Unity Biotechnology, a preclinical biotech developing therapies for aging-related diseases, filed on Thursday with the SEC to raise up to $85 million in an initial public offering. The Brisbane, CA-based company was founded in 2009 and booked $1 million in sales for the 12 months ended December 31, …
A Conatus Pharmaceuticals drug developed as a treatment for chronic liver disease has failed to beat a placebo in a mid-stage study, the first of four underway for the drug.
Conatus (NASDAQ: CNAT) tested its drug, emricasan, in liver transplant patients whose hepatitis C virus has cleared, but who still have fibrosis or cirrhosis in the transplanted organ. The drug is meant to reduce the activity of enzymes that play a role in inflammation and cell death. The goal of the Phase 2b study was to assess whether the Conatus drug was better than a placebo at stopping or reversing… Read more »
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[Source: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ageing/innovation/index_en.htm] Identifier: H2020-DT-ART-2018-2019-2020Pillar: Societal ChallengesPlanned Opening Date: Deadline: Wed, 24 Apr 2019 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)Modification Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2018Latest information:
On 4 April 2018, a total of 14full proposals were submitted in response to the following 2018 topics:
DT-ART-01-2018 – 4 proposals
DT-ART-02-2018 (RIA) – 5 proposals
DT-ART-02-2018 (CSA) – 5 proposals
I think it’s fair to say, that some, if not most, opponents of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are aware of the science illustrating the safety behind the technology. Still, non-GMO activists are relentless in linking GMOs to negative health effects.
However, as Morgan Manghera writes for Food Insight, the official blog for the International Food Information Council Foundation, GMOs aren’t the only food acronyms receiving unfounded criticism. Since the 1960s, MSG (monosodium glutamate) has been facing a similar battle with negative public perceptions:
The MSG frenzy began in 1968 when biomedical researcher Robert Ho Man Kwok penned a letter saying he came down with an illness from Chinese restaurants – specifically restaurants that use MSG in their food preparation. At the time, MSG was popular, but Kwok’s letter turned the tables. MSG became the enemy substance: Consumers rebuffed it, and scientists began studying it with a more critical eye.
Despite numerous repeated studies which found that MSG does not cause numbness, weakness and heart palpitations – conditions reported by Dr. Kwok in 1968 – many Americans still say they avoid MSG some 50 years after the Kwok experience. But why? Why do consumers continue to avoid this ingredient that is approved as safe?
In trying to answer the why, Manghera spoke with Megan Meyer, PhD, Director of Science Communications at IFIC, and unsurprisingly, her explanations as to why consumers refuse to accept the science around MSG are all too familiar for those working to promote the safety of GMOs:
Consumers trust friends, family and health-centered blogs and websites as their primary influencers. This practice demonstrates a clear lack of trust in science and institutions.
Trusting friends and family is understandable. However, issues arise when friends and family members are influenced by false information provided by “health-centered blogs,” and other unscientific outlets, that only look to perpetuate fear. And frankly, fear works.
It’s one of the reasons that even through there has been no peer-reviewed scientific study connecting GMO consumption with negative health effects, the technology is still not widely accepted.
It’s easy for amateur health bloggers to write 600 words on why they think GMOs are bad. It takes a lot more time and scrutiny for scientists to rigorously study the technology and determine their conclusion.
So, why do many insist on trusting bloggers over scientists? Maybe it’s because the science isn’t as scary as you think. Plus, fear sells.
Nordic Nanovector ASA announces that Luigi Costa will step down as Chief Executive Officer by mutual agreement with the Board of Directors. A search for a new CEO will begin immediately. To ensure a smooth transition, Mr Costa has agreed to be available to the board until the end of July 2018.
Stan Bukofzer has been named senior vice president, chief medical and scientific officer of Newark, CA-based Depomed (NASDAQ: DEPO). Bukofzer was most recently chief medical officer of Ocera Therapeutics, which was acquired by Mallinkrodt (NYSE: MNK) last year. He succeeds Santosh Vetticaden, who Depomed says decided not to relocate to the company’s new headquarters in Illinois. Vetticaden will remain with the company through the end of the month to help with the transition. Depomed develops and markets pain and neurology drugs.
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[Source: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ageing/innovation/index_en.htm] Identifier: H2020-ECSEL-2018-3-CSA-Industry4E-one-stagePillar: Industrial LeadershipOpening Date: Deadline: Thu, 24 May 2018 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)Modification Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2018Latest information: The submission session is now available for: ECSEL-2018-3-CSA-Industry4E(ECSEL-CSA)
A day after Pfizer decided to step back from the development of a universal cell therapy for cancer, Eli Lilly is jumping in, this time for diabetes. Lilly is licensing cell encapsulation technology from Cambridge, MA biotech Sigilon Therapeutics to develop an off-the-shelf, or “allogeneic”, cell therapy to treat type 1 diabetes.
The two companies announced today that Lilly (NYSE: LLY) will pay Sigilon $63 million up front and make an undisclosed equity investment. The startup could also receive up to $410 million in development and commercialization milestones, as well as royalties on future sales if an FDA-approved product reaches… Read more »
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[Source: Research & Innovation] 
On the surface, ‘digitalisation’ might sound like just another trending but meaningless buzzword. But digitalisation is real and is radically changing the way we live and more specifically the way we travel. SESAR, the technological pillar of the Single Europe Sky, is working with stakeholders in the aviation value chain to develop and deliver tech solutions to meet the passenger demand for seamless, smart and safe air travel.
[Source: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ageing/innovation/index_en.htm] Identifier: H2020-ECSEL-2018-1-IA-two-stagePillar: Industrial LeadershipOpening Date: Deadline: Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)Modification Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2018Latest information: The ECSEL JU Work Plan 2018 has been updated as follows:
• update national eligibility criteria and/or commitment from FR, DE, IL, LT, ES (pages 73, 77, 85, 94, 110)
• introduction of Switzerland as new ECSELParticipating State (pages 25 and 122)
• Call 2018-3 CSA Industry 4.E and Call 2018-4 CSA MOBILITY.E timing of publication of the calls/deadlines (pages 47 – 49)
• Update commitment table – page 26
