NEWS University of Groningen scientist wins Solvias Ligand Contest
The Solvias Ligand Contest prize for 2011 has been awarded to Dr Syuzanna R. Harutyunyan, Assistant Professor in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at the University of Groningen. The award ceremony and
presentation took place during Solvias’ 10th Science Day held at the Congress Center Basel, Switzerland.
Dr Harutyunyan won the award for her contributions in the area of asymmetric catalysis and the application of Solvias ligands. The award was in recognition of her work in enlarging the scope of Cu-Josiphos and Cu-Taniaphos catalysed asymmetric addition reactions. The jury said the reactions studied, allylic substitutions with alkyl lithium reagents and the 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents
In-vitro chambers for cell research from Parker Hannifin
Parker Hannifin has redesigned a silicone chamber devised by life sciences technology
Prizewinner Dr Syuzanna R. Harutyunyan of the University of Groningen and Dr Benoit Pugin of Solvias at the Solvias Ligand Contest 2011 award presentation held in November. (Photo: Juri Junkov)
to enones, had “interesting synthetic potential.”
The Solvias Ligand Contest invites researchers worldwide to submit new and improved applications of Solvias ligands
and catalysts. To select the winner, the jury assesses the novelty, scientific rigour and originality of the work submitted, as well as its practical
applicability in organic synthesis. Sanofi submits European regulatory application for type 2 diabetes treatment
Sanofi has submitted a marketing authorisation application (MAA) in Europe for Lyxumia (lixisenatide), a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist discovered by Zealand Pharma and licensed to Sanofi, which is completing Phase 3 development of the drug as a new treatment for Type-2 diabetes. The MAA includes documentation from the international GetGoal Phase 3 programme, comprising data from nine studies and more than 4,300 patients. The programme provides data to support lixisenatide’s intended use for the
treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to achieve glycemic control in patients not adequately controlled on oral anti-diabetics and/or basal insulin; as add-on treatment to metformin; a sulfonylurea or a combination of metformin and a sulfonylurea; or in combination with basal insulin. Submission for regulatory approval of lixisenatide in the USA is expected in Q4 2012.
Under the agreement with Sanofi, Zealand Pharma is eligible to receive remaining milestone payments of up to $235 million
covering lixisenatide once-daily formulation, depot formulation and any combination product including lixisenatide. There will be no milestone payment associated with the European submission but there will be a milestone payment relating to the completion of the full GetGoal Phase 3 programme, which is expected in the first quarter of 2012. Zealand Pharma is also eligible for low-double-digit royalties on worldwide sales of lixisenatide and of any combination product including lixisenatide.
AMSBIO videos demonstrate utility of 3D cell culture technology
AMSBIO has produced a range of video presentations and a bibliography of downloadable technical papers that demonstrate the utility of alvetex®, a synthetic scaffold that enables routine 3D cell culture. alvetex is a highly porous polystyrene scaffold engineered into a 200 micron thick membrane that provides a 3D space into which cells can invade, proliferate and grow. The
vertical axis of the third dimension enables additional layers of cells to form complex 3D interactions with adjacent cells, thus simulating the structure of a tissue. alvetex can be used for routine 3D cell culture and, as an inert plastic, is a 3D culture product that can be treated in the same manner as traditional 2D cell culture plastic. Available in a range of flexible, easy-to-use formats, alvetex is
compatible with a wide range of assays including tissue processing, histological staining, in-situ hybridisation, bright-field microscopy, electron microscopy, cryostat sectioning, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, cytospinning, nucleic acid extraction and total protein biochemical assays. For further information email
info@amsbio.com
VIDEO LINK
To access the amsbio website and see the avetex video, click on the following link, select your country location, and then click on the alvetex link on the right-hand side of the page:
http://www.amsbio.com/alvetex.aspx November/December 2011 sp2 11
manufacturer Kirkstall to make it suitable for mass manufacture. The improved chamber is used to create a cell culturing system that accurately replicates conditions within the human body. The Quasi-Vivo® system is designed to increase the accuracy of cell research and cut drug development costs. Parker designed a silicone chamber, about 2cm wide and 2.5cm high, that can be linked via silicone connecting tubes to other chambers. The system allows cells to grow within a three- dimensional environment, as they do within the human body, where cells grow above and below each other, as well as side to side. Quasi-Vivo allows cells to live and grow in a three-dimensional space, thus producing ‘life-like’ laboratory results.
The system also allows for cell nutrition within the human body to be accurately replicated by enabling nutrients to feed the cells in a controlled flow that will not distort the sample. The cell chambers can be connected in series or parallel and fitted into standard incubators. Micro-fabricated reservoirs use only millilitres of nutrient media and micrograms of test compounds, thus reducing costs.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44