Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have developed a new genetic technique using CRISPR-Cas9 to improve the nutritional value of feed for livestock. The method generates specific yeast that combine protein with digestive enzymes, reducing the need for supplements.
A Maine algal cluster will be formed to capitalize on growing business opportunities in the sustainable energy and food industries. The cluster aims to develop an implementation roadmap to grow the industry and promote a Maine Algae brand.
Yale University chemists have developed a family of new palladium-based catalysts, expected to lower production costs and boost sustainability. These catalysts create a better infrastructure for catalysis, reducing the need for expensive metals.
The pharmaceutical industry's regulatory system is criticized for lacking accountability and being evidence-based, resulting in high NHS costs and inefficient use of technology appraisal work. The Cancer Drugs Fund is also singled out for criticism due to its inequitable allocation of funds and discrimination against other diseases.
Researchers at the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology successfully produced large quantities of Nootkatone, a natural flavoring substance used in soft drinks and cosmetics. The substance was produced from sugar using genetic engineering in yeast cells, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical synthesis.
The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology has developed the world's first continuous purification method for recombinant antibodies from clarified CHO cultures. This breakthrough technology is expected to significantly reduce production costs for highly valued drugs, such as cancer treatments and autoimmune disease therapies. The...
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that pharmaceutical industry self-regulation in the UK and Sweden had significant violations, with nearly 20% of cases being serious breaches. The researchers analyzed complaints and rulings to find that charges incurred by companies were a small percentage of annual sales revenue.
Public health scientists receiving funding from companies like Coca-Cola and Mars have also advised on nutritional guidance, raising questions about bias and conflict of interest. Research funded by the sugar industry has been linked to obesity crisis solutions.
A recent study found that the US rate of investment in medical research declined from 2004 to 2012, while global investment increased, especially in Asia. The share of US medical research funding from industry grew from 46% to 58%, favoring biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
The pharmaceutical industry has stepped up its efforts to improve access to medicine in developing countries, with many companies introducing innovative access-oriented business models and expanding generic version production. Despite progress, some companies lag behind, including Sanofi and Pfizer, which fell down the rankings signifi...
Scientists from the John Innes Centre are developing a new business concept to revive heritage lines of barley for brewing, offering greater choice and added value to farmers and brewers. The venture aims to provide sustainable production and high-quality malting barley, capitalizing on the demand for unique beer ingredients.
A Roundtable Discussion explores the application of novel toxicology models to predict adverse health effects and environmental exposures. The discussion covers human cell models, high-throughput screening methods, and three-dimensional tissue culture models.
As global poverty rates decrease, new challenges emerge in addressing rising healthcare costs and demands. Hans Rosling argues that verifiable data and statistics are essential for strategic decisions, and innovative solutions like generic drug production can make treatment more affordable for all.
A Purdue study reveals that reducing corn's growing conditions by 2 hours a day can lower its height by 9-10% and reduce stalk diameter by 8-9% while maintaining its seed yield. This technique could enable controlled environment agriculture in mines and caves for growing high-value transgenic crops.
According to a study published in JAMA, approximately 40% of pharmaceutical company board members also held leadership positions at academic medical centers (AMCs), receiving an average compensation of $312,564. This raises concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest between AMC leaders' fiduciary responsibilities and their ...
A recent study by Concordia University suggests that family CEOs may struggle in innovative industries, where constant innovation and adaptability are key. In contrast, traditional industries with a focus on quality and reputation may benefit from family leadership.
Researchers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed systems to process large amounts of industrial data, increasing plant availability and reducing energy consumption. By analyzing data in real-time, operators can quickly identify and eliminate disruptions, optimizing production processes.
ScanDrop, developed by Northeastern University professor Tania Konry, is a single instrument that conducts wide range of biological scans in reduced time and cost compared to industry standard equipment. The tool uses ultra-sensitive detection methods and less material to detect biomarkers signaling diseases such as diabetes or cancer.
A new analysis found that industry-sponsored inventions yielded patents and licenses more frequently than federally sponsored ones, with results consistent across technical fields. Industry-funded inventions generated an average of 12.8 forward citations compared to 5.6 for federally sponsored inventions.
A new analysis of 63 animal studies found that industry-sponsored studies had less favorable results than non-industry funded studies. This highlights the role of selective reporting and methodological problems in communicating research findings.
A systematic review found that non-physician clinicians regularly interact with pharmaceutical sales representatives, receiving gifts and samples. Most reported favorable views of these interactions, with some concerns about potential bias and conflict of interest.
John Jelesko, an associate professor of plant pathology and physiology at Virginia Tech, has been recognized as an AAAS Fellow for his distinguished contributions to the field of plant specialized metabolism. His research has led to a better understanding of plant metabolism with significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry.
This year's AAPS Fellows were recognized for their research and scholarly contributions in various fields of pharmaceutical sciences, including immunology, drug delivery, and clinical pharmacology. Notable recipients include Sathy Balu-Iyer, who developed a mechanistic model to understand immunogenicity of biotherapeutics.
A new standard provides confidence that results from handheld Raman spectrometers can be compared accurately. The standard corrects differences in peak intensities reported by different instruments, enabling consistent measurements in emergency response situations.
Despite progress, most US medical schools still lag behind national standards in managing clinical conflicts of interest (CCOI). A new study reveals that institutions are improving, but nearly a third lack policies on industry ties.
The University of Washington is partnering with OceanGate to develop a five-person deep-sea manned submarine that can reach depths of over 9,842 feet. The Cyclops submarine features a carbon-fiber hull and advanced control systems, allowing for increased safety and efficiency in ocean research and exploration.
The American Chemical Society's presidential symposium discusses various career paths for scientists, including academia, business and industry, government, societies and associations, and venture capital. The symposium aims to provide career advancement opportunities for chemists and scientists.
Researchers propose a rigorous evidence-based approach to identify what works and doesn't work in collaborations, aiming to improve the efficiency of drug development. Thousands of organizations have come together in over 100 multi-stakeholder collaborations to solve specific problems.
A new computational technique developed by researchers at the University of Kansas allows industry regulators and consumers to predict whether a given compound will be toxic even at low doses. The method combines QSAR principles with statistical analysis, achieving higher prediction accuracy than previous approaches.
Researchers have discovered a bacterium in South America that produces poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable compound used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The strain, Bacillus megaterium Uyuni S29, produces large amounts of PHB, making it a promising natural substitute for petroleum-based plastics.
The lack of transparency in clinical trials has been criticized by Ben Goldacre, who calls for the sharing of Clinical Study Reports to ensure informed decisions about medicines. The problem of missing trials is one of the greatest ethical challenges facing medicine today.
The NIH is funding collaborations between academia and industry to explore new uses for existing compounds in eight disease areas, including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of new treatments by leveraging existing research and development.
A new report suggests that breaking up the relationship between physicians and drug companies could lead to improved healthcare and cost savings. Researchers from Oregon State University found that avoiding conflicts of interest and replacing industry-funded information with peer-reviewed sources can help physicians make more informed ...
A recent Lund University study analyzed antidepressant ads in the Swedish Medical Journal between 1994 and 2003, finding that 34% were deemed misleading by industry self-regulation. The review process was criticized for being ineffective, with only 0.009% of sales revenue fined for unethical marketing.
Scientists have developed a new method for chemical reduction using a biomimetic catalyst that mimics naturally occurring enzymes. The catalyst-based approach uses cheap, replenishable reagents and works well at room temperature and in air, even allowing for safe use in a teacup. With high efficiency rates, the research has wide applic...
Despite declining marketing efforts, pharmaceutical promotion remains prevalent, with free samples and physician detailing accounting for over 70% of expenditures. The study found no significant change in the proportion of marketing to primary care physicians or specialists, highlighting ongoing conflicts of interest.
A national survey of medical students found that many continue to receive industry-sponsored gifts, even as institutions restrict access to pharmaceutical sales representatives. The study suggests a need for further measures to reduce bias in medical education.
A national survey found that over a third of US physicians fulfill patient requests for brand-name drugs, which are up to 80% more expensive than generics. Industry marketing relationships and personal connections with pharmaceutical companies also contribute to this practice.
Major pharmaceutical companies are losing patents on best-selling drugs, leading to a focus on pairing low costs with high quality and exploring new research partnerships. This shift is raising hopes for new drugs and profits in the industry as it seeks innovative solutions to revitalize sales.
Scientists have studied a milling reaction in real time using highly penetrating X-rays, observing the transformation of simple ingredients into complex products. This breakthrough enables optimization of industrial processes, reducing solvent use and energy consumption.
The Access to Medicine Index ranks pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to improve access to medicine in developing countries. This year's report finds that 17 out of 20 companies have improved their performance since 2010, with GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson emerging as leaders. The industry is becoming more organized in i...
Cyanobacteria produce a previously unknown molecule called AEG, which is thought to be the first genetic material. This discovery challenges our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth and has potential applications in gene silencing.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new computational method to identify promising refrigerant fluids with low global warming potential. The new method identified over 1,200 candidates from 56,000 compounds, including fluorinated olefins that react rapidly with atmospheric compounds.
Nek9 protein is required for chromosomes to separate into two identical groups during cell division. Its inhibition has been identified as a promising strategy against cancer.
A new study by a University of Illinois expert reveals that operational routines tend to move towards higher entropy due to complacency and lack of checks and balances. The research also found that mergers can cause decay in adherence to routines, while acquisitions by healthier firms can serve as a renewal.
Industry experts agree on ten recommendations to improve reporting of clinical research studies, including addressing clinically important questions and transparent disclosure of results. The consensus paper aims to enhance the credibility of medical research publications by promoting standardization and transparency.
A decline in industry-sponsored funding of accredited continuing medical education (CME) is seen as an opportunity to make CME more relevant, cost-effective, and less biased. Interactive forms of medical education, such as online learning and practice improvement activities, are gaining traction.
A study published in PLOS Medicine finds that the revised DSM-5 has been influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, despite a policy to disclose financial conflicts of interest. The authors argue that transparency alone cannot mitigate bias and recommend stricter safeguards to protect the revision process.
Researchers Kari Tikkinen and Anssi Auvinen argue that 'overactive bladder' should be studied individually, rather than as an ambiguous constellation of symptoms. This approach could lead to better understanding of underlying causes and more effective treatments.
The chemical industry is expected to see a boost in sales due to growing demand for chemicals used in agriculture, electronics, cars, and airplanes. However, the industry faces challenges such as expiring patents and slowing growth in Asia, which will impact industries like paint and construction materials.
CrossJect's Zeneo needle-free injection device addresses real market need with precise and reliable technology. The company has received significant funding from venture capital firms and the Eurostars Programme to accelerate development and bring its product to market.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a new catalyst that transforms amides into desired chemical products efficiently and safely, producing no by-products or hazardous waste. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the chemical industry from an economic and green perspective.
A game-changing catalyst has been discovered by University of Alberta researchers, offering a potential solution to the chemical industry's environmental and economic challenges. The new catalyst produces minimal waste and can achieve multiple turnovers, reducing the industry's ecological footprint.
Health Canada should make clinical trials registration mandatory to increase transparency and protect consumers. The lack of openness about trial designs and results puts patients at risk, according to recent analysis.
Researchers at LMU München have developed a facile route to versatile organozinc compounds by synthesizing them as salt-stabilized solids. This allows for easier storage and transportation compared to traditional liquid forms, making them more suitable for industrial applications.
The pharmaceutical industry is accused of manipulating medical journal authorship rules to conceal its contributions. Alastair Matheson argues that the current International Committee of Medical Journal Editors guidelines allow for industry exaggeration and downplaying of commercial writers' roles.
Two UofToronto law professors argue that academics who receive credit for ghostwritten articles should be charged with professional misconduct and fraud. Guest authorship is seen as a violation of academic integrity standards, threatening the reliability of biomedical research and patient care.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that sugar decomposes rather than melts, offering new insights into food science and technology. This breakthrough enables food scientists to manipulate sugars for improved flavors and textures, as well as pharmaceutical companies to enhance excipients.
A landmark editorial in The Spine Journal denounces flawed clinical research in bone growth products and inadequate disclosure of industry relationships. Financial ties between physicians and medical device industries have led to biased and corrupted research, harming patients, according to the editors.
The University of Houston's Center for Life Sciences Technology has received a $300,000 state grant to continue and expand its research-based education programs in biotechnology. The grant will support the center's mission to provide innovative interdisciplinary training to aspiring professionals and industry workers.