July Bionow Newsletter 
Companies
Swine flu vaccines provide boost to Novartis
Demand for swine flu vaccines gave Novartis’s Speke manufacturing site a shot in the arm last year with a 25% increase in sales. The swine flu outbreak began in April 2009, and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation in June 2009 – the first in more than 40 years and the first of the 21st century. Novartis, which employs around 750 at Boulevard Industry Park, saw pre-tax profits rise 12% to £158.9m on sales of £342.3. A swine flu contract, for the H1N1 pandemic vaccine, was worth £237.9m.
Byotrol and McBride in joint venture
AIM-listed anti-microbial hygiene company Byotrol, based in Manchester, has signed a joint development agreement with personal care products group McBride. The new vehicle will develop a liquid hard surface cleaner targeted at the consumer markets in UK and Ireland. It will jointly market the product through to the end of the calendar year 2010. Once the development programme is completed, the two businesses intend to enter into a licence agreement to joint supply the product to retailers.
ICON opens new pharmacology unit
Icon Development Solutions, a supplier of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, opened a new purpose-built clinical pharmacology unit within the Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust on 16 July. The two-floor, 34-bed hospital based unit includes a sample handling laboratory, 24-hour medical cover, local GMP pharmacy and access to the accident and emergency department at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. The group’s president Alan Morgan said that the company has conducted clinical pharmacology studies in Manchester for more than 25 years and the new unit demonstrates its commitment to advancing its treatments.
Gentronix rights issue raise £610,000 growth fund
Gentronix has completed a rights issue which has raised £610,000 in additional working capital. The company, which was spun out of the University of Manchester, said that the cash would be used to fund new business opportunities over the next 18 months. Its two main investors, NVM Private Equity and YFM Private Equity, underwrote the rights issue, which Gentronix said was well supported by its private shareholders. The company commented ‘Our trading performance continues to improve positively and, as it expands both its intellectual property and service businesses will use part of the proceeds to invest in capital expenditure and new personnel ahead of anticipated further growth in market demand.
Renovo publish interim management statement
Renovo Group plc have published its Interim Management Statement for the nine months to 30 June 2010. During the period the company has continued to expend its cash balances developing its product portfolio. Renovo's combination of cash and cash equivalents with term deposits maturing within one year as at 30 June 2010 was £56.1 million (unaudited), compared to the £58.0 million previously reported as at 31 March 2010 (unaudited). During the period the Company received R & D Tax credits amounting to £3 million. Renovo's management team believes that the Company is appropriately funded for ongoing operations. As previously reported, the net cash position, including investments, at the time of reporting the first Juvista EU Phase 3 trial in H1 2011 is expected to be at least £25 million to £30 million.
IS Pharma on acquisition trail after sales rise
Pharmaceuticals company IS Pharma, based in Chester, has said that it is on the acquisition trail after another quarter of sales growth. The business reported that trading for the first three months to 30 June has been in line with the board’s expectations and ahead of the same period last year. Sales of its Variquel product, used in the treatment of oesophageal bleeding in liver patients, have continued to grow and its patented oral spray Episil has now been launched commercially. The company plans to launch Episil in Europe later this year – a market it estimates to be worth £65m.
Myconostica announces successful continuation of D round with investment by Medac
Myconostica Ltd, the UK-based medical diagnostic company developing and commercialising rapid and highly specific tests for life-threatening fungal infections, announced on 19 July the completion of an investment by Medac Gesellschaft fuer klinische Spezialpraeparate mbH. This investment, a continuation of Myconostica’s series D round, which had a first close in late 2009, will be used to further develop Myconostica’s pipeline of products along with marketing the company’s existing suite of diagnostic tests. Financial terms of this deal have not been disclosed.
CDSS has been retained by Multicell Technologies
Macclesfield based Clinical Development & Support Services Ltd has been retained by MultiCell Technologies, Inc to manage its planned Phase IIb clinical trial in the UK for MCT-125, the company’s lead drug candidate for treatment of primary multiple sclerosis-related fatigue (PMSF). In an earlier Phase IIa study, MCT-125 was tested on 138 patients suffering from PMSF. MCT-125 shown to be effective within 4 weeks of administration, was active across all multiple sclerosis (MS) disease severity assessment scales, and on patients regardless of MS disease sub-type.
AstraZeneca strikes deal with MRC Technology
Drug firm AstraZeneca has struck a deal with London-based MRC Technology, the commercialisation company for the UK’s Medical Research Council, to share compounds in the search for new treatments for serious disease. The companies will combine up to 100,000 compounds from Anglo-Swedish giant’s AstraZeneca’s collection with around 50,000 from MRC. For the first phase of testing, AstraZeneca has chosen to target cancer, cardiovascular, neuroscience and infection. MRC Technology will also choose five areas to explore. Both sides will retain ownership of their respective compounds.
SSL International agrees £2.5bn bid
SSL International, the maker of Durex condoms and Scholl footcare, is set to be sold to Reckitt Benckiser – the firm behind Cillit Bang. The two companies have agreed a deal that values SSL at £2.54bn. Reckitt Benckiser, whose other brands include Nurofen and Gavison, said that the purchase would offer a ‘step change’ in it health division. It added that the deal would also boost its business in China and Japan.
Bionow News
Bionow Members Benefit Scheme Launched
July saw the launch of the Bionow members benefit scheme, which attracted an excellent response from suppliers. With nearly 30 companies signed up so far covering products and services targeted at the specialist Biomedical sector and all offering discounts or incentives to Bionow members. Please visit the website to see the range of companies involved - http://www.bionow.co.uk/member-benefits.html
People & Jobs
Good times for top toxicologist
Ian Kimber, Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Manchester, has been awarded the 2010 Bo Holmstedt Memorial Fund Lecture. This is awarded annually to an outstanding European toxicologist. Ian was also recently elected Vice President and President-elect of the British Toxicology Society and will assume the Presidency in 2012.
Harrison Goddard Foote continue expansion
Harrison Goddard Foote (HGF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Iain Armstrong to further strengthen the firm’s offering in the North West. Iain, who is already a well established life sciences attorney with the region and nationally, will join HGF as a Senior Associate and will be a member of the Life Sciences team.
Bradford Pharma vacancy
Bradford Pharma, a leading drug discovery company based is Liverpool, is currently looking to recruit two synthetic organic chemists and an analytical/chemistry laboratory technician. Ideal candidates must be educated to Degree/MSc level and have one year’s practical laboratory experience, preferably in a pharmaceutically related area. Please write, including your full CV and reference to Neil Murray, CEO, Bradford Pharma Ltd, Lab i310, MerseyBio, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB. Closing date 15 August.
Advertise your vacancies free of charge
Bionow is committed to providing an excellent to service to all of it's members and as part of this, we are offering to advertise your Northwest job vacancies free of charge on the Bionow website and also in the next edition of the newsletter.
Recent feedback from companies who have used this free service has been very positive. The quality & quantity of applications being received from jobseekers who saw the vacancy on the Bionow site has been excellent. For further information and to submit your advert, please email helen.williams@nwda.co.uk
Events
7th Annual bioProcessUK Conference
Registration is now open for the 7th Annual bioProcess Conference, which is being held at the Midland Hotel, Manchester 24-25 November 2010. This years conference will give you the chance to learn about the latest developments taking place in the biological medicines industry, gain insight into the UK’s positioning in the global marketplace and listen to cutting edge presentation on business and technical aspects. For further information, and to register please visit www.bioprocessuk-annualconference.org.
Trade mission to Japan: Bio and Pharma 25-29 October 2010
UK Trade & Investment is organising the bio/pharma trade mission to Japan in October 2010. All UK registered pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies are eligible to apply for the mission. The Japanese pharmaceutical market is the second largest in the world with sales over £35billion. To register your interest in participating in this mission, please contact Rob Walcott at rob.walcott@ukti.gsi.gov.uk. The deadline for registering is Friday 20 August.
Securing European funding for biomaterial in medicine & healthcare
The Healthtech and Medicines KTN is supporting this event, which is being held on 12 August in Runcorn. Keynote speakers at the event will describe their own successes with European Framework funding and the challenges they faced to achieve this. This free event will be of value to partners who are looking to join a consortium, are looking to build their consortium or are looking to sharpen the proposal for an existing consortium. For more information and to register, please contact kelly.brett@ciktn.co.uk or visit https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/nanomite/nanomite-events.
Knowledge transfer through partnership
The Healthtech and Medicines KTN is hosting the annual Knowledge Transfer through Partnership annual conference. The conference is taking place on Monday 6 September and will be jointly hosted by the University of Bath. This one day conference will showcase the benefits and successes of the collaborative work between companies and academic institutions in the health and medicines sector. For further information, please contact Sarah Forson at sarah.forson@twi.co.uk or 01223 899 000.
Arab Health 2011 – Last available stands
Arab Health is the Middle East’s largest healthcare exhibition, with stands in ABHI’s UK Pavilion strictly limited. The UK Pavilion is being enhanced in 2011, with a new high quality custom stand design and package. The 2010 event attracted over 2,600 exhibitors from 1441 countries with over 66,000 visitors, a 20% increase from 2009. For further information on Arab Health 2011 email exhibitions@abhi.org.uk or visit http://www.abhi.org.uk/export/exhibitions/arab-health/default.aspx
Procurement in the NHS 2010: Ensuring value for money
The NHS spends more than £17 billion on goods and services every year. To ensure that enough funds are available for direct patient care, the efficient procurement of these goods and services is paramount. Procurement into the NHS 2010 event is the ideal opportunity for delegates to meet and network with up to 250 fellow professionals from the healthcare sector in the UK. The event is taking place on 15 September at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. For further information, please click here.
Peakdale Molecular is pleased to announce the details of its first ever Chemistry Symposium.
Located in the heart of the North West, at the highly successful University of Manchester Incubator Centre, Peakdale's Symposium aims to pull together a collection of speakers from both Industry and Academia, providing an opportunity for a section of the chemistry community to meet, network, and discuss the work our various organisations have carried out, and future opportunities. To download the full conference schedule please click here. To register your interest for the event please click here.
Alternatively you can call +44(0)1298 816700.
Improving Quality & Productivity in the NHS Collaboration
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust is sponsoring an event entitled ‘Improving quality and productivity in the NHS’. The event which will be held at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool on 11 November, will give participants the platform to develop new relationships and cement existing ones, ensuring that the necessary partnerships are in place to embrace innovation and deliver improved quality and productivity outcomes. For delegate rickets or sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact Sam Owen on 07890 177 305.
Medica 2010, Dusseldorf
Medilink Northwest with support from Bionow (NWDA), will be returning to Medica in 2010 to assist in raising the profile of the North West, at what is a prestigious world forum for healthcare technologies. The Northwest presence at this event will be considerably larger than previous years, and Medilink are offering a fantastic opportunity for companies to attend. A bespoke stand has been designed, to provide each company with maximum space, personal branding and a dedicated meeting area. The event, which is the world's largest healthcare technologies trade fair, is taking place in Dusseldorf on 17-20 November. The exhibitor package available will be £2500 for Medilink members and £2700 for non-members. Please note that TAP funding of up to £1,000 is available for eligible companies. For further information, please contact Karen Field on 0161 660 9482 or karen.field@medilinknw.co.uk
Information
SBRI Call
Industry and academia are being asked for ideas which will provide innovative approaches to the reduction in hospital admissions. The challenge, that is being launched by South Central SHA, is looking to all sectors – both within and outside the NHS to bring new technologies and new practice to bear on the achievement of an ambitious target of a 20% reduction in admissions to hospital within the next 2 years. More details on this challenge is available here.
Wellcome Trust award grant to produce a creative human enhancement project
The Wellcome Trust has awarded a grant to Manchester Science Festival, Contact Theatre, Nowgen and The University of Manchester to produce a creative human enhancement project for the 2010 Manchester Science Festival. This project brings together a vibrant team of young people, scientists, ethicists and artists to explore human enhancement. The project will culminate with public shows and events during Manchester’s Science Festival in October. For more information, please contact Kate Dack at kate.dack@cmft.nhs.uk or visit www.manchestersciencefestival.com
Medtech Chief targets new funding
The Chief of Manchester Science Park’s fledgling Medtech Centre has signalled his intention to win public funding for start-ups in the sector. Jim Bristow, said that it was his objective to ‘get my clients a share’ of the £25m biomedical fund launched as part of the £185m North West Fund. MSP’s Medtech Centre, has been set up to accelerate the development of biomedical technology companies and provide access to expertise in the NHS.
BBSRC Industrial CASE Studentship Com
Industrial CASE PhDs provide research training in an area of relevance to an industrial partner and are an excellent means of knowledge exchange between the academic and commercial worlds. BBSRC’s Industrial CASE Studentship Competition will award Doctoral Training Grants (DTGs) starting in October 2011 to support collaborative postgraduate research training leading to a PhD. Proposals for Industrial CASE studentship funding can be submitted by either the industrial company or an individual academic supervisor. Full details of the competition are available at http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/business/training/industrial-case.aspx
Research
Scientists to test new eczema cream
Nasal spray vaccine
Scientists are developing a nasal spray vaccine which could offer protection against meningitis and pneumonia. Children could benefit from the spray, which is based on tackling the bacteria pneumococcus. The vaccine will contain a substance called D4Ply, a fragment of a protein produced by nearly all the different types of bacteria. Researchers believe the new vaccine could be much cheaper to produce than those already on the market. Children’s health charity Action Medical research announced it had pledged more than £100,000 to the research, which is being carried out by scientists at the University of Liverpool.
Homicide and suicide rates among mentally ill on the decline
People with mental health problems are committing fewer homicides while the number of suicides by mental health patients has also fallen, latest figures reveal; a previous rise in homicides by mentally ill people may have been the result of drug misuse. The study, by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness at The University of Manchester, also found that in-patient suicides have fallen to their lowest recorded figure and that patient suicides have fallen most sharply in people in their 20s.
Scientists reveal the mystery of sudden cardiac death
Scientists at the University of Manchester have solved a mystery connected with why people die from sudden cardiac arrest during sleep – potentially saving thousands of lives. The pioneering research, using detailed computer models, could help save lives through preventative treatment of those most at risk from a form of heart rhythm disorder called sick sinus syndrome. This occurs when the activity of the heart’s pacemaker, the sinoatrial node, is impaired. Up to now, no-one has been able to work out why this happens but groundbreaking research at the University shows how gene mutation and activity of the nervous system can combine to seriously disrupt the hearts normal rhythm.
Scientists fund natural way to curb your greed
University of Manchester scientists have discovered a naturally-occurring appetite suppressant that could be used to make a diet drug with side effects. Professor Simon Luckman and Dr Garron Dodd believe the peptide hemopressin, which affects the reward part of the brain responsible for hedonistic behaviour, might treat some aspects of alcohol and drug abuse. Dr Dodd explains ‘It has long been known that the rewarding aspects of feeding behaviour influence our appetite, so that sometimes we eat for pleasure rather than hunger.
Disease genes that followed the Silk Road identified
Scientists have identified key genes responsible for a severe inflammatory disease that has spread along the old silk trading routes from the Far East to the edge of Europe. University of Manchester researchers, working as part of a large international consortium, have revealed some of the genetics mutations that lead to Behçet’s disease. Behçet’s is a vascular disease where the body’s normal inflammatory immune response becomes overactive and destroys blood vessels resulting in severe mouth and genital ulcers and skin lesions. The eyes can also be affected by the condition and this can lead to blindness.
Half of swine flu deaths were in previously health people
Over half of UK swine flu hospital admissions and inpatient deaths occurred in people with no underlying health problems or obvious risk factors, research at the University of Liverpool has found. The data back up the Government’s policy of prioritising pregnant women, the under-fives, and those with long-term respiratory problems for the vaccination against swine flu. But they also suggest that everyone with asthma might benefit from vaccination, not just those with severe disease, and they question whether a high fever helps to decide who has swine flu infection.