The latest Business updates from the science industry
HEE Grant Boosts Progression of Self-Monitoring Device by Heather Hobbs
Cambridge-based company NeutroCheck, has received £125,000 from Medtech Accelerator to support development of an at-home safety monitor that will enable patients to test the levels and potential activity of a key blood cell which is supressed during chemotherapy treatments. By gauging a patient’s vulnerability to infections, including potentially life-threatening neutropenic sepsis, patients are provided with an early warning system to seek medical advice.
Dr Saif Ahmad, a clinical oncologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Director of NeutroCheck said: “We are delighted to have been given this boost to develop our innovation and progress our prototype. We hope NeutroCheck will enable patients to quickly, accurately and simply check their neutrophil count in their own home from a fi nger-prick of blood. This will give them reassurance about when to go to hospital and avoid unnecessary hospital visits as currently half of patients who present do not have reduced neutrophils on their hospital blood test.”
Since its inception in 2016, Medtech Accelerator has now committed £1.4 million of funding to 13 potentially life- enhancing technologies. Led by HEE, in partnership with the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Eastern AHSN and Essex County Council, the joint venture was launched to support innovations through the earliest stages of development by facilitating proof of concept work, such as prototype design, initial testing, clinical evaluation and pilot production.
Dr Anne Blackwood, CEO of HEE, said: “Over the last four years, Medtech Accelerator has built up an enviable track record: 13 pioneering technologies in various stages of development can attribute their success to early support from the scheme, and that’s something we are hugely proud of. These technologies all have the potential to make a dramatic impact in a wide range of medical fi elds, including cancer surgery, endoscopy and anaesthesia. We look forward to the roll-out of more Medtech Accelerator-backed devices and to seeing the benefi ts they can bring to patients and clinicians.”
Anne Blackwood
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Acquisition brings Pharmacovigilance Expansion Opportunities in Ireland and Europe
Technical services and regulatory consulting group Diamond Pharma Services has acquired Dublin- based PharmaCentral, a pharmacovigilance services and medical affairs business.
The move forms part of Diamond’s growth strategy of its pharmacovigilance division, which has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenues of 27% over the last three years, adding further support in specialist areas such as gene and cell therapies.
David Boyd, Managing Director, Diamond PV Services Ltd, said: “We have seen strong organic growth over the last three years, which has driven us to evaluate our resources, including our in-house expertise, processes and systems. This acquisition will help support the next phase of growth, representing a step change in our senior team. Having worked closely with PharmaCentral over the past year I am confi dent that they share our culture of fl exibility, quality and accessibility, and am hugely excited that they are joining Diamond to deliver our shared vision of helping our clients manage their regulatory responsibilities in a constantly evolving environment.”
Catherine Kenny, Co-founder of PharmaCentral LLP, commented: “This is an incredibly meaningful milestone for PharmaCentral. The cultural fi t we have found between the two businesses, and our shared views on the growth areas within pharmacovigilance have created synergistic opportunities for both companies. PharmaCentral has spent a number of years building strong customer relationships and a reputation for quality. Together we will capitalise on those strengths to signifi cantly increase our capabilities and service offerings. The PharmaCentral team is excited to join Diamond Pharma Services and we look forward to the future.”
Catherine Kenny
David Boyd
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Biomedical Cluster Growth to add Millions to Scottish Economy
Plans to grow the Tay Cities BioMedical cluster of world-class life sciences companies, which could generate hundreds of millions of pounds for the local economy and boost Scotland’s reputation as a centre of excellence, is to be led by the University of Dundee in partnership with NHS Tayside.
Earmarked for £25 million in initial funding from the Scottish Government through the Tay Cities Deal, new high growth Life Sciences companies will be housed on an Innovation Hub close to the University’s School of Life Sciences at Dundee Technopole, providing
high quality employment for the local workforce. In addition, a medical device research and development facility will be developed in the School of Medicine and NHS Tayside.
A recently completed economic analysis forecasts that the local economy will benefi t in excess of £175 million with 250 new jobs by 2033.
Professor Sir Mike Ferguson, Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University and one of the leads for the Biomedical Cluster project, said, “We have a fantastic opportunity to build on the
considerable strengths we have established in life sciences research and medical technology for the benefi t of the Tay Cites Region.
“We have already seen new companies established from our discoveries and expertise, notably Exscientia which has become a world leader in using artifi cial intelligence to design new medicines. The BioMedical Cluster project will catalyse a sustainable step change in that kind
of innovation-led growth, accelerating company formation, company growth and
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delivering new jobs for the region and a sizeable economic boost.”
Professor Graeme Houston, Professor of Clinical Imaging and Intervention, who leads the medical devices research and is Director of the Biomedical Cluster, said, “This investment offers excellent facilities for translation of research from scientists and the NHS clinicians to develop new treatments for patients.”
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