News

Biomarker assay service available at BioPark

BioPark now provides on-site biomarker assay services. Following training and under supervision both commercial and academic researchers can rent 'open access' time in the assay laboratory. Alternatively a full assay service is available - just provide the samples and we send you a report with the results. At the heart of the service is a MesoScale Discovery MSDSECTOR® Imager 6000 for rapid biomarker detection. The system can be used for multiplexing biomarkers and cytokines or simply screening kinases, ubiquitin, ligases, integrins or GPCRs. See: www.Babsbiomarkerservices.co.uk

For further information contact Dr Mira Doig of ABS Labs on 01707 358669, mira.abs@biopark.org.uk

Novacta Biosytems Lantibiotic enters Phase I Trial

Novacta Biosystems has commenced dosing of the first healthy volunteers in a phase I clinical trial of a new antibiotic to treat the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile.

Laboratory studies have shown that the new compound, NVB302, is effective against all strains of Clostridium difficile tested, without adversely affecting the healthy bacteria that are normally found in the gut.

Developed with support from a Wellcome Trust Strategic Translation Award, NVB302 is now being tested in a first-in-man trial to determine the safety and tolerability of the compound in healthy volunteers.

C. difficile is a hospital-acquired infection that causes severe diarrhoea and can be life threatening, particularly for the elderly. Few currently available antibiotics are effective against C. difficile infection and drug resistance is a growing threat.