation
Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 October 2008 10:51 Written by admin Wednesday, 15 October 2008 10:51
SAN JOSE, Calif. (October 15, 2008) – Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the
world leader in serving science, today announced the dates for its 2008
European Proteomics Seminar Series. The series, which takes place throughout
October and November, has become an established venue for scientific and
technological discussion and the sharing of practical tips.
The theme of the 2008 seminar series is protein quantitation. The seminars
will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to get firsthand
information about protein quantitation methods such as SILAC, the use of
tandem mass tagging (TMT) labels for relative quantitation of proteins with
the Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap and targeted peptide quantitation applied
to biomarker verification.
Each seminar brings together world-class researchers in the fields of
proteomics and metabolomics who will share their results and insights. A
highlight of the discussions is electron transfer dissociation (ETD), a new
technique broadly applicable to proteomics and now available on LTQ Orbitrap
systems. Complementary to metabolomics and proteomics approaches in the
context of systems biology, functional proteomics, phosphopeptide and other
PTM analysis, signaling networks and top-down intact protein analyses add to
the breadth of topics covered by the seminars. In addition, the company’s
application scientists will cover practical issues related to sample
preparation, method setup and data processing.
The following is a list of dates and locations for the Thermo Scientific
Proteomics Seminars:
.    Monday, October 6, Tours, France.
.    Tuesday, October 7, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
.    Wednesday, October 8, Copenhagen, Denmark.
.    Thursday, October 9, Stockholm, Sweden.
.    Wednesday, October 15, Manchester, United Kingdom.
.    Thursday, October 16, Dublin, Ireland.
.    Friday, October 17, London, United Kingdom.
.    Monday, October 20, Vienna, Austria.
.    Tuesday, October 21, Munich, Germany.
.    Wednesday, October 22, Basel, Switzerland.
.    Thursday, October 23, Berlin, Germany.
.    Monday, November 10, Madrid, Spain.
.    Wednesday, November 12, Barcelona, Spain.
.    Thursday, November 13, Milan, Italy.
For more information about the Thermo Scientific Proteomics Seminars 2008,
including the full agendas for each event as well as registration, visit the
seminar Web site.
Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in
serving science.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving
science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and
safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000
employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech
companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research
institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and
industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier
brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical
challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo
Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical
instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables
and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher
Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals,
supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and
education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to
customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace
of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for
shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
Posted under Europe, Europe, North America, Press Releases, Proteomics | Comments Off
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