Don't miss out on the latest business and technology news for chemical engineers, featuring select items in relation to Food, Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering!
Digital systems help restaurants speed inventory tasks
More restaurants are using digital inventory-management and ordering systems such as ChefMod and SimpleOrder to create efficiencies and allow extra time to focus on food. "The back of the house is coming into the technological age," said Jack Keller, kitchen manager at Helen Greek Food and Wine in Houston.
Food startups draw attention from investors
Venture capital firms and major food players such as Kellogg's and Tyson Foods are increasingly seeking to invest in food startups catering to consumers' craving for healthier options. Investors look for flavorful options and brands whose values resonate with consumers, said Carole Buyers, co-founder and managing partner at BIGR Ventures.
Takeda to acquire Shire for $62B
Takeda Pharmaceutical of Japan has agreed to purchase biotech firm Shire for $62 billion. The companies had made a preliminary deal for $64 billion in late April, based on a stronger exchange rate for the pound at that time. The acquisition will boost Takeda's product development pipeline in the rare diseases, blood-derived therapies, oncology, gastroenterology and neuroscience sectors.
Researchers transform solar energy to chemical energy for biofuel production
A group of scientists from the University of Turku in Finland found a way to convert solar energy into biohydrogen using green algae photosynthesis. "The research provides important information on how to avoid 'wasting' solar-driven energy in biomass production and how to apply this energy directly for the production of useful bio-products," says group leader Yagut Allahverdiyeva-Rinne.
Liquid crystals can dispense drugs when signaled
Researchers are exploiting the unique property of liquid crystals to line up their molecules in long strings to raise the possibility of releasing drugs into the body in response to certain environmental influences. A team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed films and droplets of these crystals that can carry a variety of tiny cargoes to be released by signals that may include such things as body heat, light or motion.
Study of cellulose nano fibrils-based building materials gets $250K
The University of Maine's Mehdi Tajvidi has been awarded $250,000 to study cellulose nano fibrils. The fibrils are biodegradable, renewable and particularly strong, and Tajvidi is looking to create building materials with them.
New formulation of Genentech's Actemra gains approval
A subcutaneous formulation of Roche Holding unit Genentech's Actemra, or tocilizumab, was approved by the FDA to treat patients ages 2 and older who have active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The agency previously approved an intravenous formulation of the drug
FDA approves UCB's Briviact for partial-onset seizures in young patients
UCB's Briviact, or brivaracetam, tablets and oral solution received approval from the FDA for use as a monotherapy and adjunctive therapy to treat patients ages 4 and older with partial-onset seizures. In extrapolated efficacy data from placebo-controlled studies, the safety and tolerability of the drug in patients ages 4 to younger than 16 years was comparable with that of adults.
AurKa Pharma to be purchased by Lilly
AurKa Pharma will be purchased by Eli Lilly and Co. in an estimated $575 million deal. Lilly is interested in AurKa's experimental cancer treatment for solid tumors.
Kellogg, General Mills among firms awarded new patents
The US Patent and Trademark Office has approved nine baking-related patents, among them one for a waffle sandwich granted to Kellogg. Other recent patents include an edible, translucent dough with filling assigned to General Mills and a popcorn cake granted to Kathy Kaye Foods.
Collagen goes from cosmetic additive to food ingredient
Collagen, an additive often found in beauty lotions, is gaining traction as a functional ingredient in foods, writes Anne Marie Chaker. In 2017, more than 280 new supplement and food products containing collagen were launched, based on data from Innova Market Insights.
Inovio reports on Phase I data from HIV vaccine PENNVAX GP trial
Inovio Pharmaceuticals announced its early-stage trial to assess its HIV vaccine PENNVAX GP had achieved positive preliminary results, indicating that the vaccine produced durable, robust immune responses in the participants six months after they were given the last dose. The data was presented at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network meeting.
Consultant touts corn as source of biobased products
Corn may be used as a feedstock in the production of a variety of biobased products, including new fuels, solvents and chemicals, said Nathan Danielson, a principal consultant at BioCognito who was hired by the National Corn Growers Association. He also cited an influx of venture capitalists and interested stakeholders in the industry, as well as the areas that show promise for corn growers, including high-throughput experimentation via synthetic biology, job creation and awareness of the need for sustainability and renewability.
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