NEWS&VIEWS 17
UK Biobank Sample Processing Capability Increased
RTS Life Science, a worldwide supplier of automated products and solutions for drug discovery, delivery and quality control applications within industry andacademic institutes, has been selected to supply four Saliva and RNA Stabilised Blood Processing Systems to the UK Biobank.
The UK Biobank project aimed at advancing public health in the 21st Century, was officially opened by Princess Anne on 28th July 2009, and is now over half way through its collection of participant samples across the UK. An additional two samples, saliva and blood for RNA isolation, will be collected from the remaining participants and the new RTS automation will allow up to 800 samples to be processed per day.
RTS originally supplied the ABF500 blood fractionation system to UK Biobank to process centrifuged EDTA, serum separator and plasma separator tubes, enabling the retrieval of the plasma, serum, buffer coat and red blood cells. The latest systems have been refined so that only minimal instrument preparation is required to run either sample type.
Paul Downey, Director of Operations at UK Biobank, commented: "The technical support provided by RTS and collaborative approach to solution development has meant that UK Biobank has consistently met its demanding production targets and we are pleased to have them as a long term partner."
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Aircraft Reports Material Expansion and Staff Increase
Aircraft Medical (Aircraft), a UK medical devices company reports the addition of 25 new staff to its R&D, business development and sales teams since the beginning of the year, growth which has helped to expand the company’s critical care offering.
The acquisition in May of Barcelona based Morpheus Medica, a specialist in anaesthesia patient monitoring has added significant research, biomedical engineering and software capabilities, complementing Aircraft’s strengths in industrial and mechanical design. In addition, enhancements to R&D capabilities and expansion of its electronics team has brought Aircraft to full cycle development capability,
from clinical research and ideas creation, to product development and production.
Matt McGrath, CEO of Aircraft, said: “Over the last several months, Aircraft has been able to attract a number of very high calibre individuals, with proven track records at a variety of leading technology, pharmaceutical and life science companies.
These
appointments substantially improve our capabilities and represent a key milestone as the Company transforms into a global medical technology business.”
Aircraft expects to continue to recruit over the rest of 2009 and in 2010 to match the Company’s strong growth prospects, a spokesperson said.
TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 561 Sterilin Secures Single Use Supply Chain
British manufacturer Sterilin Ltd has geared up to ensure ‘pandemic-proof’ production and distribution of essential laboratory testing supplies from its South Wales facility.
Single use plastics, such as sample collection and transport containers, pipettes, petri dishes and multiwell plates, play a daily role in clinical and industrial diagnostic testing laboratories. Routine biochemistry, immunology, haematology, microbiology and food pathogen analyses continue to increase, irrespective of the wider-publicised ‘swine flu fever’.
Sterilin has put in place its own action plan to protect the laboratory plastics supply chain, drawing on 40 years of experience in the
microbiology market. Should the pandemic strike as worst case scenarios predict, Sterilin can provide hospital laboratories and food manufacturers with essential disposable testing products, even with a reduced workforce.
With the most stringent manufacturing standards in the industry, the Sterilin-branded portfolio of single use plastics comprises over 800 products. The BS EN ISO 9001:2000 accredited purpose built facility in South Wales is prepared for any eventuality in terms of manufacturing demand, with comprehensive quality assurance procedures guaranteeing every item is made to the highest quality.
TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 565 Lombard Medical Receives Award for Best Medtech Fundraising
Specialist medical device company Lombard Medical Technologies Plc has received the 2009 Oxford and South East Bioscience Award for Best Medtech Fundraising. This follows the Company’s successful £6.4million fundraising in January 2009 to finance patient recruitment for its pivotal Aorfix™ trial in the US and to work towards FDA approval.
The Company’s lead product, Aorfix™, is an endovascular stent graft for the treatment of
abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), a balloon- like enlargement of the aorta which, if untreated, may rupture and cause death. Approximately 4.5 million people are living with AAA in the developed world and each year 600,000 new cases are diagnosed. The market for endovascular stent grafts for the treatment of AAA is currently worth over $800 million and is expected to grow to around $1.6 billion by 2015. Aorfix™ is currently being commercialised in the EU, with a
pivotal clinical trial ongoing in the USA.
Brian Howlett, CEO of Lombard Medical, commented: “We are delighted to receive this award from the Oxfordshire Bioscience Network which recognises the importance of raising capital to a high technology, high potential Company like Lombard Medical. The funds we have raised will play a crucial role in helping us to bring this groundbreaking, innovative technology - which has been developed by our
dedicated and skilled workforce in Didcot - to the US market, where it has the potential to save many lives.”
The Oxfordshire Bioscience Network (‘OBN’), is a not-for-profit business network which provides comprehensive support for biotech and medtech companies in the Oxford and South-East England biocluster and beyond. The organisation provides networking, partnering, group purchasing, advice and information dissemination.
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6000 Litre Autoclaves Bound for EBRC facility we can all be very proud of."
LTE has been awarded a £600 thousand contract to equip the new Easter Bush Research Consortium (EBRC) building with six new autoclaves. Two 6000 litre units will be housed in EBRC's stunning new £60million state-of-the-art building on the University of Edinburghs Easter Bush Veterinary Campus.
Jonathan Pass, LTE's Area Sales Manger, commented "LTE is absolutely delighted to have been selected for this project. A lot of work has already gone into this job to make sure we have specified the right equipment for the applications. We are looking forward to working with the EBRC team and ensuring that we provide a sterilisation
The six LTE autoclaves will be pivotal in providing essential sterilisation services for the Centre and once installed and commissioned will serve the needs of the 500 scientists who will be moving there from the Roslin Institute and the Scottish Agricultural College.
LTE Scientific manufactures autoclaves from 30 litres capacity and serves not only the Laboratory markets but also the Medical sector with central CSSD installations. ISO9001 and UKAS are just two accreditations LTE maintains.
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LTF Supports Funding Bid by Acrobot
London Technology Fund (LTF), London’s specialist investor in new technology companies, has completed a further investment in Acrobot, the medical devices company specialising in computer assisted orthopaedic surgical navigation.
LTF was the co-leader in a syndicate which has now invested over £3 million. The syndicate includes Imperial Innovations Group plc and PUK Ventures.
Acrobot’s products are based on a patient’s CT scan and are designed to help surgeons plan operations and accurately place orthopaedic implants guided by a full 3D view of each patient’s anatomy.
Graeme Brookes, CEO of Acrobot, said: “We have developed a strong partnership with LTF since their first investment two years ago and we are delighted at their ongoing support and the support of all our investors.
“This is an important further funding round for Acrobot, enabling us to continue to drive forward the commercialisation of our technology.”
David McMeekin Chairman of LTF, said: “Acrobot has exciting products which have proven benefits in orthopaedic surgery. We are delighted to continue to support the team as the company moves to its next stage of its development.”
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Metrohm Relocates UK Business
Metrohm has moved into new headquarters in Runcorn, Cheshire, where the purpose built premises provides a hub for the company’s UK business with a high focus on facilities for customers and staff. These include several applications labs and customer demonstration areas, training facilities, seminar rooms, service and warehousing areas , administration and management facilities.
The new address is Metrohm UK Ltd., Metrohm House, Evenwood Close, Daresbury Court, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1LZ.
Telephone: 01928579600 Fax: 01928532371 Email:
enquiry@metrohm.co.uk Web:
www.metrohm.co.uk
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