News
Cancer research collaboration
The Cork Cancer Research Centre at UCC has announced it will collaborate with Weill Cornell Medical College - one of the United States' leading medical universities - to include a medical research fellowship where Irish students will do part of their research in Weill Cornell. Physician exchanges are also anticipated.
Cork company signs US contract
Cork company ProSys Sampling Systems has agreed a $1m contract with one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world. ProSys will work on a project to design and manufacture high-containment isolators for a large pharmaceutical company in the US.
Counterfeit drug activity in Ireland
Irish people pump an estimated €86 million into the European illicit medicines market according to research commissioned by Pfizer. The Cracking Counterfeit Europe research is one of the largest investigations of its kind and estimates the counterfeit medicines market in Ireland may be worth more than €86m a year, contributing to the European-wide black market of €10.5 billion.
Dundalk drug research centre
With the creation of the Ion Channel Biotechnology Centre (ICBC), the Dundalk Institute of Technology has partnered with the pharmaceutical industry to develop new drugs. Two patent applications will be submitted in the first quarter of this year for novel chemical drugs tackling conditions such as osteoarthritis and urinary incontinence, with reduced side effects.
Elan reports positive financial results
Élan Corporation reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2009 financial results and included a projected outlook and financial guidance for 2010.
Exciting acquisition for Creganna
In January, Creganna, the medical device and life sciences company, announced it had acquired Avalon Medical Services Pte, which trades as Tactx Medical Inc.
Growth of Generics sales in 2010
An IMS Health report has shown that, over the 12 months ending September 2009, global sales of generics grew by 7.7%, up from 3.6% the year before. In contrast, sales of all drugs - generics and branded versions alike - grew by 5.7%.
Ireland continues to win FDI - report shows
In the IDA Ireland end-of-year statement for 2009, it was revealed that, despite the difficult conditions of the downturn, Ireland continued to attracted foreign direct investment (FDI).
Jobs boost for Offaly
Japanese pharmaceutical equipment company Freund Corporation will establish a European base in Tullamore, Co Offaly, creating 25 high-value positions over five years.
Landmark clinical trial in the UK
The UK Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) has given a full and final favourable opinion to UK-based ReNeuron Group's proposed first-in-man clinical trial with its ReN001 stem cell therapy for stroke. GTAC acts as the national research ethics committee for gene therapy and stem cell therapy clinical trials in the UK.
Loss of jobs at Boston Scientific
There was some bad news on the jobs front earlier this year, with the announcement in February from medical device manufacturer Boston Scientific that it is set to cut 175 jobs at its Galway plant.
New fund for VC group founder
Professor Michael Donnelly (pictured above), the founder of the Growcorp venture capital group, has secured €65m for a new fund aimed at investing in life science and green technology companies in Ireland, the UK and Israel.
New research facility in Galway
Capital funding to the tune of €7.5m has been made available for the construction of a new clinical research facility in Galway.
New risk assessment tool launched by HSA
On February 17th, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) launched an online risk assessment tool that will allow farmers to methodically analyse the risks and dangers involved in the daily running of their business. The Health and Safety Authority are the first safety authority in Europe to launch a tool of this kind.
Opening of PRMBT in WIT
In December, the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) officially opened the Pharmaceutical & Moleculare Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC) with a showcasing of research work in progress and projects due to commence at the centre in 2010.
Opsona receives international grant
In January it was announced that Opsona Therapeutics Ltd, a leading Irish drug development company specialising in the human immune system, is one of six recipients of a fund totalling $2.1m from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease.
Patent expirations in 2010
While the real patent trouble will hit in 2011, 2010 will get the ball rolling. Below is a list of drugs due to come off patent over the next 10 months.
Patents and inventions increase
Despite the economic downturn, commercialisation outputs increased in 2009, as did patents and the number of Irish spin-out companies incorporated.
Questions over Viagra patent
Pfizer's patent on its impotence drug Viagra has been partially rejected after the US Patent and Trademark Office said it wasn't different enough from a Chinese herb known as horny goat weed.
San Diego receives biotech funding
A group of San Diego organisations will receive $4.95m in federal stimulus money to support efforts to train and place people in jobs in the biotechnology industry there.
Shimmer launches two new products
Shimmer Research has launched two new products; wireless EMG and GSR sensors. The EMG is used to record muscular activity and the GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) can be used to test characteristics such as stress levels.
Sir Allen McClay dies in US
One of Northern Ireland's most successful businessmen, Sir Allen McClay (pictured above), died on January 12th at the Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he had been receiving treatment for cancer.
Speed gene in thoroughbred horses
Equinome, a new Irish biotech company, has launched a breakthrough genetic test that can identify the optimum racing distance for individual thoroughbred horses.
Sweet dreams for BiancaMed
BiancaMed, a UCD spin-out company founded in 2003, is one of 17 companies shortlisted for the Irish Times Innovation Award 2010. The company developed and is marketing SleepMinder, an accurate, contactless and convenient device for the measurement of sleep and breathing in the home.
Top 10 drugs from Merck and Pfizer
The Associated Press has put together a list of Merck & Co's top-selling drugs from Q4 2009. Merck merged with Schering-Plough in early 2009, as well as the other major merger from last year: Pfizer and Wyeth. So FiercePharma.com, a pharmaceutical news website, put together the top selling drugs from Pfizer too.
Your country, your call
Your Country, Your Call is a competition to find and reward two transformational proposals that will secure prosperity and jobs for Ireland. The proposals should be those "that could help change the way we do things, allow businesses to grow, employment to be created and prosperity to flourish."
