Sigma-Aldrich, Corning in arrangement

Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis) and Corning Life Sciences (Acton, Massachusetts) have entered into an arrangement designed to offer a more streamlined distribution channel for U.S. customers purchasing Corning's reusable and disposable glassware and plasticware for the life sciences industry.

Using Corning's own product numbering system, U.S. customers will be able to place orders through Sigma-Aldrich for virtually all of Corning Life Sciences' plastic laboratory products including the Corning, Costar, CellBind and CellStack brands, plus the Corning Pyrex glassware line.

Type 2 diabetics lack blood sugar control

In what it said was a "first of its kind" report released by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE; Jacksonville, Florida), it was revealed that from 2003 to 2004, two out of three Americans with Type 2 diabetes, analyzed in a study of more than 157,000 patients, were not in control of their blood sugar, failing to meet AACE's target A1C goal of 6.5% or less.

In addition, a state-by-state ranking of blood sugar control contained in the new "State of Diabetes in America" report shows that there is significant room for improvement in diabetes management as the majority of people studied in every state, including Washington, were not in control of their blood sugar levels.

The report was presented at AACE's 14th annual meeting and clinical congress in Washington.

Despite the new report findings, the vast majority (84%) of Americans with Type 2 diabetes who were polled as part of a national survey agree that they are doing a good job of managing their diabetes by controlling their blood sugar.

More than 18 million Americans are affected by diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, accounts for 90% to 95% of all diagnosed diabetes cases.

Humana changes capsule endoscopy policy

Given Imaging (Yokneam, Israel) reported that Humana (Louisville, Kentucky) has revised its capsule endoscopy reimbursement policy covering capsule endoscopy for the initial diagnosis of patients with suspected Crohn's disease following inconclusive small bowel follow-through. Under the revised policy, no endoscopy procedure is required prior to capsule endoscopy.

Humana has 7 million members.

"This is the first coverage policy that follows the recommendation of the recent Thomas Jefferson University [Philadelphia] economic outcomes study that PillCam SB be used as a first-line diagnostic tool for patients with suspected Crohn's disease," said Given Imaging President and CEO Gavriel Meron.

NanoLogix stock symbol changes

NanoLogix (Sharon, Pennsylvania), formerly Infec-tech, reported that its stock symbol has changed from: OTC:IFEC to OTC:NNLX in accordance with its name change to NanoLogix.

NanoLogix is engaged in the development of technologies for the production of bacteria- and disease-testing kits, alternative sources of fuel, cancer therapy and remediation of toxic materials.

The company's portfolio includes 31 patents.

Mammography archive gets new name

i3ARCHIVE (Berwyn, Pennsylvania) reported a name change from the previously National Digital Mammography Archive to the National Digital Medical Archive (also known as NDMA).

An informal ceremonial name change will take place at the Society for Computer Applications in Radiology conference in Orlando, Florida, on June 2.

"We've enhanced our name to broaden and better define the context of how the NDMA is being received by the marketplace," said President Derek Danois. "We've witnessed an overwhelmingly positive reception to our grid-based medical imaging data management system, and want to respond to customer demands for broader scope."

LineaGen-University of Utah pact

The University of Utah Health Sciences Center (Salt Lake City) and LineaGen Research (Somers, New York) reported a broad collaboration to combine their respective strengths to create an unparalleled clinical genomics infrastructure designed to accelerate the molecular understanding of complex diseases and ultimately to accelerate the development of novel molecular diagnostics and targeted treatments.

Under the collaboration, IBM will leverage its Clinical Genomics Solution to develop the information infrastructure to both integrate and query the large Utah Population Database and Utah Genetic Reference Project Database located at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center.

LineaGen, a commercial access provider to the databases, will provide general oversight and administration of the project for the university.

bioMerieux launches Innovation in Motion

bioMerieux (Durham, North Carolina), which focuses on the field of in vitro diagnostics, launched its Innovation in Motion tour, a high-tech, bus-board presentation theater and mobile laboratory.

The luxury bus is equipped with the bioMerieux Integrated Solution, including: BacT/ Alert 3D, Vitek 2 Compact and Stellara, both diagnostic and IT equipment.

The purpose of the 50-city tour is to bring a demonstration of the latest diagnostic technologies to cutting-edge hospital laboratory technicians, pharmacists and physicians across the country.

The Innovation in Motion Tour's goal is to demonstrate how laboratory data can be transformed into clinician advisory. The audience will include laboratory professionals, pharmacy and other key administrative roles such as risk management, hospital administrators, clinicians and practitioners.

bioMerieux is the U.S. subsidiary of bioMerieux SA, headquartered in France. bioMerieux is an international diagnostics group that specializes in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical and industrial applications. bioMerieux manufactures systems (i.e. reagents, instruments and software) used in clinical and industrial applications.