Positive outlook for woundcare group
Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS), a developer and manufacturer of products for the woundcare market, has posted a pre-tax profit rise of 54 per cent to £2.9m for the year to 31 December. The Winsford based company has also increased group revenue by 21 per cent to £20.3m thanks to a broader global customer base and an enhanced technology portfolio.
Revenue soars at Epistem
Manchester based Epistem, who earlier secured a £2m partnership deal with Novartis to fund research into treatments for ulcers and wound healing, have announced a 31 per cent increase in revenue in the six months to 31 December, from £1.1m to £1.4m. The company which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market, was spun out of Christie Hospital’s Paterson Institute in 2000 and tests drugs under development by pharmaceutical giants for cancer, crohn’s disease and colitis and other diseases.
Vindon Healthcare ‘optimistic’ after posting record results
Rochdale based drug storage and blood bank specialist Vindon Healthcare Plc, unveiled record results on 24 March and said it was cautiously optimistic about future prospects. Pre-tax profits were up 12.1 per cent at £1.5m for the year 31 December on turnover 10.5 per cent ahead at £5.51m. The company have moved to new purpose built storage facility and headquarters at Kingsway, which has six times as much storage space as previous, and the cryogenic storage unit now under construction will allow the storage of stem cells, DNA and bone marrow at temperatures as low as -150 deg C down to -197 deg C.
US company buys Photo Therapeutics
Altrincham based Photo Therapeutics, which was spun out of Manchester University has been bought by American based PhotoMedex for £14.2m. The company which develops specialist ‘non-laser’ light devices to treat a range of clinical and dermatological conditions, will now have the opportunity to utilise the direct sales force of PhotoMedex in the US and move to the next level with their technology.
Profits up at Cyprotex
Cyprotex Plc, the Macclesfield-based drug discovery technology and information company announced on 17 March a rise in revenues of 43 per cent to £5.18m for the year to 31 December. During 2008 the company added 27 new master service agreements and now has more than 200 customers, including several significant major pharmaceutical companies.
Renovo has encouraging Juvidex® trial result
Renovo Group plc, announced encouraging Phase 2 efficacy trial results for Juvidex on 13 March for the acceleration of healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites. This was an exploratory human proof of concept efficacy trial to investigate different dosing regimens and routes of administration for Juvidex to assess the feasibility of developing a topical product targeted for the large cosmetic skin peel market.
XCellR8 secures UK distribution rights for US cell technology
XCellR8 and German-based Cell Systems GmbH have concluded a deal providing UK distribution rights to XCellR8 for the US Lifeline Cell Technology® products and Cell Systems’ human skin models. The UK represents around 30% of the European cell culture market, so developing local presence with a suitable partner company is an important factor in Cell Systems’ plan to increase total market share.
Intercytex in talks with potential buyer
Manchester based Regenerative Medicine developer Intercytex Group Plc, confirmed on 26 March that it was in talks which may lead to an offer for the company. It reported slightly reduced pre-tax losses of £11.53m for the year to 31 December (2007: £11.63m) but said that recent cutbacks had reduced its cash burn.
DxS has CE Mark certification of Therascreen®: K-RAS Mutation Kit
DxS, a personalised medicine company, has CE Mark certification of the TheraScreen®: K-RAS Mutation Kit (CE-IVD) for use on Roches’ LightCycler® 480 Instrument II, allowing it to be sold for clinical use in the European Union. The test helps doctors to identify a patient’s K-RAS mutation status and response to anti-EGFR therapies for colorectal cancer.
New CCO for Cyprotex
Macclesfield based drug discovery technology company Cyprotex has appointed Simon Bury as Chief Commercial Officer. Simon joins from Shanghai ChemPartner, where he was director of business development and responsible for growing the company’s European preclinical services business. He also previously held the position of business development director at Scottish Biomedical, where he managed the company’s global business development team and had responsibility for revenue generation from drug discovery projects.
Peat appointed to new NHS role
David Peat, the current Chief Executive of the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT), has been appointed as director for a new commissioning development programme for the NHS in the North West. In his role David will be charged with a world-leading development programme to enable the region’s PCT to achieve world-class commissioning status. This will form part of a new PCT assurance framework required by the Department of Health.
Professional Liverpool ‘Access to Finance in the Current Economic Climate’ Conference
Professional Liverpool are hosting a ‘Access to Finance in the Current Economic Climate’ Conference on Thursday 30 April at Liverpool FC. The conference will provide a comprehensive analysis of current thinking on all types of finance available to SME’s and what potential funders need to see to maximise the funding available when appraising a case. An insight will also be provided into the future of Government assisted funding initiatives. This free half day event is open to businesses across the region. To reserve your place, please contact Denise Ashbridge at Professional Liverpool at [email protected]
Christie Hospital and AstraZeneca partnership
The Christie Hospital and AstraZeneca are working in partnership to make a large number of drugs currently under developed available to Christie researchers. The hospital is the first single cancer centre in the world to have access to AstraZeneca’s portfolio of new cancer drugs, and hope to bring huge benefits to patients who will have faster access to the newest drugs. It is anticipated that at least one trial will start each year until 2013, which is the length of the joint partnership.
Manchester wins national status in health care research bid
Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced on 9 March that Manchester is to be one of just five national centres to have been designated as an Academic Health Centre – the only one outside London and Cambridge. The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) was formed in 2008 but this announcement will help bring in significant additional investment over and above the £100 million a year that is currently invested in health research in Greater Manchester.
Students seeking opportunities in Biomedical sector
EDT, an independent registered charity, who run schemes to inspire and motivate young people to choose a career in science, engineering and technology currently have excellent students seeking opportunities in the Biomedical sector. The schemes target 12-21 year olds and aim to provide a real life exposure to industry, business and higher education and help students to make informed choices at key stages in their education. For more information, please contact Stephen Russell on 0161 278 2498 or visit www.etrust.org.uk
Cell therapy research and development to receive £6 million funding injection
The Technology Strategy Board, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council are to jointly invest in nine innovative research and development projects in the field of cell therapy. The organisations are to invest £6.3 million in the projects, which have a total value of £10 million. One of the successful projects is a partnership between the University of Manchester and MedCell, entitled Cellular manufacturing of pluripotent embryonic stem cells in a NovaPod™. For further information on this project and other investments, please click here.
Funding boost benefits small to medium sized companies
The Technology Strategy Board has made a commitment to reduce the cost to small and medium sized businesses (SME’s) of its Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme from 1st April for one year. The move has the full support of the other government organisations that are funding Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and will mean that companies will see an 8% fall in the amount that they are required to contribute to individual projects. It is hoped that this incentive will encourage SME’s to take part in the KTP programme despite the uncertain financial climate.
Frameworks Northwest
Frameworks NW is a free support service funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency to help organisations across the region access European funding for research through the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and Technology Strategy Board (TSB). For further information contact David Dain on 0151 632 8888 or [email protected]
New MSP website is portal to knowlegde economy
Manchester Science Parks’ new website, which was launched on 26 March, aims to act as a gateway for knowledge-based firms to access the city region’s innovation system. The website has been designed as on online portal where innovative companies can network, access essential business and academic resources as well as find out information on Manchester Science parks’ accommodation and business support services.
Birth brain defect could be treated with vitamin supplement
Scientists at the University of Manchester and Lancaster University say laboratory tests have shown that administering a combination of vitamins (tetrahydrofolate and folinic acid), dramatically reduces the risk of hydrocephalus. Dr Jaleel Miyan, who led the research in Manchester’s Faculty of Life Sciences said ‘Hydrocephalus is a condition arising from an abnormal build-up of fluid within the chambers of the brain. A combination of tetrahydrofolate and folinic acid – both naturally occuring substances – stimulated brain cell growth and had a significant positive effect on brain development in laboratory experiments and reduced the incidence of hydrocephalus.
Experts turn to web to combat distressing skin disease
People experiencing the skin disease psoriasis may get relief from their symptoms and the psychological distress they can cause through a new web-based therapy programme. Skin experts and psychologists at The University of Manchester have teamed up to design a computer program known as ‘electronic Targeted Intervention for Psoriasis’ or eTIPS to help sufferers cope with and manage their condition better. For further information visit www.papaa.org or email mailto:[email protected]
Datamonitor is pleased to support the work of Bionow. By reporting on the shape of the Biotech industry, Datamonitor aims to help Northwest firms stay one step ahead in the global marketplace.
Manchester-based Renovo Group has announced that its investigative drug for enhanced skin healing and scar reduction, Juvidex, failed to meet its primary endpoint in a Phase II trial. In the mid-stage trial, the medication did not show a statistically significant difference in time to heal wound closures compared to placebo. However, the company emphasized Juvidex’s improved performance in acceleration of healing when administered topically. Renovo added that, given the drug’s disappointing results in the original indication, the company is considering plans to develop Juvidex for the cosmetic market.
Elsewhere, Shire has withdrawn the European marketing authorization application for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment Daytrana. The British firm licenses the drug globally from Noven, but confirmed that it would not pursue Daytrana’s European approval due to regulatory requests for additional clinical trials in the European population. Shire is reportedly planning to enter the European ADHD market through its recent acquisition of Equasym from Belgium-based biotech UCB.
Renovo reports Phase II efficacy trial results of skin healing drug Renovo Group, a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for the reduction of scarring and acceleration of healing, has reported Phase II efficacy trial results for Juvidex for the acceleration of healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites. Read full article
Shire withdraws European marketing authorization application for ADHD drug
Shire, a specialty biopharmaceutical company, has decided to withdraw the European marketing authorization application for Daytrana for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Read full article
Stem Cell Sciences signs asset purchase agreement with StemCells UK-based Stem Cell Sciences has entered into a definitive agreement with StemCells, a US-based biotechnology company, for the sale of the trading subsidiaries of the company and certain ancillary agreements, assets, properties and rights for a maximum total consideration of approximately $4.84 million. Read full article
Oncolytics reports positive interim results from Phase I/II cancer trial
Oncolytics Biotech has reported positive interim clinical results from its Phase I/II UK trial of Reolysin combined with paclitaxel/carboplatin for patients with advanced cancers. The principal investigator for the trial is Kevin Harrington of The Institute of Cancer Research. Read full article
Antisoma reports extension of Phase III lung cancer trial
Antisoma, a biopharmaceutical company, has reported that Attract-1, the Novartis Phase III trial evaluating ASA404 as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, is now enrolling patients in Japan. Read full article
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A postgraduate student, a post-doc, and a professor are walking through a city park and they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a genie comes out in a puff of smoke. The Genie says, “I usually only grant three wishes, so I’ll give each of you just one.”
“Me first! Me first!” says the postgraduate student, “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat.” Poof! He’s gone.
“Me next! Me next!” says the post-doc, “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach.” Poof! He’s gone.
“You’re next,” the genie says to the professor.
The professor replies, “I want those guys back in the lab after lunch.”
