Don't miss out on the latest business and technology news for chemical engineers, featuring select items in relation to Food, Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering!
Tech stays top of mind as Starbucks maps future growth
Technology has played a key role in expansion at Starbucks and tech innovation remains on the front burner as the coffee chain works to increase traffic and sales. "They have a test, learn, and adjust mentality; they embrace change, and they don't worry about being perfect," said Tom Kneubuehl, an executive at UK-based cloud technology firm Preoday.
House approves "right-to-try" legislation
House lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday that would allow terminally ill patients to request access to experimental drugs that have undergone early-stage clinical trials but have yet to receive approval from the FDA. The bill, which would not require pharmaceutical companies to provide the drugs, was passed by the Senate last year and now goes to President Donald Trump for his expected signature.
Sandia produces renewable chemicals via E. coli bacteria
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories in California have engineered E. coli bacteria into a bioconversion cell factory to create renewable chemicals from lignin, a tough plant matter. "We borrowed a transporter design from another microbe and engineered it into E. coli, which helps pump the vanillin into the bacteria" to convert lignin into platform chemicals, said researcher Fang Liu.
NatureWorks CEO reveals plans for global market expansion
NatureWorks is planning to globally expand the market for its Ingeo PLA resin and is examining the use of feedstock other than corn, said President and CEO Richard Altice. "The material is now starting to gain recognition for its specific benefits, beyond the sustainability aspect alone," Altice said, adding that the company could add production capacity based on estimated growth rates.
Researchers watch as Ebola vaccine is put to the test
One of the Ebola virus vaccines that has worked well in studies involving nonhuman primates is being used under a compassionate use exemption in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus recently reemerged. The vaccine was also effective in a ring-vaccination trial in Guinea, where people exposed to someone who had an Ebola infection were vaccinated to build a ring of immunity that blocks transmission.
FDA: Don't use OTC teething products that contain benzocaine
Over-the-counter teething products that contain benzocaine pose a "serious risk to infants and children" and offer no benefit, according to an FDA warning issued Wednesday. Teething gels, sprays, ointments, solutions and lozenges that contain benzocaine could cause the potentially fatal blood condition methemoglobinemia, the FDA said, and the agency is asking manufacturers to stop marketing the products for pediatric use.
FDA grants breakthrough status to Pfizer's rare heart disorder candidate
Pfizer's tafamidis, which is being developed as a treatment for patients with transthyretin cardiomyopathy, was given breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA.
SmartLabel puts information at the fingertips of consumers
SmartLabel goes beyond the label to provide detailed product information about more than 26,000 food, beverage, personal care and household products from 700 brands in 45 companies. Learn about ingredient sourcing practices, usage instructions, social compliance, safe handling and more.
Biomarin wins FDA nod for phenylketonuria drug
The FDA granted approval to Biomarin Pharmaceutical's Palynziq, or pegvaliase-pqpz, for use in reducing blood phenylalanine concentrations in adult patients with phenylketonuria, whose blood Phe concentrations is higher than 600 micromo/L and is uncontrolled. The decision was supported by data from a late-stage trial in which the drug reduced blood Phe levels of patients versus placebo use.
Brandless sees "phenomenal" performance in food category
Brandless, which offers direct-to-consumer CPG products priced $3 or less per item, is experiencing "phenomenal" performance in its food category, said co-founder Ido Leffler. "We have some real extreme value items, so to be able to get olive oil for $3 or coconut oil for $3 is remarkable," he said.
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