A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

CardioMag Imaging (CMI; Schenectady, New York) has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with Shenzhen Zhiheng Advanced Electrical Technology Co. (Shenzhen, China). The exclusive agreement calls for deliveries of specified numbers of CMI's magnetocardiography (MCG) units per year, beginning immediately.

The agreement follows the successful operation of the company's nine-channel system that was sold more than a year ago to the TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital (TICH; Tianjin, China). TICH has agreed to serve as a central operator-training center and to lead clinical R&D efforts to promote broader applications of MCG in China.

Shenzhen Zhiheng Advanced Electrical Technology expects to initially introduce CardioMag's systems into some of the leading facilities among the approximately 20,000 hospitals in China.

CardioMag said it expects to negotiate similar distribution agreements with medical equipment dealers in other countries around the world. In the U.S., where it received FDA approval for commercial sale of the systems last year, the company has targeted chest pain centers as the most likely early adopters of its technology, where the focus will be on early detection and risk stratification.

Privately held CMI was formed in 1999 to develop cardiac diagnostic products from more than 40 years of worldwide MCG research and development based upon SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) sensors.

Shenzhen Zhiheng Advanced Electrical Technology manufactures and markets medical equipment for the domestic Chinese market.

UK puts 2.5M into CF gene therapy

The UK Department of Health has approved two proposals to share 2.5 million in funding for further research into gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.

The Institute of Child Health and the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium have been awarded contracts following an open call for proposals for research in this area.

The two research teams will work on a different but complementary strategies in their proposals and have agreed to work together to maximize the likely benefits for the National Health Service (NHS), the Department of Health said.

The funding commitment was made in the Genetics White Paper, "Our Inheritance, Our Future: Realizing the potential of genetics in the NHS."

Health Minister Lord Warner said, "the Genetics White Paper set out our vision that the NHS should take maximum advantage of new genetic knowledge and technologies. Supporting this innovative research will help make sure that cystic fibrosis patients benefit as quickly as possible from gene therapy advances."

He added: "This work represents a major step in our endeavor to relieve the suffering and ultimately find a cure for this terrible disease."

Cystic fibrosis is the most common inheritable disorder in the UK, and affects more than 7,500 children and adults. The life expectancy for children born with the disease is just 30 years.

Dr. Adam Jaffe, respiratory consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said, "This support will bring the first-ever gene therapy trial in children with CF one step closer."

CeMines subsidiary helps found VTAK

CeMines (Golden, Colorado) said its CeMines Estonia OU (Tallinn, Estonia) subsidiary has co-founded VTAK, a privately held company focused on research and commercialization of diagnostic and therapeutic products for cancer.

VTAK involves strategic cooperation among private industry, academia and government. In addition to CeMines Estonia, other co-founders include Tallinn Technical University, Helsinki Yliopiston Saatio, Regional Hospital of North Estonia, ProSyntest AS, Kevelt AS, CeleCure AS, Trial Form Support AB and InBio OU.

VTAK was formed under the Estonian Competence Center Program, in conjunction with Partnership Estonia and the Estonian government. Competence centers are R&D institutions established and operated by private enterprise and academic institutions.

The mission of VTAK is to ensure a strong focus on applied scientific research, product development and product commercialization.

Roger Attick, CEO of CeMines, said, "VTAK is truly an innovative concept. I am increasingly impressed by Estonia's determination and actions to attract new enterprise."

He added: "When we announced the creation of our International Division in December 2004, I said [that] a comprehensive international business strategy is critical to securing long-term competitive advantages for CeMines." He called Estonia "an ideal venue from which to amplify our research and development initiatives, as well as sustain a regulatory affairs presence in the European Union."

CeMines is developing minimally invasive clinical diagnostic tests and targeted therapeutics for cancer. Its Molecular FingerPrinting bioinformatics process is used in identifying and profiling cancer cells.

Australian distribution set for DiaSys

DiaSys (Waterbury, Connecticut), a global diagnostics firm, reported a new distribution agreement with Laboratory Diagnostics (Sydney, Australia), a distributor of niche market testing products for the human and veterinary diagnostics in Australia and New Zealand.

Greg Witchel, DiaSys CEO, said, "The choice of a highly successful distributor such as Laboratory Diagnostics will enable us to rapidly identify and penetrate many of the leaders in the medical industry. In the past two months, we have entered promising markets in Latin America and now Australia."

Laboratory Diagnostics represents several international human diagnostics companies in the country, and also distributes products for various veterinary companies.

DiaSys operates in Europe through its wholly owned subsidiary based in Wokingham, England.