Today Stories
St Gallen, 26 November 2019: Iron Deficiency Day is an international event which raises awareness of the serious impact of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.1
Since its launch in 2015, Iron Deficiency Day has aimed to educate people globally about the importance of iron for the body and what can happen if iron levels are not properly managed. It encourages people to become better informed and take control over their health.
Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia is estimated to affect one in three people worldwide2, yet despite the serious consequences and high prevalence of iron deficiency,3 it is still an under-recognised condition.
Stefan Schulze, President of the Executive Committee and COO from Vifor Pharma said: “At Vifor Pharma we strive to help patients around the…
Vaccitech Ltd, a clinical-stage T cell immunotherapy company developing products to treat and prevent cancer and infectious diseases, reports successful recruitment and vaccination for its Universal influenza A vaccine MVA-NP+M1 (VTP-100), across two Phase 2 clinical studies, FLU009 and FLU010. Final primary endpoint data from FLU010 is expected in early 2020. The Phase 2 studies are part of a dual development pathway for VTP-100 that will address both pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine markets.
FLU010 is a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, influenza challenge study conducted in Antwerp, Belgium, and co-funded by BARDA for $8.6M. There have been 145 participants vaccinated, of which 108 were challenged with the A/Belgium/4217/2015 (H3N2) influenza virus. Another group is s…
Gatwick, UK, 20 November 2019 – Novo Nordisk and UNICEF announced a new partnership today to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity worldwide with an initial focus on interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Under this partnership, the United Nations children’s agency and the global healthcare company will combine efforts to enhance knowledge and awareness on how to prevent overweight and obesity and address their root causes. The partnership will initially cover a period of three years.
“Childhood overweight and obesity can contribute to ill health, stigmatisation and even reduced educational attainment,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “With partners like Novo Nordisk, we want to ensure that preventing childhood obesity and overweight becomes a broader soci…
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) following the receipt of regulatory approval from all government authorities required by the merger agreement and, as announced on April 12, 2019, approval by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Celgene stockholders.
Upon completion of the acquisition, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, Celgene became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Under the terms of the merger, Celgene shareholders received for each share, 1.00 share of Bristol-Myers Squibb common stock, $50.00 in cash without interest and one tradeable Contingent Value Right (CVR), which will entitle the holder to receive a payment of $9.00 in cash if ce…
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has launched its General Election 2020 Manifesto for Medicine.
The industry body is calling on all parties to ensure that their policies support UK science and research and help maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in medicines and vaccines development into the future.
Pharmaceutical companies in the UK collectively employ 63,000 people and invest £4.3 billion in UK R&D – more than any other sector. The ABPI says the next Government should capitalise on the UK’s world-leading life science industry and improve the health of NHS patients by:
1. Prioritising patients and health security in the future UK – EU relationship
The UK’s membership of the EU has shaped and enforced much of the scientific, regulatory and trade infras…
Erada Technology Alliance receives 3,000 EUR for its world’s first saliva-based malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT).
Erada Technology Alliance’s ambition to eradicate malaria moved a step closer this week after scooping 3,000 EUR on winning the 2019 Africa Challenge.
In doing so, it has booked its ticket to the Paris Global Summit in March 2020, where it will pitch again against 1,000 fellow start-ups from across the world in front of 300 investors and international media for the opportunity to receive 100,000 EUR.
The South African start-up saw off 5,000 applicants from across Africa to win the Hello Tomorrow Africa Challenge award.
This announcement came at the AfricArena conference in Cape Town, which brought together tech start-ups from all over Africa.
Erada’s RDT, known as SALVA!, de…
LONDON – 12 November, 2019 – Charity Parkinson’s UK today announced an international partnership with US-based organisation, The Parkinson’s Foundation who have granted £200,000 towards a potential new therapy for people with Parkinson’s as part of the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, led by the charity.
Each year, Parkinson’s UK, their supporters and partners invest more than £4 million into the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech to rapidly develop and test the most promising research findings with the aim of turning them into treatments that will transform the lives of people with Parkinson's. The Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech focuses on the projects that matter the most to the Parkinson’s community and is powered by collaborations with world-leading research organisations that are best placed to del…
Abingdon, UK, 8 November 2019: – OBN (UK) Ltd., the membership organisation that supports the life sciences industry, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2019 OBN Awards.
The Awards, which are in their 11th year, celebrate the best of UK life sciences – from outstanding scientific innovation within Biotech, Medtech and Digital Health, to the companies that support the industry and the fundraisers that make it happen. This year’s event hosted an audience of over 250 life sciences industry leaders at the Oxford Examination Schools.
John Harris, CEO of OBN, said: “We received an incredible number of entries yet again this year, so competition has been really tough for all nominees. All our winners and finalists are truly innovative, at the very top of their respective sectors, and s…
A multimillion-pound initiative will bring together hospitals, universities and industry to boost the economy with life sciences innovations.
This is the first time that the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) and MedCity have worked collaboratively to support the UK sector’s growth and productivity in this way. Together the two life sciences cluster organisations cover a population of 34 million.
MedCity facilitates economic growth in life sciences by working with universities, industry and the NHS within London and the greater south east of England. The NHSA brings together life sciences expertise in leading universities, NHS Teaching Trusts and Academic Health Science Networks across the North of England.
The new partnership will foster economic growth and help speed up the develop…
Combining two major forces in HEOR, market access, medical affairs and healthcare communications
4th November, 2019, London, UK and Bethesda, USA – OPEN Health has today announced the integration of Pharmerit International, a global leader in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), into its group of companies. Joining the Pharmerit business with the OPEN Health Group establishes a new unique entity equipped to be a global leader in HEOR, market access, medical affairs and healthcare communications.
The merger enhances and supports OPEN Health’s positioning – deep, broad and connected:
Deep in that integration will expand the company’s global footprint and capabilities in the HEOR and market access space – across four integrated centres of excellence:
Strategic market access
Modell…
London, UK - Some of the UK’s leading Harley Street outpatient clinics specialising in delivering expert mental health support have partnered with medical device company Flow Neuroscience to offer patients a new medically approved brain stimulation headset to treat depression. The type of brain stimulation used in the headset has been shown in independent clinical studies to have a similar impact to antidepressants but with fewer and less-severe side effects.
Clinics within London’s esteemed medical district, including the NHS-connected private therapy clinic The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, will now offer patients the new brain stimulation headset as an add-on treatment in combination with their traditional therapy and psychiatrist services. An additional 10 clinics are trialling the headse…
Scientists from the University of Nottingham have discovered an easy, cost-effective and safe method of sending cells and small living samples worldwide, which could revolutionise conventional practice.
Cultured cells are currently transported using dry ice - the solid form of carbon dioxide - which keeps them frozen at -80oC. However, dry ice shipping is expensive, voluminous and hazardous, so much so that many couriers refuse to handle it.
Also, if it evaporates before a shipment reaches its destination, cellular recovery is jeopardised, as the cells get crushed and the cryoprotectant needed for their storage at low temperatures, is toxic to cells at ambient temperatures.
Dry ice is also damaging to the environment, with 5kg, (the quantity typically used in a consignment of frozen ce…
Singapore, 22 October 2019– ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ASLN, TPEx:6497), a clinical-stage oncology and immunology focused biopharma company, today announced the enrolment of the first patient in its multiple ascending dose (MAD) study testing the first-in-class therapeutic antibody ASLAN004 in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) patients.
ASLAN004 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to the IL-13 receptor α1 subunit (IL-13Rα1), blocking signalling of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, which are central to triggering symptoms of AD, such as redness and itching of the skin.
The randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study will initially be conducted at Singapore’s National Skin Centre and Changi General Hospital and will be led by Prof Steven Thng. It i…
Grant will support researchers from King’s College London and King’s College Hospital to test a personalised treatment approach for Aplastic Anaemia patients who have not responded to available therapies
21 October 2019 - LifeArc, a UK-based medical research charity, and the Aplastic Anaemia Trust (AAT) have jointly awarded a £1.15m research grant to King’s College London and King’s College Hospital to investigate the potential of a novel type of “personalised cellular therapy” to reverse the ultra-rare condition aplastic anaemia (AA). The results of this research could give new hope to people living with a severe, life-limiting form of this condition.
The grant will fund a clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of using a patient’s own T-reg cells to restore the blood-makin…
Manchester’s leading health innovation campus, Citylabs, is set to expand again following high levels of demand as it continues to grow its presence as an international hub for genomics and precision medicine.
Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) have unveiled plans to develop Citylabs 4.0, a new £35 million development which will grow the existing Citylabs campus by 125,000 sq ft.
The Joint Venture partnership between MSP and MFT, the UK's largest NHS provider Trust, is the first of its kind, with the first phase - Citylabs 1.0 - already home to a thriving cluster of diagnostics, medtech, digital health and genomics businesses who are driving the future of medicine and healthcare.
The new development represents another step forward fo…
The Primary Care Women’s Health Forum (PCWHF), the leading membership forum for primary care clinicians with an interest in women’s health, is pleased to announce the publication of ‘Her Life Her Health’, its new women’s health publication. It is a new quarterly publication for PCWHF members.
Written by primary care clinicians for primary care, the publication follows the journey a woman typically takes throughout her lifetime when accessing healthcare, from contraceptive needs to conception, from menstruation to menopause.
Spearheaded by Editor-in-Chief, renowned women’s health expert and Chair of the PCWHF, Dr Anne Connolly, Her Life Her Health combines the latest research and guidelines with news, policy, best practice, features, resources and quick reference guidelines.
It is packed wi…
The publication in the Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance concluded that application of a nasal gel formulation of XF-73 in healthy volunteers was safe, well tolerated and generated minimal side effects Treatment with XF-73 was also associated with a rapid reduction in nasal Staphylococcus aureus in all subjects; nasal carriage of the bacteria is the source of the majority of post-surgical bacterial infections The same nasal formulation is being used in the Company’s phase 2b trial assessing the microbiological effect of XF-73 on nasal S. aureus in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery and at high risk of postoperative S.aureus/MRSA infection; headline results continue to be expected in mid-2020
Brighton, United Kingdom – 16 October 2019 Destiny Pharma (AIM: DEST), a clinical sta…
Clinical Professionals fully fund and train some of the UK’s brightest life science graduates with the aim of giving back and assisting in the future of the industry talent pool and future skilled professionals.
The Parliamentary Review, co-chaired by former ministers Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, publishes its latest, highly anticipated edition this September. Featuring commentary from the prime minister and senior politicians alongside business and thought leaders across both the private and public sectors, The Review aims to share and promote best practice among executives and policymakers.
Success for businesses of any size does not always come easily, and this year's edition of The Parliamentary Review is indispensable for anyone who seeks to make a name for themselves in industry.…
London, 10 October 2019 - The Dementia Discovery Fund (“DDF” or “the Fund”) this week welcomed more than 100 key stakeholders to its Annual Forum to discuss the opportunities and challenges surrounding the development of high-impact therapeutics for age-related dementias.
Established in 2015, DDF is the world’s only global venture capital fund dedicated to delivering both high-impact therapeutics for age-related dementias and financial returns by investing in, creating, and supporting innovative companies.
The Annual Forum, now in its second year and attended by representatives from innovative research companies, academia and the investment community, welcomed presentations from emerging companies who are supported by DDF investment and who are pursuing the development of highly promising…
A public focus group has responded positively to a smart pill bottle, Pill Connect, developed by eLucid mHealth to prompt patients to take their medications on time. Pill Connect also allows both trial investigators and doctors to effectively monitor medication and provide novel insights into adherence.
The focus group, run by Research for the Future, was made up of seven volunteers aged over 50 years. The participants took part in a roundtable discussion on medicine management, followed by a demonstration and hands-on session with the Pill Connect bottle and app. In the final roundtable discussion, all participants said that the Pill Connect system was simple to use and that it was easy to remember how to use it.
Other feedback from the participants included:
86% said they would like to…
