Vertex Pharmaceuticals Acquires CTP-656 from Concert Pharmaceuticals for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Acquires CTP-656 from Concert Pharmaceuticals for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that it has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire CTP-656 from Concert Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CNCE). CTP-656 is an investigational cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator that has the potential to be used as part of future once-daily combination regimens of CFTR modulators that treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (CF). As part of the agreement, Vertex will pay Concert $160 million in cash for all worldwide development and commercialization rights to CTP-656.

Cystic Fibrosis Therapy Improved by Lipid-Based Nanoparticles

Cystic Fibrosis Therapy Improved by Lipid-Based Nanoparticles

Researchers at Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University are working on a treatment that holds great promise for improving the lives of cystic fibrosis patients. Cystic fibrosis is a progressive genetic disorder that results in persistent lung infection and afflicts 30,000 people in the U.S., with about 1,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Clean Room Facility Brings 8-Inch Fabrication Capability to Cardiff University

Clean Room Facility Brings 8-Inch Fabrication Capability to Cardiff University

Local business leaders across South Wales attended the launch of the new facility, which offers a range of solutions for companies working to develop 21st century technologies. Guests were able to learn more about the refurbished 225 square metre Clean Room facility and the role it plays in assisting businesses across South Wales as part of CS Connected – the world’s first Compound Semiconductor cluster.

Algae Outbreaks Increased by Nanomaterials

Algae Outbreaks Increased by Nanomaterials

The last 10 years have seen a surge in the use of tiny substances called nanomaterials in agrochemicals like pesticides and fungicides. The idea is to provide more disease protection and better yields for crops, while decreasing the amount of toxins sprayed on agricultural fields.

Low Cost Solar Cells for Mass Production

Low Cost Solar Cells for Mass Production

An international team of university researchers today reports solving a major fabrication challenge for perovskite cells — the intriguing potential challengers to silicon-based solar cells. These crystalline structures show great promise because they can absorb almost all wavelengths of light. Perovskite solar cells are already commercialized on a small scale, but recent vast improvements in their power conversion efficiency (PCE) are driving interest in using them as low-cost alternatives for solar panels.

Closing the gap: On the road to terahertz electronics

Closing the gap: On the road to terahertz electronics

A team headed by the TUM physicists Alexander Holleitner and Reinhard Kienberger has succeeded for the first time in generating ultrashort electric pulses on a chip using metal antennas only a few nanometers in size, then running the signals a few millimeters above the surface and reading them in again a controlled manner. The technology enables the development of new, powerful terahertz components.

HPAPI Facility launches for production of the highest class of HPAPI

HPAPI Facility launches for production of the highest class of HPAPI

Minakem’s HPAPI production will be carried out with an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) below 0,1μg/m3/8h. This emphasis on Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) reflects Minakem’s more than 20 years’ experience in continuously monitoring and controlling hazardous working environments, marking its leadership in this area.

New State-of-the-Art Plasma Manufacturing Facility

New State-of-the-Art Plasma Manufacturing Facility

Shire plc, the global biotechnology leader in rare diseases, announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s first submission for its new plasma manufacturing facility near Covington, Georgia for the production of GAMMAGARD LIQUID® [Immune Globulin Infusion (Human)] 10% Solution, a replacement therapy for primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI).

New Covalent Organic Frameworks with Precise Control

New Covalent Organic Frameworks with Precise Control

covalent organic frameworks (COFs), were discovered in 2005, but their quality has been poor and preparation methods are uncontrolled. Now a Northwestern University research team is the first to produce high-quality versions of these materials, demonstrate their superior properties and control their growth. The researchers developed a two-step growth process that produces organic polymers with crystalline, two-dimensional structures.

X-ray laser opens new view on Alzheimer proteins

X-ray laser opens new view on Alzheimer proteins

A new experimental method permits the X-ray analysis of amyloids, a class of large, filamentous biomolecules which are an important hallmark of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. An international team of researchers headed by DESY scientists has used a powerful X-ray laser to gain insights into the structure of different amyloid samples.