New survey by SFL and EuropaBio highlights poor awareness of HTA among biotech SMEs in Europe
To evaluate new and innovative medical treatments in a more systematic way, governments in Europe are increasingly turning to health technology assessment (HTA). A survey was conducted by EuropaBio and SFL Regulatory Affairs & Scientific Communication Ltd. (SFL) to evaluate the understanding and approach to HTA of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) which are involved in drug development. The survey results show that in many cases, European biotech SMEs find it challenging to adjust to the increasing use of HTA as they strive to bring their products to market.
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The path to personalized cancer treatment
In the largest study of its kind, researchers have profiled genetic changes in cancer with drug sensitivity in order to develop a personalised approach to cancer treatments. The study is published in Nature on Thursday 29 March 2012. The team uncovered hundreds of associations between mutations in cancer genes and sensitivity to anticancer drugs. One of the key responses the team found was that cells from a childhood bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, respond to a drug that is currently used in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers. The lowered toxicity of this treatment may mean it is a safer alternative therapy for children and young adults with this aggressive cancer.
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Somatic stem cells obtained from skin cells for first time ever
Breaking new ground, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster, Germany, have succeeded in obtaining somatic stem cells from fully differentiated somatic cells. Stem cell researcher Hans Schöler and his team took skin cells from mice and, using a unique combination of growth factors while ensuring appropriate culturing conditions, have managed to induce the cells' differentiation into neuronal somatic stem cells. "Our research shows that reprogramming somatic cells does not require passing through a pluripotent stage," explains Schöler.
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Study highlights risks from arm difference in blood pressure
In January a research team from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry reported the first systematic review of findings related to the risk factors associated with a difference in blood pressure between arms. The first study, published in The Lancet, suggested that a difference of more than 10mmHg or 15mmHg in systolic blood pressure (the 'top' reading) was an indicator of increased risk of vascular disease and mortality.
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New vaccine strategy to advance solutions for tuberculosis
Against a backdrop of growing concern about the impact of tuberculosis on children, top scientific experts today published a global plan of action for developing the vaccines that are seen as critical to eliminating the disease. Published today in a special issue of the journal, Tuberculosis, the strategic blueprint for the TB vaccine field represents consensus reached by the TB vaccine community.
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Nanopills release drugs directly from the inside of cells
UAB researchers developed a new vehicle to release proteins with therapeutic effects. The vehicles are known as "bacteria inclusion bodies", stable insoluble nanoparticles which are found normally in recombinant bacteria. Even though these inclusion bodies traditionally have been an obstacle in the industrial production of soluble enzymes and biodrugs, they were recently recognised to have large amounts of functional proteins with direct values in industrial and biomedical applications.
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IBM (NYSE: IBM) has developed a unique new biomedical analytics platform for personalized medicine that will enable doctors to better advise on the best course of medical treatment. This will lead to smarter and more personalized healthcare in a wide-range of areas, including cancer management, hypertension, and AIDS care. IBM Research scientists are collaborating with the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, a major research and treatment cancer center in Italy, on the new decision support solution which will be tested by the Institute's physicians to personalize treatment based on automated interpretation of pathology guidelines and intelligence from a number of past clinical cases, documented in the hospital information system.
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