GPAT 2012: Important Dates

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World’s first carbohydrate malaria vaccine wins Gates Foundation grant!!

A Walter and Eliza Hall Institute project to develop the world’s first carbohydrate-based malaria vaccine has received a US$1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through the Grand Challenges Explorations program.

Associate Professor Louis Schofield has been awarded a US$1 million 

grant to advance the development of the world's first carbohydrate malaria vaccine

The vaccine, developed by Associate Professor Louis Schofield from the institute’s Infection and Immunity division, targets an essential Plasmodium parasite carbohydrate called GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol). GPI is also a toxin produced by the Plasmodium parasite that has previously been identified as a major determinant in the severity and fatality of disease.

Associate Professor Schofield said the US$1 million Grand Challenges Explorations Phase II funding will allow the team to advance development and preclinical trials that will test the ability of the vaccine to interrupt transmission of the parasite, and decrease the severity of the disease.

“The anti-GPI vaccine is novel in that it is the first potential antimalarial vaccine that targets a parasite carbohydrate, rather than a protein,” he said. “Malaria parasites invest considerable effort in evading the immune system, continuously modifying its proteins to avoid detection, which is why a malaria vaccine has continued to be elusive. A vaccine that targets a highly conserved carbohydrate target could be especially effective in treating malaria.”

Associate Professor Schofield said that a vaccine with anti-toxic properties could also be a highly effective public health tool. “Vaccines against pathogen-derived toxins have been successful against tetanus, diptheria and pertussis [whooping cough], but have not been developed for treating malaria,” Associate Professor Schofield said. “The use of a vaccine with anti-toxin properties could help to diminish the disease burden in countries where malaria is endemic, particularly if used in combination with other prevention and treatment strategies.”

The US$1 million Phase II funding follows on from a one-year Phase I funding project also supported by the Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges Explorations program.

The phase I project generated some very encouraging results indicating that the anti-GPI vaccine could be very useful in both preventing and treating malaria.

World Health Organization figures indicate more than half the world is at risk of malaria infection, with 225 million cases of malaria and almost 800,000 deaths annually. The disease is the biggest killer in sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 20 per cent of all childhood deaths are due to malaria, the equivalent of one child every 45 seconds.

“We have done extensive work in areas where malaria is endemic, such as Papua New Guinea, where malaria is a substantial disease and economic burden,” Associate Professor Schofield said. “We are excited to move into further development and trials of a vaccine that may help to diminish this burden.”

The project is one of only nine Grand Challenges Explorations projects that received up to $1 million in funding to advance ideas that have shown promise in tackling global health challenges. Grand Challenges Explorations enables researchers worldwide to test unorthodox ideas that address persistent health and development challenges.

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Top Ten Unusual Logos: Pharma & Bio-Tech

Company: Adocia
Based: Lyon, France
Website: http://www.adocia.com

Scoop: This French regenerative medicine company is named for the Adocia, a sea sponge that has the ability to regenerate itself.

Adocia is developing protein formulations based on its proprietary technology, BioChaperone. Candidates in its pipeline include treatments for chronic wounds, a fast-acting insulin, and a spinal fusion product.

Company: Aslan Pharmaceutical
Based: Singapore
Website: http://aslanpharma.com/index.html

Scoop: Aslan is known to fans of C.S. Lewis as the main character of the Chronicles of Narnia series. But Singapore’s Aslan Pharmaceuticals was harkening back to its home city’s roots when it chose its logo. Company CEO Carl Firth told Scrip Asia 100 the logo was appropriate because a symbol of Singapore is the mythical merlion, which has a lion's head and fish body.

Aslan was recently in the news for entering a strategic partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY). The agreement allows for the quick development of BMS-777607, an investigational small molecule inhibitor of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase for treatment of solid tumors.

Company: Aursos
Based: Kalamazoo, MI
Website: http://www.aursos.com/

Scoop: Aursos appropriately uses the bear as its symbol. The company, which was founded in 2007, has licensed technology developed at Michigan Technological University on the family of naturally-occurring parathyroid hormone proteins found in the black bear. Aursos is looking to develop black bear PTH (BB-PTH) 1-84 for the prevention and treatment of primary and secondary osteoporosis.

Aursos has had successful proof-of-concept in animal tests and wants to raise $3.1 million, notes Crain's Detroit Business.

Company: Chesson Labs
Based: Durham, NC
Website: http://www.chessonlabs.com

Scoop: Founded in 2006, Durham, NC-based Chesson Laboratory Associates' mission is "[t]o improve global healthcare by becoming a market leader in the development and delivery of innovative polymer-based medical products." Jerry Chesson, former head of Southeastern Shelter Fireproofing and dabbler in scientific experiments, helped found the company, as the Triangle Business Journal notes.

Chesson's liquid bandage has been cleared by the FDA, and it is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a product intended for the use in the management of toenail fungus.

Company: Elder Pharmacueticals
Based: India
Website: http://www.elderindia.com/

Scoop: Elder was founded in 1989 by Jagdish Saxena after the marketing executive, along with 400 other salespeople at his company, lost his job. He decided to found his own company, which took off when Elder began to market a calcium supplement derived from natural sources. Today the company manufactures and markets prescription pharmaceutical brands, surgical and medical devices and claims to be the third fastest-growing pharma company in India.

According to an interview, Saxena picked his company's name at random. "We had registered many names for the new company but all were rejected," the exec told the Business Standard. "The name Elder came from my trip to Australia. One day while crossing the road I saw a truck with the name Elder Food Production. So I returned and registered the same name." He gave no explanation for the company's stick-figure logo.

Company: Irazu Biodiscovery
Based: Baltimore, MD
Website: http://www.irazubiodiscovery.com/

Scoop: Irazu is the name of an active volcano in Costa Rica. It's also the name of a Maryland company looking to decelerate the onset of age-associated diseases. Founded in 2000, IRAZÚ Biodiscovery is looking to develop nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals that mimic the age-decelerating effects of caloric restriction.

The company thought the volcano was a perfect symbol on many levels. "The Irazú Volcano is one of several fiery tectonic sentinels guarding the Central Plateau of my native Costa Rica--a mountain that was to shape my childhood with appreciation of both the striking beauty and the sheer power of Nature," CEO Marco Chacón told FiercePharma in an emailed statement. Furthermore, "[a] volcano is also a fitting metaphor for scientific inquiry and discovery. Scholarship and the pursuit of science can be described as climbing a steep mountain...a mountain that--once in a great while--reveals the secrets of our very own nature," he added.

Company: LEO Pharma
Based: Denmark
Website: http://www.leo-pharma.us

Scoop: Chemists August Kongsted and Anton Antons founded LEO Pharma in 1908, when they set up a company in the basement of their pharmacy. The shop where they worked, which dated back to the 1620s, was called Leo. According to the company's history, Kongsted and Antons registered the logo as a trademark, which was based on a painting by artist Anna Rink inspired by a bas-relief at the Louvre, in 1901. Today, LEO Pharma is a worldwide company that markets and develops dermatology and thrombosis treatments. 

Company: Orchidia Pharma
Based: Egypt
Website: http://www.orchidiapromo.com/

Scoop: Orchidia Promotions was founded in 1993 as a marketing company to help multinational pharma companies reach the Egyptian market. One of its major clients was Ciba Vision, a contact lens company owned by Novartis. The company changed its name and focus in 2003 as it began promoting its own range of prescription and OTC eye products and later established a manufacturing facility outside of Cairo.

Company: Premas Biotech
Based: Haryana, India
Website: http://www.premasbiotech.com/index.aspx

Scoop: According to Indian contract research and manufacturing services organization Premas, its logo has deep meaning. The round bottom flask, with one side open, signifies the openess of the company. It also has an eye in the form of a leaf, which signifies environmental consciousness. The company is also a warm one with which to work, as embodied by the smile on the flask. Finally, the bubbles, which demonstrate that company is an exciting place to work for. "We are deliberate in our approach, while maintaining a warm and exciting profile," the company notes.

Company: Trinity Pharma

Based: South Africa
Website: http://www.tripharm.co.za/

Scoop: Frolicking abounds in the logo for South African Trinity Pharma, which notes on its website that the company was founded in 2002 by three regulatory consultants. Its original mission was to help international developers navigate regulation in South Africa, and its business has expanded to include market assessment, marketing and distribution, and selection and coordination of the marketing partnerships.

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NIPER and Dr. Reddy's bag Thomson Reuters Innovation Award 2011!!

Four organisations including NIPER and Dr. Reddy's have been named as India’s most innovative and the winners of the Thomson Reuters Innovation Award 2011 which is being hosted in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the second year running.

Four awards were presented across four different industrial sectors: Pharma Corporate, Pharma Academic & Government, Hi-Tech Corporate and Hi-Tech Academic & Government. 


The following award recipients were recognized for their distinguished achievements through patented technology as recorded in data from Thomson Innovation®, the Thomson Reuters IP intelligence and collaboration platform. 

-- Hi-Tech Corporate: Tata Steel Limited
-- Hi-Tech - Academic & Government: Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO)
-- Pharma Corporate: Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited 
-- Pharma - Academic & Government: National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) 

Said Prof. K. K. Bhutani, Director of NIPER, award recipient in the Pharma-Academic & Government category, “Innovation in science and technology is the key to delivering the benefits of progress to every citizen. As a partner in India’s healthcare delivery system, NIPER has introduced the concept of central testing laboratories in the Institute by bringing together chemists, biologists and pharmacists on a common platform. The aim is to harvest the fruits of research in academia and share expertise with the pharmaceutical industry so as to strengthen drug discovery and development. The scientific tools offered by Thomson Reuters have played a major role in meeting this challenge. A quantum leap in the number of patents and publications from a young Institute like NIPER is an indication of the dedication of our staff and students. I am really happy to know that Thomson Reuters has recognized this achievement. This appreciation reinforces our commitment and provides us with an international platform to showcase our accomplishments.” 

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14th November: The BLUE (World Diabetes) DAY

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The World seemed to have gone Blue on the eve of World Diabetes Day on 14^th November, 2011 as major buildings in the World were bathed in sparkling blue lights symbolising the need to spread awareness regarding Diabetes among the masses!!

An Initiative by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in association with Abbott Diabetes Blue Fortnight lead to a Walkathon, Street Plays and many other awareness events in Mumbai on Sunday.
Around 50 top monuments and buildings around the country were also be lit up blue under the Abbott Diabetes Blue Fortnight-2011 initiative. 

These include Shaniwarwada Fort in Pune; the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Old Fort, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun Tomb, AIIMS, Fortis Hospitals, Metro Bhavan (New Delhi/NCR), Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, Agra; the Imambara in Lucknow; Manek Chowk and City Palace Grounds, Udaipur and Konark Temple in Orissa.

In 2010, over 900 monuments and buildings in 84 countries  lit in blue on 14 November to raise awareness of diabetes and World Diabetes Day . 

WHO estimates that more than 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. It added that in the current year, one person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds.

Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, World Diabetes Day is celebrated on 14 November each year to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.

The occasion is aimed to raise awareness of diabetes, its prevention and complications and the care that people with the condition need. Governments, non-governmental organizations and private businesses are encouraged to increase awareness of the disease, particularly among the general population and the media. World Diabetes Day was first commemorated on November 14, 2007, and is observed annually.

The World Diabetes Day 2011 campaign marks the third year of the International Diabetes Federation's five-year focus on "Diabetes education and prevention," the theme chosen for the period 2009-2013.

The slogan chosen for this year's campaign is: Act on Diabetes. Now.

Five key messages have been developed to inform the outputs and deliverables of the 2011 campaign:

Diabetes kills: 1 person every 8 seconds, 4 million people a year.

Diabetes does not discriminate: all ages, rich and poor, all countries.

Diabetes can no longer be ignored: 4 million lives lost a year, 1 million amputations a year, millions lost in income and productivity.

Life-saving care, a right not a privilege: education, medicines, technologies.

Choose Health: demand healthy food and environments, keep active, eat well. You can make a difference.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), this year had arranged WDD Blue Monument Challenge in which it had received 378 confirmed lightings, which were uploaded in the Flickr album. (click on the link to view them)

It even encouraged special  performances in a local square, commercial centre or other public place like dancing, doing a physical activity (eg. jumping, exercising), forming a blue circle, or just shout out awareness messages to alert the public on the urgent need to: ACT ON DIABETES NOW.

People forming a Blue Circle on World Diabetes Day

  

 The Significance of the Symbol: The BLUE CIRCLE  

The World Diabetes Day logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which was developed as part of the Unite for Diabetes awareness campaign.

The official UN symbol for diabetes is a simple ring in the same shade of blue as is used on the United Nations Flag and many other United Nations symbols, also known as "Pantone 279". The inner diameter of the ring is 70 percent of the outer diameter. 

The ring is used in combination with the slogan "unite for diabetes", where the letters "U" and "N" of the word "unite" are also in UN blue color and the other letters are in black. The ring symbol was chosen because it is easy to display and could even be painted on a wall or home-made banner. In addition, it occurs widely in nature and has been used in many cultures to symbolize unity, life, the globe and health.

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Conrad behind Bars, MJ's soul to rest in Peace!!

It may seem unrelated to this blog, but i felt the need to post it, mainly as it concerns the overdose of drugs, and secondly, it involves my favorite artist.


Michael Jackson, called "MJ" by his fans has been one of the finest popstars to live uptill now and his tragic death was a great shock to the world. 


The doctor hired to care for Michael Jackson has been convicted with the involuntary killing of the pop star by administering powerful anesthetics and sedatives. The graphic below profiles the drugs that were found in Jackson’s body as well as a brief timeline showcasing the major events pertinent to the trial.

Lets offer a tribute to MJ....!!

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