Month: December 2014
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Trial Testing Blood Filter Device for Hepatitis C Virus
11 December 2014. Aethlon Medical Inc. is beginning patient recruitment for an early-stage safety and feasibility study of its blood filtration device with patients in kidney dialysis who also have hepatitis C. The San Diego medical device developer plans to test the Hemopurifier device at DaVita Medical Center in Houston. Patients with kidney disease needing…
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Flexible Pulse Oximeter Designed for Wearable Devices
11 December 2014. Engineers at University of California in Berkeley developed techniques for building inexpensive sensors to measure pulse rate and blood oxygen levels into flexible materials suitable for wearable monitors or fitness devices. The team led by UC-Berkeley electrical engineering professor Ana Arias published its results online yesterday in the journal Nature Communications (paid…
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Chikungunya Virus Antibody Isolated, Tested
10 December 2014. Researchers from biotechnology company Integral Molecular and Blood Systems Research Institute identified and tested with lab animals a human antibody that limits viral activity causing chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease spreading in the Western hemisphere. The team led by Integral Molecular CEO Benjamin Doranz published its findings in this month’s issue of Journal…
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Organic Farming Narrows Yield Gap With Conventional Methods
10 December 2014. An analysis of research studies comparing organic to conventional farming shows conventional techniques have greater yields, but by a smaller margin than previously thought. The team led by environmental scientist Claire Kremen at University of California in Berkeley published its findings in today’s issue of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society…
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Fewer Americans on Pain Meds, But in Risky Combinations
9 December 2014. A review of insurance claims from 2009 to 2013 shows fewer Americans taking opioid pain medications, but for longer periods than originally prescribed and in potentially dangerous combinations. Results of the review were released today in a report by the pharmacy-benefit management company Express Scripts in St. Louis, and authored by Lynne…
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Technique Devised for 3-D Immunotherapy Injections
9 December 2014. Biomedical engineers at Harvard University designed a biomaterial that in lab animals assembles into a three-dimensional framework for delivery of therapies triggering an immune response to treat cancer and infectious diseases. The team from the lab of David Mooney at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering published its findings yesterday in…
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Pfizer, Biotech Partner on Hemophilia B Gene Therapy
8 December 2014. Spark Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm in Philadelphia, is collaborating with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to commercialize Spark’s gene therapy technology as a treatment for hemophilia B. Spark Therapeutics can gain as much as $280 million in the deal that involves sharing worldwide rights to Spark’s technology for hemophilia B with Pfizer. Hemophilia…
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Merck Buys Antibiotic Maker in $9.5 Billion Deal
8 December 2014. The pharmaceutical company Merck agreed today to acquire Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a developer of antibiotics, in a deal valued at $9.5 billion. Under the agreement Merck will pay Cubist stockholders $102 a share in cash — the stock closed at about $74 a share on Friday — equaling $8.4 billion, as well as…
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Challenge Seeks Spinal Cord Solutions, Offers $50K Awards
5 December 2014. The Conquer Paralysis Now challenge is looking for new treatments for spinal cord injuries, as well as ideas to help patients with these injuries perform everyday functions that fully abled people can do unaided. The first round competition awards grants of $50,000 in six categories, with a deadline of 1 April 2015…
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Brain Sensor Designed for Wireless Connections
5 December 2014. Engineers and neuroscientists at Brown University in Providence designed and tested with animals a sensor to monitor brain activity for wirelessly transmitting high volumes of data. The team led by Brown engineering and physics professor Arto Nurmikko — with colleagues from Brown and labs at other universities and companies in the U.S.,…