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Agilent, Singapore Institute Launch Drug Screening Center
Agilent Technologies in Santa Clara, California and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) unveiled a comprehensive drug screening platform for biomedical researchers. The service, called the Singapore Screening Centre, will reside in A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre. Agilent and A*STAR say the platform can conduct high-throughput screenings to identify potential drug candidates against diseases,…
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FDA Approves Blood Thinning Drug for Heart Disease
The Food and Drug Administration approved the blood-thinning drug Brilinta (ticagrelor) to reduce cardiovascular death and heart attack in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Brilinta is a product of AstraZeneca in Wilmington, Delaware. Brilinta helps prevent the formation of new blood clots, thus maintaining blood flow in the body to help reduce the risk…
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2011 Q2 VC Funding Up for Life Sciences, CleanTech Stalls
Venture capital (VC) funds and the number of VC deals increased in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter, with companies in the life sciences and semiconductors among those reaping the benefits. The data were collected by Thomson Reuters and published in the MoneyTree Report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the National Venture…
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GE Develops 500 Gigabyte Micro-Holographic Disc
The technology research division of General Electric Co. says it successfully demonstrated an optical storage technology using micro-holographic material that can support data recording at the same speed as Blu-ray discs. The technology will be discussed today at IEEE’s Joint International Symposium on Optical Memory & Optical Data Storage Topical Meeting in Kauai, Hawaii. GE…
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University to Study Fracking and Methane in Drinking Water
Researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia will investigate the origins of methane gas found in drinking water wells near Marcellus Shale drilling sites in Pennsylvania. A related research project will study the extent to which science influences public policy on shale gas drilling. Both studies are funded by a one-year, $66,000 grant from the William…
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Vaccine Against Heroin High Tested in Animals
Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, California have developed a vaccine against a heroin-induced high and tested its potential in lab rats. Their findings appear online in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (paid subscription required). The team led by chemistry researcher Kim Janda devised a vaccine that generates antibodies to stop heroin…
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Companies Join National Lab in Composites Consortium
Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, has established a consortium with 14 companies to promote the development and commercialization of carbon fiber and composites materials. The Oak Ridge Carbon Fiber Composites Consortium will hold its first meeting in September. Oak Ridge Lab has been involved in composite materials…
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FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Mobile Medical Phone Apps
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a draft of guidance to industry on oversight of mobile medical applications (apps) designed for smartphones and other mobile computing devices. Interested parties have 90 days to comment on the proposed regulations. The industry market analysts Research2Guidance expect as many as 500 million smartphone users worldwide will…
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Mercury Found in Soil Near Central Indiana Coal Power Plants
A study by researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis found that measurable amounts of mercury emitted by coal-fired power plants are deposited in central Indiana soil and can subsequently enter regional watersheds. The findings by earth scientists Carrie Lynne Hatcher (now at University of Toronto) and Gabriel Filippelli appear in the journal Water, Air, and…
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Roche Acquires Cancer Diagnostics Company
The global pharmaceutical company Roche has acquired mtm laboratories AG in Heidelberg, Germany, which specializes in detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer. mtm will become part of Roche’s Ventana Medical Systems Inc. business unit. Under the agreement, Roche will pay mtm shareholders an upfront payment of EUR 130 million (USD 182 million) as well as…