Don't miss out on the latest business and technology news for chemical engineers, featuring select items in relation to Food, Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering!
FDA unveils preliminary list of NDAs for conversion to BLAs in 2020
The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 will trigger the conversion of various new drug applications into biologics license applications on March 23, 2020, because of the amended definition of biological products, which now includes proteins except those with any polypeptide that are chemically synthesized. The shift means all follow-on products associated with the NDAs will require approval as biosimilars.
Researcher sources cactus for plastic alternative
Chemical engineering professor Sandra Pascoe Ortiz is beta-testing an edible, biodegradable packaging material made from the juice of prickly pear cactus leaves. The juice "is a natural polymer that can be improved by combining certain substances to give it a similar appearance and properties to those of some petroleum-derived plastics," she says.
Scientists discover sustainable method to produce 1,2,4-butanetriol
Japanese researchers were able to produce 1.7 grams per liter of 1,2,4-butanetriol by genetically engineering a yeast strain for direct fermentation of xylose in rice straw and optimizing the strain's iron metabolism through further genetic modification. The findings, published in Metabolic Engineering, could apply to production of other iron sulfur protein-requiring chemicals.
Ineos: PS is highly recyclable
Polystyrene can be depolymerized through chemical recycling and converted to virgin PS, says Ineos Styrolution. The company recently completed its ResolVe recycling pilot for PS and is now preparing to scale it.
Mount Sinai brings together imaging, nanomedicine programs
Mount Sinai Health System's new Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute will tap the hospital's imaging and nanomedicine programs to develop new imaging, artificial intelligence and nanomedicine technologies and devices for the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The institute will also craft a bioengineering curriculum for students in the system's graduate and medical schools.
Executive order on Medicare calls for flexibility for MA plans
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing HHS to develop regulations that will allow Medicare Advantage plans to offer new plan designs to incentivize value, expand use of telehealth in Medicare and align payments for fee-for-service Medicare with those for MA and commercial plans, among other measures. Speaking at a Florida retirement community, Trump said proposals from some Democrats to expand Medicare to all Americans would destroy the existing program, take away choice and hurt current beneficiaries.
Kraft Heinz's VP of R&D talks 3 pathways to innovation
Kraft Heinz relies on three ways to remain relevant with consumers, such as adjusting to emerging trends by adopting clean labels for legacy brands, says Amanda Young, vice president of research and development. The company draws first-time buyers with innovations to existing products, such as Lunchables Brunchables, and entering markets new to the company with products like the spoonable smoothie Fruitlove.
Trump issues executive order aimed at strengthening Medicare
President Donald Trump announced an executive order aimed at strengthening the Medicare program during a visit to a Florida retirement community Thursday. The executive order encourages Medicare to increase use of telehealth services to reduce health care costs, directs government agencies to enable new plan pricing tools to incentivize high-value care in Medicare Advantage and aligns payments for traditional Medicare with those for MA plans.
J&J seeks expanded label indication for antidepressant Spravato
An application was filed by Johnson & Johnson seeking the FDA's approval regarding a new claim on its label for its antidepressant Spravato, or esketamine, sold as a nasal spray, to indicate that the drug can help avert suicide in adult patients with treatment-resistant depression.
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