• Biomoda, (Albuquerque, New Mexico) maker of early lung cancer detection testing and other cancer diagnostic technology, reported an agreement with Quintiles Consulting (Rockville, Maryland), for regulatory consulting and design of clinical studies of Biomoda's test for detection of early lung cancer as part of the company's clinical programs. Biomoda's technology is based on the porphyrin application that binds to cancerous or aberrant cells extracted from lung sputum samples. Cancerous cells glow red under fluorescent light to allow detection under a microscope. The technology, a non-invasive cytology based assay, is designed for cancer screening of large populations.
  • Celera (Rockville, Maryland), an Applera (Norwalk, Connecticut) business, said it has entered into a research collaboration with Merck (Whitehouse Station, New Jersey) to develop biomarker and pharmacogenomic tests for cancer patients. Celera will evaluate the use of certain gene expression profiles identified by Merck with the goal of developing diagnostic predictors for use in Merck's clinical trials, and form the basis for commercial companion diagnostic tests for oncology therapies. Financial details were not disclosed.
  • Dade Behring (Deerfield, Illinois) and Premier (San Diego) reported a three-year agreement for Dade Behring's MicroScan microbiology instruments and reagents. Dade Behring will continue to offer Premier members access to its entire U.S. clinical diagnostic product portfolio. The companies also have agreements for the rest of Dade Behring's products.
  • Document Security Systems (DSS; Rochester, New York) reported that Boise Cascade (Boise, Idaho) has selected DMC (Orlando, Florida) to develop new secure, tamper-proof Medicaid prescription paper for prescription pads and related paperwork. DMC will provide anti-counterfeiting technology enhancements to its current security paper product, sold through Boise under the Boise Beware brand name. In May, legislation was signed requiring that states not pay pharmacies for prescriptions submitted after Oct. 1 that do not have at least one of three characteristics designed to prevent fraud through the reproduction and/or modification of prescription: one or more features preventing unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription form; one or more features preventing the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription by the provider; and one or more features preventing the use of counterfeit prescription forms. By Oct. 1, 2008, all three anti-counterfeiting characteristics must be embedded in all Medicaid papers. DMC offers protection against counterfeiting and unauthorized copying, scanning and photo imaging of documents, forms, identification and packaging.
  • Hydromer (Branchburg, New Jersey), said that it has entered into a two-year coating services agreement with Allium, a medical device company that makes stents and catheters for the urinary and gastro-intestinal tracts. Hydromer has agreed to apply its hydrophilic coatings on various Pebax plastic stent placement catheters under strict FDA cGMP and ISO 13485:2003 conditions. Allium also agreed to purchase all their priming and coating services from Hydromer for the specific products described in the agreement. These catheters will be coated using Hydromer-designed and built catheter-coating machines.
  • Interventional & Surgical Innovations (ISI; New York), and Juan Parodi, MD, have agreed to develop a guidewire platform technology for simplifying minimally invasive interventional surgical procedures. ISI will provide funding and development/regulatory expertise to bring the product to the U.S. market in 2008/2009.
  • VeriChip (Delray Beach, Florida) and Digital Angel (South St. Paul, Minnesota), owner of Patent No. 7,125,382 for an embedded bio-sensor system, have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Receptors (Chaska, Minnesota), making proteomics and artificial receptor technologies, to develop a prototype renewable glucose sensor to use with an implantable bio-sensing RFID microchip to measure glucose levels in the human body. VeriChip will manage the partnership project, with the assistance of Digital Angel. Receptors will be responsible for demonstrating a self-contained glucose-sensing system in Phase I of the project. VeriChip said it expects to have a functioning prototype within six to twelve months. The implantable chip will use a passive transponder, a sensor and integrated circuitry that could allow anyone implanted with the microchip to painlessly scan it to determine the patient's blood glucose concentration. The microchip would then transmit the glucose data back to a wireless scanner that displays the glucose level. The RFID microchip would be powered by the scanner signal, avoiding the need for a battery in the microchip. VeriChip said it intends to market it as Digital Angel's exclusive licensee in the area of human implantable identification products.
    Receptors' products focus on the development of an integrated proteomics toolkit, with an emphasis on high-performance protein isolation and biomarker discovery.
  • Synergetics USA (O'Fallon, Missouri) said it has entered into two new distribution agreements with Volk Optical (Mentor, Ohio), granting Synergetics rights over the next three years to sell Volk's products to vitreoretinal surgeons in the U.S. These products include Volk's line of ophthalmic lenses, used for detailed examination and treatment of the retina, and exclusive right to sell the company's new Optiflex Surgical Assistant. The system is designed to enhance surgeons' visual ability with precision focus and control, according to the company. The Optiflex Surgical Assistant is intended to provide maximum control of non-contact lens maneuvering and focus for clear, crisp views, while streamlining surgery and freeing up surgical assistants. Synergetics USA makes devices for use in ophthalmic surgery and neurosurgery and for other healthcare applications. Volk Optical designs aspheric optics.