Author Archives: admin

First Human Clinical Trial of Avian Influenza Vaccine about To Begin

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Generex Biotechnology Corporation is conducting human clinical trials of Antigen Express synthetic avian influenza vaccine which is being regarded as one of the first studies to be conducted on man. For conducting trials, the company has entered into an agreement with Lebanese-Canadian Hospital based in Lebanon. Pre clinical trials are already going on since 2004. Peptide-synthesis technology was used for developing this vaccine and it successful it would emerge out as a cost effective treatment. The vaccine comprises of specific fragments of H5 protein extracted from the H5N1 influenza virus which has been modified for enhancing their potency in stimulating CD4+ T helper cells. With bird flu virus spreading at a fast pace and causing a lot of destruction, it is necessary that effective vaccine should be developed for curbing the flu and this trial is a step towards achieving it.

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Bio-nanotechnology To Develop Cure for Cancer

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

A funding of £420,000 has been granted to the University of Surrey for using nanotechnology for developing cancer treatments. Supported by the EU under the Marie Curie scheme, this funding is a part of the project ‘Multifunctional Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Applications’. Though carbon nanotubes are already being used in the field of engineering but up till now it has found very few applications with the biological systems. Still a lot needs to be achieved before new drugs are developed based on this technology and it is expected that in the future we would have better treatments for cancer. If an interaction between these two fields increases, definitely we would be able to develop effective treatment not only for cancer but also a host of other diseases.

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Biomarker Based Tests to Improve Diagnoses of Gastric Cancer

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

In 2005 around 22,000 new cases of gastric cancer surfaced in America and 11,000 patients died from this disease itself. In most of the cases the disease is discovered only during the advanced stages and methods currently being deployed for detecting this disease are mainly image based and quite expensive which has caused low compliance among the general population. A biotechnology company named Miraculins is conducting validation studies for its gastric cancer biomarkers. The gastric cancer diagnostic research program was announced in the month of September and the validation study is being undertaken in order to confirm the diagnostic relevance of the markers which were detected during an earlier discovery phase study. Dr. Jim Charlton, President, Miraculins said: A simple blood based test for diagnosis of gastric cancer does not exist, and that is why we are so excited about these promising biomarkers. Our validation study is an important research milestone on the road to making a significant contribution to early detection of this disease. It is expected that these biomarker based tests would improve the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

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Africa Using Biotechnology to Feed Hungry Millions

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Africa is one of those continents which is not only poor but also suffers from starvation. Biotechnology has come to the rescue of millions of people who are suffering at the hands of famines and starvation out there. Efforts are underway to improve the production of maize and bananas using biotechnology. Maize is a staple crop of the people in east and central Africa and it is being consumed by the people out there to meet their energy needs. It is not only helping in increasing the production but is also being used to make them pest resistance. Though biotechnology is facing controversies but it is preventing a number of deaths in the continent through increased production and feeding millions of hungry people out there.

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Foundation for gas sensors possible with microscopic sea creatures

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Researchers are stating that 3D shells of ocean creatures can go a long way in laying the foundation for novel electronic devices such as gas sensors for detection of pollution quickly and in an efficient manner when compared to conventional devices. With the help of a chemical process the original silica of the shell can be converted into semiconductor material silicon and with the aid of this the researchers were able to create new class of gas sensors based on the 3D shells produced by microscopic creatures such as diatoms lifeinsurancerates. These converted shells could also be used as chemical purifiers and battery electrodes and other applications which require complex shapes. Kenneth H. Sandhage, Professor, School of Materials Science stated: When we conducted measurements for the detection of nitric oxide, a common pollutant, our single diatom-derived silicon sensor possessed a combination of speed, sensitivity, and low voltage operation that exceeded conventional sensors. The unique diatom-derived shape, high surface area and nanoporous, nanocrystalline silicon material all contributed towards such attractive gas sensing characteristics. This is expected to surely help in controlling pollution and hence go a long way in keeping the environment clean.

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Rejected Cervical Cancer Vaccines Lands in Industry Advertisement

Posted on May 13, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Have a look. Australian government rejects subsidy for a cervical cancer vaccine and now it is being used in a campaign for promoting Australian biotechnology industry as an attractive destination for foreign companies. Not featured in the national immunization program, Gardasil has found a place in a print ad targeted at overseas investors. It might turn out to be a part of a larger marketing campaign. The headline of the advertisement states ‘Investment in Australian scientific excellence. The cervical cancer vaccine story.’ The ad said that this drug would become one of the biggest vaccine breakthroughs in the world of modern medicine. I was just wondering what kind of a message they are putting forward through this rejected drug.

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$1.2 Billion Is the Cost Which Takes To Develop a Biotechnology Product

Posted on May 13, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

If Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development is to be believed then the average cost of developing a new biotechnology product is around $1.2 billion. This is being regarded as the first comprehensive estimate in the field of biotechnology. It further stated that this amount reflected the cost of drug which failed in testing and the time costs which are related to launching a new drug in the market. When these costs are divided then capitalized out-of-pocket preclinical cost equaled to $615 million whereas clinical period costs equaled to $626 million. On an average around 97.7 months were involved in conducting clinical development and regulatory review of the product and in the case of pharmaceuticals it was eight percent longer. For arriving on this estimate compound specific costs were taken into account from firms which were involved in clinical testing from period of 1990 to 2003.

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Treatment of Cancer with Garlic Compounds

Posted on May 13, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

A new technique has been developed by Indian scientists for treating cancer causing tumors by using garlic compound. These two scientists have been studying the effect of garlic based components on cancer cells since 1998. In this treatment a synergistic composition consisting of Diallyl trisulfide and an anti cancer agent was used. A constituent of garlic, DATS is a group of substances which consists of sulphur. Though this is not a new technique but the application of this idea to the set of compounds is being regarded as novel. The researchers have already applied for a patent for this purpose. I hope this helps in treating this dreaded disease.

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Highly Sensitive Nucleotide Sensor Developed

Posted on May 12, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

A highly sensitive nucleotide sensor has been developed by New Mexico Tech researchers which utilizes special light-emitting properties of nanoparticles in identification of individual components of single strands of DNA and RNA. It is quite sensitive and specific and can differentiate a single base mismatch in a 26 base nucleotide target. This is being regarded as an important finding with regards to the study and treatment of a number of genetic based diseases. One of the disease is Sickle Cell Anemia which is caused due to single base mismatch on just one base protein. This new finding might also be used in detection and killing of cancer too.

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Stem Cells to Be Used In Bone Regeneration for the First Time in India

Posted on May 12, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

In one of the scientific trials which is being regarded as first for India, stem cells would be used for bone regeneration and the trials are already in the final stages of approval. Though trials have been conducted globally earlier too but they have never taken place on such a large scale. This will be the first time where efforts are being made by adhering to international standards. The trial would be conducted at PGIMER, CMC and AIIMS on around three hundred people suffering from avascular necrosis. Up till now around ten people have been operated using stem cells in AIIMS and in nine of the cases no adverse affect was figured out. Under this stem cells are separated from bone marrow and then they are mixed with bone and then the mix is implanted into the affected bone and it would take around two years for the trial to complete and the patient won’t be charged anything for the treatment.

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