Mind-controlled robotic arm!!

Paralyzed woman uses thought-controlled robotic arm to drink coffee   By Ben Coxworth  May 17, 2012  Last April, for the first time since she became paralyzed 15 years ago, a 58 year-old woman was able to get herself a drink of coffee – she did so via a robotic arm, which was controlled by her thoughts. Although that rather astounding feat took place over a year ago, it was just made public today, in a report published in the journal Nature. The woman was a volunteer test subject, in a clinical trial of the experimental BrainGate neural interface system. Although still very much in development, the system could someday restore mobility to people who have suffered paralysis or limb loss.  The trial was a collaborative effort of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Brown University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It had two participants – the woman and a 66 year-old man, identified only as S3 and T2, respectively. Both of them had lost the use of their limbs years ago, due to brainstem strokes. They manipulated two different robotic arms, designed by the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, and DEKA Research and Development Corp.  The business end of BrainGate, however, is a silicon microelectrode array that was implanted in each subject's motor cortex (a part of the brain that's associated with voluntary movement). That array is described as being about the size of a baby Aspirin, and contains 96 separate electrodes. An output cable leads from that array, to an external port on top of the user's head.
The BrainGate implantable microelectrode array  When the participants thought of their arm performing a certain action, neurons adjacent to the array fired accordingly. Due to the subjects' paralysis, this did not result in the movement of their arm, which it would do in a non-handicapped person. The electrical activity of the neurons was, however, picked up by the electrodes. This data was fed (via the cable) to a linked external computer, which translated the activity into instructions for the robotic arm.  Over the course of four days, the woman and man used this setup in a series of exercises. Some of these involved trying to grab foam targets, within 30 seconds of their popping up in different locations. When using the DEKA arm and hand, which has a wider grasp, the woman was successful 66.7 percent of the time, while the man managed a figure of 62.2 percent. Both subjects experienced much higher success rates when it came to simply touching the targets.  According to a press release from Rhode Island's Brown University, where BrainGate was developed, "The study represents the first demonstration and the first peer-reviewed report of people with tetraplegia [also known as quadriplegia] using brain signals to control a robotic arm in three-dimensional space to complete a task usually performed by their arm."  As mentioned, the woman went a step further than grabbing the foam targets, and used the arm to grasp a bottle of coffee from a table, move it over to her face, and then tilt it so she could sip the coffee through a straw. She subsequently had the arm return the bottle to the table. The researchers were impressed both that the motor neurons in her brain were still active after 15 years of essentially being "disconnected," and that her microelectrode array still functioned properly five years after being implanted.  The system still needs to refined – it would definitely be preferable to make it wireless, for instance, so that users didn't have to be hard-wired to a computer through the top of their head. Nonetheless, the scientists are enthusiastic about what has been accomplished so far.  "Our goal in this research is to develop technology that will restore independence and mobility for people with paralysis or limb loss," said lead author of the report, Dr. Leigh Hochberg. "We have much more work to do, but the encouraging progress of this research is demonstrated not only in the reach-and-grasp data, but even more so in S3's smile when she served herself coffee of her own volition for the first time in almost 15 years."

松山湖高新区不作產業孵化器 而是”加速器” !!

松山湖为首批6名"高参"发聘书 2012年05月18日南方日报[  南方日报讯 （记者/彭子英）昨日，松山湖高新区举办经济社会发展顾问聘任仪式暨高新区建设交流座谈会，为首批6位专家学者和企业高管顾问颁发了聘书，这些"高参"在各自行业都颇有建树，涉及经济、规划、法制、文化等领域。松山湖智囊团已引进19名顾问。松山湖高新区管委会常务副主任、工委书记刘宁、副主任蒋亚军、李航、蓝启章等参加活动。  此次聘任的顾问包括深圳市科技企业孵化器协会副会长、副秘书长吕勇，广东省文化促进会主席王业群，华特迪士尼公司（中国）董事总经理、大中华区行政总裁张志忠，中国国际金融学会理事田秋生，中国城市规划设计研究院副总规划师，深圳分院副院长、教授级高级城市规划师朱荣远，深圳市原政协副主席刘家琛。  蒋亚军对智囊团提出两点希望：一是希望顾问们紧紧围绕松山湖高新区重大的经济社会发展问题积极建言献策；二是希望顾问们积极发挥桥梁纽带作用，为松山湖招商引资、招才引智工作扩展思路。他说，松山湖在发展取得一定成绩的同时，与国内现金园区相比还存在一定差距，松山湖作为东莞当前推进"三重"建设的前沿阵地，任务艰巨，"如今国际国内的经济形势不明朗，城市与城市之间的竞争也十分激烈，大项目、龙头企业、上市公司或者上市后备企业都不好找，希望顾问团主动发挥自身影响力，帮助松山湖拓宽与重大项目、高层次人才之间的对接渠道，为松山湖招商择资、招才引智发挥桥梁纽带作用。"聘任仪式结束后，顾问团围绕松山湖经济社会发展进行了交流座谈，提出了许多有建设性的意见。松山湖管委会相关负责人表示，松山湖智囊团目前已邀请19名顾问，除了第一批聘任6人以外，近期内还将举行第二批顾问聘任仪式。昨天，首批受聘的6位专家都畅所欲言，谈了不少有关松山湖高新区的发展的想法和建议。  　　

"不要只做简单的投融资平台"　深圳市科技企业孵化器协会副会长、副秘书长吕勇说，在当前的经济环境下，一定是政府引导产业发展的。在吕勇看来，松山湖更需要的是加速器。孵化器时间过长，对企业项目的孵化时间就要3—5年，等再出成果就要7—9年，周期长，对产业拉动不明显。孵化器要做，但重点要从加速器开始做，提供合适的载体，提升创新能力，很快就能见成效，紧要的是先把产业带动起来，孵化器也就更容易出成果。另外，无论怎样起步，没有金融资本的强力介入是一定做不起来的，松山湖不要只做简单的投融资平台，也应当考虑发行产业基金，撬动并形成百亿元的资金规模时，整个产业只需3—5年时间就能做成。  　　

"金融业发展要看准城市定位"中国国际金融学会理事、华南理工大学区域经济研究中心主任田秋生说，要找准松山湖金融业发展的定位，可以学习别人的经验。比如说，看看纽约、伦敦等国际金融中心和周边城市是什么样的关系；再看看北京、上海两大国内金融中心和周边城市天津、南京以及无锡杭州是怎样的关系。再回到珠三角，看看香港、深圳和广州与东莞应该是怎样的关系，松山湖又该在这样的关系中扮演怎样的角色。可以说，给松山湖金融服务业定位不是容易事。中心会聚集更多的资源，这在金融业上表现的尤为突出，周边城市是无法抗衡的。金融业的发展不仅是自身的发展，也是服务于实体经济的发展，金融资产起到资源配置的作用。作为松山湖的顾问，接下来会专门研究这方面的问题。  　　

"生物医药要从科研入手"  协和医科大学教授、深圳市原政协副主席刘家琛说，松山湖是东莞经济发展的一块宝地，自然资源条件非常好，可以说深圳都不见得能比得上。广东又是中医药大省，中医药是我国的瑰宝，一个王老吉的品牌就值上千亿元，王老吉也就是一个处方啊！松山湖要搞生物医药，就要从科研入手，做科技、做医疗器械都可以，做生物工程也是对的，深圳华大基因的模式就很适合松山湖，而且要引进一流的医学院搞合作松山湖要是想办医院，办高端的会员制医院，有急诊和体检再设置几个主要科室就足够了。

生技月…設立兩岸生技專區

7月生技月籌備開跑，今年首設兩岸生技專區 2012/04/25精實新聞 生物產業協會近日召開「第十屆台灣生技月」籌備會，確定今年生技月系列活動將於7月24日起陸續展開，預計今年生技大展將有超過400家國內外廠商、近千個攤位參展，規模再創新高。而因應ECFA簽訂所帶來的商機，今年也將首次設立的「兩岸生技專區」，成為生技展的新亮點。  生物產業協會理事長李鍾熙表示，國內生技產業經過十多年默默耕耘，終於逐漸開花結果，上巿櫃生技公司的總巿值過去三年也從台幣760億，跳增至2,800餘億元，成長將近四倍。呼應「生技整合育成中心」的成立，今年生技月也特別邀請台灣生技整合育成中心（SIC）首席顧問蘇懷仁主持「亞太生技育成高峰會」，並邀請日本智慧財產戰略網路公司(IPSN, Intellectual Property Strategy Network)、韓國藥物發展基金(KDDF,Korea Drug Development Fund)、新加坡實驗治療學中心(ETC, Experimental Therapeutics Centre)及美國BioAdvance等單位，共同研討生命科學領域如何持續創新。此外今年生技月亦首次設立的「兩岸生技專區」，預計將有數十家大陸生技廠商參加，結合展覽及貿易洽談會，期望在技術或產品行銷通路，為台灣生技廠商開展更多合作機會。另外，今年生技展也首度設立的「生技產業上市櫃服務區」，開放上市櫃的生技公司及提供上市櫃服務業務的業者參與，以期在生技月中讓更多投資大眾了解生技產業潛力。

研華強力佈局中國智慧醫療商機!!

研華搶攻兩岸醫療雲商機 2012-05-18 01:21 工商時報   工業電腦龍頭研華（2395），明（19）日將整合亞太區產、官、學、研之力，在台中中山醫學大學舉辦首屆「國際醫療資訊化研討會」，研華表示，為迅速達成大中華（Great China）地區「Homeland」，公司積極建置智慧醫療整合網，在兩岸成果也陸續顯見，此次邀請兩岸指標性醫療中心及院所，預期今年智慧醫療佈局將有更顯著的貢獻。此次研華偕同中山醫學大學、中山醫學大學附設醫院以及宥毅股份有限公司，進行醫療資訊化研討會，將邀請中山醫學大學附設醫院院長呂克桓院長、行政院衛生署資訊中心暨國合處許明輝處長等，分別針對全球醫療市場發展、大中華區行動醫療趨勢，及結合雲端、行動、數位新科技探討。台灣醫療應用去年倍數成長至3,000萬元，今年成長性相當看好，研華除透過大陸當地領導醫療系統品牌GE合作，也積極搶入大陸貴族醫院頂級照護院區商機。法人估計，研華去年醫療設備貢獻成長率高達70至80％，今年可望在中國市場對智慧醫療迫切的需求，年度貢獻可望突破千萬美元。     

细胞治疗技术研讨会将于6月在广州召开

2012/5/17 药品资讯网信息中心    细胞治疗是一种新型的治疗手段，相比于临床的常规治疗，细胞治疗为患者提供了更多可能性。但由于细胞治疗仍处在探索期，存在诸多需要解决和规范化的问题。且由于其复杂性较高，很多技术仍处在实验中，临床应用中的有效性和安全性依然是被关注的焦点。本次细胞治疗技术研讨会将于6月1号至6月2号于广州召开，会上专家将对中国细胞研究的现状和前景进行报告，就细胞治疗行业中的行业规范、免疫细胞治疗方法的应用、以及干细胞基础研究与临床应用三方面进行报告。  来自军事科学医学院的的吴祖泽院士将首先总结目前中国干细胞治疗的临床研究现状。吴祖泽院士是我国著名的实验血液学家，在我国血液学研究领域首先引入并传播了造血干细胞的理论和技术。吴院士带领团队系统研究了造血干细胞的辐射损伤与恢复，较了骨髓、外周血和胎肝等不同来源造血干细胞的生理性状与生物学特性。在这些研究的基础上，集中到对胎儿肝脏中的造血活动研究，完整地提出了胚胎发育中肝脏造血和造血干细胞的动态变化规律，为临床开展胎肝造血干细胞移植提供了理论依据与技术准备。并以此为理论依据，与307医院合作，为一例遭受急性大剂量辐射损伤的事故病人进行了胎肝造血干细胞移植，这是世界上第一例胎肝移植治疗急性重度骨髓型放射病的成功病例。  在具体研究领域之外，张叔人教授将就去年卫生部发布的新版《药品生产质量管理规范》与参会者进行探讨，对目前我国干细胞治疗的行为规范进行总结和梳理，并对未来的行业情况进行展望。张教授相信，体细胞的研究和应用仅仅是开始，问题较多，但其发展潜力很大，尤其在肿瘤，传染病，以及再生医学方面的应用前景广阔。我国的科技工作者和管理者携手，加速科学的体细胞临床研究，一定会造福于百姓，并走到国际的前列。河北省人民医院的胃肠科主任蔡建辉将带领我们审视肿瘤细胞免疫细胞的现状并展望其未来，他的临床经验表明，对于非带瘤的癌症患者，术后进行2-3个疗程的细胞免疫治疗和1-2个疗程的系统化疗，对于肿瘤的复发转移率能起到显著的抑制作用。浙江大学医学院的欧阳宏伟教授主要的研究兴趣是骨关节软骨组织工程及临床再生的治疗，包括干细胞生物学的应用技术等。运动系统损伤和疾病导致的病残成为社会医疗消耗的最大原因之一。欧阳教授曾带领新加坡国立大学附属医院临床组织工程小组和东南亚唯一的临床组织工程实验室。至2005年已完成97例临床组织工程治疗，为华人的骨关节再生提供了第一批临床资料。2005年回国后在浙江大学期间，在中国开展了关键技术完全本土化的临床自体软骨细胞移植治疗，打破国外公司在亚洲和中国的技术垄断，为3600万同胞骨关节病人提供了接受新兴有效的治疗手段的机会。在本次的会议上，他将就目前运动系统的再生治疗进展，以及在我国该领域的一些规范，临床转化途径等进行报告。针对细胞治疗技术的具体应用，童春容和高岱清两位专家将就细胞免疫治疗在白血病和肺癌患者中的治疗效果进行探讨。童春荣教授报告的内容将针对免疫系统的抗白血病作用在异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HCT）的治疗效果。而高岱清教授将依据其课题组使用免疫治疗方法对肺癌术后病人的临床效果进行评估，在05-11年间，高岱清教授课题组采用DC+CIK配合免疫调节或化疗的方法治疗了各种肺癌术后病人20例，其中腺癌12例、鳞癌7例、小细胞肺癌1例。经1~4疗程的治疗（平均1.4疗程），共有4例病人复发，其中3例死亡。病人术后1、3、5年生存率分别为100%、86.7%、86.7%。在干细胞治疗方法的应用与探索方面，韩忠朝教授课题组建立了从人胎盘、脐带和脐血等组织中鉴别、分离、规模制备出高纯度P-MSC的技术体系，建立了低血清培养技术，冷冻保存技术、发明并构建了P-MSC种子库、产品库、生物学功能综合分析的技术平台。此次大会将就干细胞技术的基础研究和临床应用等方面进行综述，陈嘉榆、杨晓凤、项春生几位专家将分别就间充质干细胞研究在具体病例中的应用进行探讨。 在他们课题组的研究中，分别应用间充质干细胞对矽肺、股骨头坏死和终末期肝病进行了探索性治疗，并取得了积极的结果。本次大会的主席之一肖扬教授认为，间充质干细胞具有低免疫原性及向缺血或损伤组织归巢的特征,输入宿主体内后,可归巢于特定部位,在微环境影响下定向分化为内胚层、中胚层以及外胚层3个胚层来源组织的细胞,如骨、软骨、肌腱、脂肪、肝、肾、皮肤、肌肉、神经甚至胰腺等10余种成熟细胞.因而成为再生医学中器官修复的理想种子细胞。而除此之外，间充质干细胞还具有较好的免疫调控作用。在大会上，将就间充质干细胞的免疫调控机制和临床应用进行演讲。 

訊映建立台灣第一血糖儀品牌: OKmeter (歐克)!!

訊映 為醫療大廠代工 2012-05-18 工商時報    專業於生物感應技術相關之檢測儀器和檢測試片的訊映光電（4155），自去年登錄興櫃後，表現逐月成長，目前已申請送件上櫃。歐克血糖儀是建立訊映光電基礎的主要產品，其準確與快速性均達國際水準之上，除了打響台灣唯一血糖儀品牌外，OKmeter的知名度也傳送到世界多個角落，並為多家國際醫療大廠代工製造。  訊映去年營收為5.02億元，稅後淨利為0.72億元，EPS為3.96元，為同業間名列前茅者，今年1至4月營收達2.13億元，成長力道強勁，正以後進者姿態追趕著指標性大廠。訊映董事長賴家德表示，公司雖成立時間不長，但以「服務、彈性、成本、品質及創新」等特質，默默耕耘血糖機市場。雖然血糖機市場競爭者眾多，但透過努力追求品質的精神，逐步跟上國內外知名血糖機大廠的腳步，已成功開發具世界水準的血糖儀、血糖試片，產品通過美國FDA、歐洲ISO 13485、CE、CMDCAS、台灣GMP等認證，並取得多項多國專利。產品已受到世界各國認同，無論在準確度及成本控制上，均嚴格管理，讓該公司營業額保持穩健成長，未來將持續自我突破，維持與客戶良好的關係鏈，將公司能量發揮至極限。       　目前更有多款新產品問世，待市場驗證過後，未來更有爆炸性成長，該公司為一家不斷追求進步的公司，透過生物科技技術、光電技術及能源科技的應用，稟持服務人群的觀念經營企業，以自有品牌進入市場。以成為台灣、大陸市場的領導品牌為目標，追求完美，師法國際大廠，提供優質且滿足客戶需求的高科技產品，並推進國際市場，接受OEM及ODM以吸納更多客戶，掌握全球市場先機，提升人類生活品質。

進階CRO訂單成長??

進階 每股估賺逾2元 【2012/05/17 經濟日報】   進階生技（3118）昨（16）日表示，隨著國內生技、新藥產業蓬勃，公司今年將搶攻多筆研究機構及生技廠商訂單，公司營運、獲利也跟著成長。法人估，今年進階營收、獲利可望雙成長，每股稅後純益可望超過2元。進階為國內唯一「委託臨床前試驗」（CRO）的上櫃生技公司，主要業務在於銷售生醫研究方面耗材，包括臨床試驗精密儀器等。該公司今年首季稅後純益約為1,000萬元，每股稅後純益為0.33元；該公司昨日股價收31.35元，上漲0.15元。進階生技表示，由於客戶大多為國內大型研究機構，包括中央研究院、台大醫院等，因此公司營運屬於「穩定成長」。但法人也指出，由於近年生技議題發燒，國內生技產業蓬勃，在新藥、學名藥研發及臨床試驗需求大增，也推升進階在營運方面的動能。據了解，進階在今年第2、3季將有幾筆大型耗材訂單挹注，成長動能可能落在下半年；法人表示，尤其第4季通常為政府研究單位預算執行高峰，今年下半年進階可望有大幅度成長。業界表示，下半年國內大型研究機構將對外釋出幾筆採購案，包括國科會等各單位，其採購預算將再6到7月完成內部審查，屆時可望推升進階營運。法人指出，近期由於全球專利藥到期潮、新藥、醫材等研究蓬勃，國內各生醫研究單位除了放大實驗耗材採購量外，也大量委託進階進行「動物試驗」。該公司也證實，近期確實接獲多家生技委託，但細節無法透露。法人說，由於進階今年國外CRO委託比重也成長，目前在國內屬於該領域市占率第一的公司，預估今年營運成長動能可望達到二成，而獲利也將隨著營運推升而提高，今年全年每股稅後純益應該有超過2元的實力。展望未來，進階說，由於國內逐漸重視臨床試驗領域，且兩岸在臨床試驗方面未來也可望邁入合作，因此也可望帶動公司成長。

院所醫療設備競爭 台廠獲利多少??

IEK：今年台灣醫材產值將達730億，年成長7% 精實新聞 2012-05-17   工研院(IEK)17日發布最新台灣醫療器材產業報告，指出2012年第一季台灣醫療器材產值估計約180億元，較2011年第四季成長7.6%，預期2012年全年度產值表現，受到歐洲金融風暴以及債信危機影響，再加上希臘恐退出歐元區之傳言不斷，恐將影響電動輪椅與代步車等產品的出口，但整體醫療器材產值仍受到台灣優勢品項出口動能持續攀高之正面影響，優勢產品包含血糖計及血糖試片，以及隱形眼鏡的出口之強勁帶動，再加上其他重點品項的加入，2012年產值將可達730億元，可望較2011年成長7%。  IEK ITIS計畫產業分析師黃裕斌指出，第一季主要為醫材產品傳統淡季，因此部分領域產品較上一季之成長狀況皆呈衰退，但整體出口仍呈現兩位數成長。展望未來，雖然部分產品製造已外移，且程度有增加趨勢，但在主要優勢產品隱形眼鏡以及血糖計的帶動下，仍可呈現成長趨勢，預估2012年產值可望成長7%，產值可達新台幣730億元。黃裕斌表示，隨著兩岸交流互動增溫以及ECFA簽訂帶動之效益，搭配不少廠商已布局大陸並紛紛獲得認證；此外，部分廠商亦選擇以結盟策略布局全球以增加未來成長動能；若再加上政府政策持續支持，對於今年一整年醫材產業展望保持樂觀態度。  該報告也分析了第一季的醫材產業重大事件，第一是政府開放大陸人士來台健檢和醫學美容，增加兩岸醫療商機。黃裕斌指出，台灣擁有優良醫療環境與臨床醫師，此舉開放有助於提升醫療服務以及醫美產業。對醫材產業是否有幫助，可分兩個面相探討：開放健檢最大的受益者為醫院，就產業面來看，推升了高階影像/檢驗醫材設備之使用，各大醫院為了競爭，除提升服務品質外，再者便為設備競爭，台廠是否有機會在此波中獲利，值得政府與廠商思考；另外，相對於健檢，醫美的部分是台廠比較可著墨發揮之處，藉由供給醫院相關醫美原料/產品、雷射設備或(微)整形外科(微創)手術器械，但在動能上是否可達一定規模，值得後續追蹤探討。  報告並指出，第二個重大事件是行動醫療(mHealth)已漸成趨勢，全球消費性電子大展(CES)已連續三年於展覽中舉辦數位健康高峰會議(Digital Health Summit)，主要聚焦於消費者健康與各種行動健康產品與服務，德國漢諾威展(Cebit)也連續第三年以雲端科技運用做為主題，相關商機也逐步引爆；而除了影響電子終端應用外，遠距醫療在雲端架構及各國政府積極推動下，也從紙上談兵開始邁向商業化，成為醫療廠商期待的下階段成長動能。業者分析，目前遠距醫療架構多由醫療院所、系統業者主導，一旦能解決「Who Pay」的支付機制，將是商機全面引爆的開始。  對此，黃裕斌分析，智慧型手持式裝置之成長速度飛快，且拜數位科技之進步，透過mHealth可讓民眾更方便地進行自我健康監控，更積極參與自己的健康管理，使過去之醫療行為更方便簡化，亦有助於國家醫療照護成本的降低，此舉將會大大侵蝕不少居家醫材，其中體溫計、血壓計等一些門檻較低的監測類產品將會是第一波被取代的醫材，之後也會慢慢取代現有醫材產品，台廠可別輕忽其力道。   

白藜芦醇国际出口价暴跌!!

天然白藜芦醇国际市场前路扑朔迷离 2012/5/17药品资讯网信息中心    市场监测显示，白藜芦醇国际消费热度明显在降低，新品推出数量和频率逐年下降，今年国际市场新增白藜芦醇新品企业远少于往年。白藜芦醇是国际保健品市场上的畅销产品之一。过去10年里，西方研究人员发现白藜芦醇具有多种抗病保健作用，如抗机体衰老、抗癌、减肥和治疗糖尿病等。过去10年里白藜芦醇类保健产品的上市总量可反映出该产品在国际市场上的受欢迎程度。不过，在合成白藜芦醇产品上市之后，我国的天然白藜芦醇出口多少遭遇到了阻力。   　　

终端用途成熟稳定  据欧洲Datamonitor咨询公司的统计数据，在2002~2010年间，全球共计开发上市98只含白藜芦醇的保健食品，尤其在2007年高峰期间，全球共计上市24只白藜芦醇类保健新产品；2006年这一数字仅为8只；到2008年，各国厂商开发白藜芦醇保健品的热度有所下降，当年仅上市18只白藜芦醇保健品；2009年下降为16只；2010年为15只。但国外有人认为，全球白藜芦醇保健品上市数量减少并不代表该产品总体销量的下降，因为自2005年以后，白藜芦醇的一些新用途被陆续发现，根据这些新用途开发的食品类产品已占据了一定的市场。另外，化妆品也是白藜芦醇的一大用户。Datamonitor数据显示，护肤类化妆品每年消耗的白藜芦醇约占全球白藜芦醇总销量的12%~15%，且增势十分强劲。从附表可清楚看出，国际市场上白藜芦醇原料的销量并未减少而是缓慢上升。这一情况很大程度上与功能食品等新用途推高白藜芦醇的销量有关。   　　目前全球使用白藜芦醇原料的药品、保健品、化妆品及各种功能食品已达上千种之多，而服用或使用含白藜芦醇成分终端产品的人数每年有2亿人左右，估算白藜芦醇终端产品的全球销售额高达几亿至十几亿美元。   　　

2010年出口下行  目前天然白藜芦醇主要来源于葡萄皮和中药材虎杖。我国厂商生产的白藜芦醇主要从虎杖中提取，欧洲产的主要从葡萄皮中提取。由于虎杖资源集中分布在我国西南诸省，以四川、重庆、湖北等省的白藜芦醇产量为最高，其他省次之。白藜芦醇国际市场长期以来销量增长平平，但自2008年以后国际白藜芦醇保健品市场突然红火起来，造成国外厂商纷纷向我国追加白藜芦醇订单。白藜芦醇的外销价猛涨至4800元/公斤，这一高价引起国内众多厂商纷纷投入到白藜芦醇生产中，最多时国内生产白藜芦醇的厂家超过了60家，但多数厂家的产量仅几十到几百公斤。由于国内迄今尚未形成白藜芦醇类保健品市场，因此大量白藜芦醇只能向海外出口。但受到经济危机冲击和欧洲厂商开发出人工合成白藜芦醇等因素的影响，2010年后我国出口白藜芦醇开始受阻，出口价猛跌至2300~2400元/公斤。如此低价对多数厂家来说肯定要亏本，所以去年绝大多数白藜芦醇生产商都停产，仅剩十来家企业仍在坚持生产白藜芦醇，国内白藜芦醇粗品产品已从前几年的近30吨猛跌至十几吨。

难见突围之机   近据国外媒体报道，美国辉瑞公司已投资7亿多美元用于白藜芦醇及其衍生物新产品的开发研究工作。而有消息说，美国FDA将在今后几年内批准白藜芦醇作为抗衰老药品上市。辉瑞公司之所以将白藜芦醇列入今后新品开发重点，很大程度上是看好今后10年全球抗衰老产品市场的前景，预计明年全球抗衰老产品市场总销售额将达2740亿美元。另外，近年来以荷兰DSM公司为首的西方厂商已研制出合成白藜芦醇产品，并已有产品投放市场。由于合成白藜芦醇的售价至少比天然来源白藜芦醇低1/3，且其纯度可达99%(目前最好的植物提取白藜芦醇的纯度仅98%，且含一定量的大黄酸等杂质)，因此欧洲不少保健品厂商纷纷购买合成白藜芦醇，以代替天然白藜芦醇。因而有推测认为，2010年后我国出口天然白藜芦醇数量急剧减少，或主要与荷兰DSM公司合成白藜芦醇产品大量上市有关。美国和英国等西方国家近年来又陆续开发出多只白藜芦醇新功能食品，其中最引人注目的是"抗衰老水"。据介绍，"抗衰老水"是一种含白藜芦醇的等渗水，可将体内的自由基排出体外，从而减缓细胞或组织的衰老进程。而白藜芦醇最主要的新用途是除皱霜等皮肤化妆品。有关部门预计上述新用途将大大拓展白藜芦醇的全球销量。白藜芦醇市场经过十几年的发展，在国外已形成高度成熟的市场，预期今后几年我国白藜芦醇出口量仍将继续保持目前的现状。由于荷兰等国已开发出全合成白藜芦醇产品，再加上印度、阿根廷等国均加入天然白藜芦醇出口国行列并与我国天然白藜芦醇产品形成竞争之势，今后几年我国天然白藜芦醇的出口前景并不十分明朗。不过，我国在合成白藜芦醇上也取得了一些成果，杭州广林生物医药公司已成功合成出白藜芦醇及氧化白藜芦醇和紫檀芪等保健品新原料，并已有产品出口。

美得康 佈局醫療光碟燒印市場!!

美得康引進醫療光碟系統 全自動輸出醫療影像光碟        2012-05-18    打造醫院、健檢中心、民眾三贏局面  國內醫療軟體研發領導廠商美得康科技股份有限公司，日前宣布引進美商Rimage研發之「醫療影像專業燒錄管理系統」（Medical Disk System, MDS）。MDS是一軟體搭配硬體之整體解決方案，軟體為網頁式操作介面（web-based），用戶可以隨時隨地至管控頁面執行燒錄醫療光碟的動作，完成的光碟亦內建醫療影像瀏覽程式(DICOM-Viewer)，非醫療專業儀器亦可瀏覽；硬體則搭配Rimage專業機種，能全自動燒印、不需人為介入，有效避免醫療疏失。MDS軟體搭配硬體的特色，具備高可用性及方便性，成為醫療院所及健檢中心醫療影像光碟輸出的完整解決方案。   衛生署於2010年推動電子病歷及醫療光碟收費標準化，民眾如需至其他醫院看診或尋求第二意見協助，可以自費請醫院燒製病歷及醫療影像光碟，但拿到的光碟卻可能因為格式相容性問題，攜至其他醫院後卻無法讀取。醫院在此傳統的燒製過程中，則需要耗費時間及人力處理這非必要的事務，更遑論光碟圓標在手寫過程中，可能因人為疏失造成無可彌補的醫療疏失。而在健檢中心部分，高階健檢中心如雨後春筍般成立，精密的檢驗設備已經滿足不了消費者與外賓，轉而更強調服務品質與賓至如歸的感覺，在周邊配套的健檢光碟亦不能採用易掉色的噴墨光碟。有鑑於此，美得康科技與美商Rimage技術合作，引進「醫療影像專業燒錄管理系統」（MDS），希望能以人性化、易管理的軟體操作介面，搭配Rimage光碟燒印機器與熱轉印圓標技術，搶進醫療光碟燒印的藍海市場。   「MDS支援權限設定，不同科室的使用者可依各自權限，在任何時間以web登入系統，並且可自動接收遠端醫療儀器傳送來的DICOM影像，或經由院內PACS伺服器查詢下載醫療影像，再燒錄成標準DICOM光碟，」美得康科技資深副總李建宏表示。「有好的軟體還不夠，硬體我們也有獨特的規格。Rimage的光碟燒印機器，除了具備機械手臂，不需人力操作外，特殊的熱轉印技術，能讓圓標防刮、防水、防褪色。對醫院而言可以進行權限控管、避免不必要的醫療疏失；對健檢中心的客戶而言，高品質、可客製化的光碟能提升對中心的觀感；對需要醫療光碟的人而言，更便利攜帶且不易毀損。MDS就是要提供這樣三贏的局面！」   

【關於美得康】  美得康科技股份有限公司成立於2009年初，是由一群在醫療資訊領域有多年經驗的專業人員所組成，該組團隊人員在醫院資訊系統（HIS）、醫療影像儲傳系統（PACS）、放射部門資訊系統（RIS）、電子病歷交換系統（EMR）及資料通訊技術（ICT）照護的全方位醫療資訊系統專業領域上，具有多年開發整合的實務經驗，擁有優良的醫療Know-How與研發實力，也有與全台最多區域級規模醫院客戶的合作經驗，亦是台灣最大資訊服務企業精誠集團成員之一。

【關於美商RIMAGE®】  美商RIMAGE®(www.rimage.com)是整合性數位發行解決方案的領導廠商，提供CD/DVD/Blu-ray光碟燒錄及多色/單色封面列印服務。主要市場及應用包括影音產業、零售經銷通路、醫療影像及警政執法機構等等。近年積極強化核心價值，不僅是硬體供應商，更要以提供客戶完整解決方案為目標邁進。總部位於美國明尼蘇達（Minnesota），在北美、歐洲及亞洲均有據點，1992年在NASDAQ上市。

新英格蘭醫學期刊: 喝咖啡降低死亡機率!!

每天２到３杯咖啡 死亡率少一成 2012-05-18 中國時報    　美國一項四十萬人的大規模研究顯示，常喝咖啡的人死於心臟病、呼吸道疾病、中風、糖尿病、受傷、意外或感染的風險較低，喝咖啡可能有助延年益壽。美國國家衛生研究院和美國退休人協會（ＡＡＲＰ）這項研究是歷來探討咖啡對人體影響的最大規模研究。結果發表在最新一期《新英格蘭醫學期刊》。參與這項研究的ＡＡＲＰ成員從五十歲到七十一歲。受試者中約四萬兩千人不喝咖啡，一萬五千人每天喝六杯以上，大多數人一天兩到三杯。從一九九五年到二○○八年，約五萬兩千人去世。研究發現，相較於不喝咖啡者，每天喝兩到三杯的男性死亡機率降低十％，女性降低十三％。甚至只喝一杯咖啡的男性和女性，死亡風險也分別降六％和五％。效果最好的是每天四、五杯咖啡的女性，死亡機率降低十六％。總之，喝咖啡的人死於心臟病、呼吸道疾病、中風、糖尿病、受傷、意外或感染的機率較低，但無法降低癌症死亡風險；身體愈健康者，喝咖啡的益處愈顯著。約三分之一參與研究者喝無咖啡因的咖啡，但是否含咖啡因，結果並沒有差別。       　哈佛大學公共衛生學院胡炳長教授建議，愛喝咖啡者要注意糖和奶精的攝取，因為多餘的熱量和脂肪可能抵消咖啡對健康的好處。過濾咖啡可濾掉會提高體內低密度膽固醇（壞膽固醇）的物質，勝過煮的咖啡。英國咖啡協會祕書長保羅表示，這項研究證明每天喝四、五杯咖啡是安全的，而且可能有益健康，孕婦每天的咖啡因攝取量應控制在兩百毫克以內。

奇美基因健檢專案 搶國際醫療業務!!

奇美醫學中心首批觀光醫療陸客健檢   2012-05-17 【中央網路報】  　　　　　　　　　　　  　近年來陸客來台合倂進行醫美健檢已蔚為潮流，尤其今年起，台灣開放大陸觀光醫療簽證，為推動國際醫療服務注入強心針。 5月17日上午，奇美醫學中心首位自由行陸客鄒小姐接受高階重大疾病基因健檢專案，並體驗設備完善的健檢環境、專業醫師的問診態度與醫護人員親切細心的優質服務。5月底前亦有多位自由行的醫療觀光客即將抵奇美醫院進行高階健檢，觀光醫療團的部份目前已有3團安排健檢中，六月起將陸續抵達奇美醫學中心。奇美醫學中心表示，面對陸客，奇美健康管理中心推出優質的健檢專案，體貼旅行者的行程緊湊，主推以非侵入性、影像掃描為主的頂級健檢，讓陸客僅需利用半日即可完成檢查，離台前即可接受醫師一對一的專業解說，並直接取得報告，完全不影響在台的觀光行程，是陸客自由行者甚佳的選擇。　此次自由行陸客來自北京，以觀光醫療名義來台，預計停留15天，相信陸客不僅可體驗台南的風土民情，也會實際感受到奇美醫學中心整體的用心而不虛此行。　

護理荒vs國際醫療 !! (醫護人力有限、健保自顧不暇 ??!!)

護理荒仍推國際醫療 綠批本末倒置  【2012/05/17】          　　有媒體報導指出，政府打算推動國際醫療，但在國內不僅有護理人力缺乏問題之外，還有醫療五大皆空的隱憂，因此民進黨團批評國際醫療的作法是影響國人醫療品質也增加醫療人員工作壓力。民進黨立委呼籲衛生署應即踩剎車，優先整頓國內醫療品質。   民進黨團立委表示，國內醫療人力不足的問題還沒解決，政府就準備推動「國際醫療」還協助建保醫院招商。黨團書記長陳亭妃表示，就算預估有三十四億的市場，在人力資源有限的情況下，無疑是瓜分國人的醫療品質。  (t)『醫護人力到極限、健保需求自顧不暇，衛生署有辦法再推國際醫療嗎？還有你現在要求醫療院所要去創造這三十四的醫療產值，那是不是要求要遍地開花去接客』  立委趙天麟就批評，衛生署應該優先重視國內醫療五大皆空的問題。  (t)『內科、外科、兒科、產科以及現在的急診科都在崩壞中，我們卻看到他們開新視窗，讓不應該吞食健保大餅的，這樣做法我們不認同，認為衛生署應該立刻踩剎車』  立委劉建國也說，國際醫療不是不能推動，只是台灣現在的醫療人力難以負擔。黨團幹事長潘孟安建議衛生署，應該要先整頓國內醫療品質，才能思考開放國際醫療服務。 

佳醫於中國的第一家上海醫美中心!!

佳醫首家醫美、血透專科院，年中試營運 2012-05-17 【時報】       經過一年的努力，佳醫(4104)攜國藥拓展大陸市場有了新進度，總經理高省今日表示，第一家醫美中心、血液透析專科院預計6月、7月在上海成立，年底前還會在上海成立第二家醫美中心。國內市場在洗腎市場趨於飽和下，會加強自費品牌的通路經營，健康家電生活館持續拓點，以網路行銷的佳醫美妝本月也會開始營運，是國內營運的主要動能。 轉投資方面，藥品通路的久裕已在5月10日公開發行，今年將登錄興櫃。以長期照護為主的ABH，因主體業績在台灣，目前還在調整結構中，掛牌時間可能會落在明年。  佳醫去年3月與大陸醫藥物流龍頭國藥集團宣布合資，雙方各持有分持「御佳醫療」49%、51%股權，市場原期待去年就會開始拓點並貢獻營收，不過，因大陸審批及前置準備都需要時間，去年並無實質進展。4月底雙方董事會敲定，御佳醫療公司之註冊資本額為人民幣5億元，將變更公司性質增加投資營業項目，也讓大陸佈局的速度加快。  高省表示，大陸發展將循佳醫在台灣的發展模式，採醫美中心、血液透析雙向並進，第一家醫美中心將於6月開始試營運，年底前還會在上海開第二家。血液透析專科院則預計在7月進入試營運。未來會把成功模式逐步複製到其他大陸城市，擴大經濟規模。 國內市場方面，高省表示，洗腎市場因國內市場趨向成熟，未來成長性受限制，未來會加強自費品的品牌通路經營，佳醫品牌在國內百貨、電視購物等通路架構已很完整。健康家電生活館通路以百貨公司為主，目前已有30個櫃位，未來會持續拓點。佳醫美妝將透過網路行銷，本月會開始營運。  

杏昌事業集團…杏泰洗腎/ 杏華呼吸治療/ 臺萃生技

杏昌跨入呼吸治療，牙材營收今年拚年增5成 2012-05-17 【時報】       杏昌生技(1788)積極拓展新事業，牙材事業今年業績要拚5成的年增率外，子公司杏華生技跨入呼吸治療領域，預計4月正式營運。內部主管表示，洗腎耗材因市場較飽和，今年業績目標仍是要超越市場的平均成長，牙材、呼吸治療則是今年成長的重要動能。  　該公司看好呼吸治療市場的成長，與台廠合資成立杏華生技，持有51%的股權。內部表示，杏華4月開始營運，目前代理飛利浦的醫療器材，未來會持續增加代理的品項，是今年業績成長的主動能之一。持股30%的臺萃生技營運持穩，目前維持小虧。  　牙材首季營收比重為7%，營收成長達3成。今年新拿下了3M的製作齒模機器，對業績會有一定的幫助，希望牙材今年的營業額能成長5成。台灣洗腎市場每年維持5-7%的成長，內部表示，今年的成長仍以超過產品平均成長幅度為目標，目前營收佔比約9成。 　大陸市場部分，每年業績穩定成長，杏昌持有杏泰30%的股權，杏泰負責洗腎通路。杏泰旗下持股100%的杏康，負責銷售儀器設備。去年成立持股100%的台昌，已取得營業執照，6月將正式營運。 杏昌首季合併營收5.66億元，年成長約一成。稅後淨利4808萬元，年成長17.7%，每股盈餘為1.37元。

張上淳將分享台灣防疫經驗

【記者黃玉芳/台北報導】   今年世界衛生大會 (WHA)將於5月21日召開，衛生署長邱文達18日晚間將率領代表團出發，與各國分享健保制度。代表團之一的台大醫院副院長張上淳，也將在大會期間提出國內流感防疫經驗。   第65屆「世界衛生大會」將於5月21日至26日在瑞士日內瓦召開，我國身為WHA觀察員，邱文達已收到WHO幹事長陳馮富珍的通知函，將在明天晚間率團出發，代表團成員包括衛生署副署長蕭美玲、衛生署國民健康局長邱淑媞、健保局長戴桂英、專家代表張上淳等人，就醫療衛生議題進行專業交流。今年WHA以「邁向普及化全民健康照護」 (Towards Universal Coverage)為主題，衛生署發言人王哲超說，邱文達針對大會主題發言時，將分享我國健保開辦以來，達99%的高納保率，以及人民平均餘命從1995年的74.5歲，提高到2009年的近79歲等成果，希望藉由我國的高醫療衛生水準，提升在國際間的能見度。   去年WHA會中通過並實施「流感大流行防範框架」，關注全球防堵流感措施，今年再度列為討論重點，我代表團也由張上淳提出台灣的防疫經驗。張上淳說，將在WHA會議中分享國內自製流感疫苗、機場港口防疫措施等作為。

WHO矮化國名 邱文達：會提抗議

【2012/05/17 聯合晚報】          第65屆世界衛生大會（WHA）今年5月21日至26日，在瑞士日內瓦舉行，衛生署長邱文達5月20日晚上率團前往日內瓦，針對外界質疑台灣名稱遭矮化為中國台灣省，邱文達表示，他會在適當的時間、地點提出抗議。   立法院社福衛環委員會邀請邱文達，針對急診室面臨的暴力事件等作專案報告，在野黨立委質疑台灣只有在世衛大會開會期間，被稱為「中華台北」，其餘時間遭矮化，被稱作中國台灣省，要求邱文達應在大會致詞時，向外界說明更正，邱文達回應，他將在適當時間，適當地點，提出抗議。   媒體報導美方支持世界衛生組織（WHO）向台灣衛生部門發送邀請函，再度以觀察員身分參與大會，這項邀請必須常態化。邱文達表示，現在只有5天在WHA開會是常態化，希望台灣未來在WHO其他所有會議的參與上，也能常態化，這是很正面的。

泰宗TCM-700C 進入兩岸臨床合作試行專案!!

泰宗C肝新藥今年可望兩岸同步三期臨床 2012-05-16 【時報】       生技新兵泰宗生技(4169)的新藥研發專注於肝領域，TCM-700C(C型肝炎合併治療劑)將參與兩岸臨床合作的試行專案，大陸、台灣今年可望同步進入三期臨床。董事長徐煥清表示，該產品去年10月與中國廠商簽訂技術授權意向書，但臨床執行由泰宗負責，今年將開始有授權金入帳。 泰宗生技資本額為新台幣4.5億元，5月7日登錄興櫃，總經理蔡玲敏表示，預計明年3、4月轉上櫃交易。透過醫藥銷售的營收支撐新藥研發支出，泰宗近三年營收成長都超過6成，去年更轉虧為盈，全年營收2.42億元、年增68%，稅後純益1080萬元，每股盈餘為0.31元。  根據世界衛生組織(WHO)資料顯示，全球有超過1.7億人是慢性C型肝炎患者，每年以3-4百萬人感染的速度增加。目前並無有效的治療方式，治療方法為持續24-48週對病人混合使用PEGα干擾素和抗病毒藥利巴韋林(Ribavirin)，治癒率在50-80%，但干擾素有很多副作用，尤其對病人心裡有不良影響。 徐煥清表示，C型肝炎無藥可根治，是華人的國病，多達4000萬的肝病患者，未來5-10年將成全球營業額最大的疾病。中國大陸對植物新藥的接度高，對泰宗是不錯機會。現有的C肝治療方法副作用大，TCM-700C並非取代現有產品，是合併治療劑，可提升療效，降低副作用。 TCM-700C已完成美國FDA、台灣TFDA的二期臨床，在兩岸簽訂ECFA後，藉由參與兩岸臨床合作的試行專案，大陸、台灣今年可望同步進入三期臨床。徐煥清表示，預估三期臨床要收案500人，80%在大陸執行，20%在台灣。TCM-700C去年10月已與中國廠商簽訂技術授權意向書，但臨床執行由泰宗負責，6月底前將會簽訂授權金細節，今年將有授權金入帳。 植物新藥研發方面，除TCM-700C，另有三款植物新藥在開發中，包括治療非酒精性脂肪肝病的TCM-606F、治療及預防肝纖維化的TCM-808FB及治療B型肝炎的TCM-808B，目前都還在臨床前試驗階段。

東宇生技：本公司董事會通過重要議案

 2012/5/17  鉅亨網   第三十四條　第39款1.事實發生日:101/05/172.公司名稱:東宇生物科技股份有限公司3.與公司關係(請輸入本公司或聯屬公司): 本公司4.相互持股比例(若前項為本公司，請填不適用):不適用5.發生緣由:本公司董事會通過重要議案：1、松昂商貿(上海)有限公司總經理任命案2、修訂本公司「公司章程」案3、修訂本公司「取得或處分資產處理程序」案4、修訂本公司「股東會議事規則」案5、修訂本公司「背書保證作業程序案」案6、修訂本公司「董事及監察人選舉辦法」案7、修訂本公司「董事會議事規範」案6.因應措施:無7.其他應敘明事項:無

World's First Approved Stem Cell Drug; Osiris Receives Marketing Clearance from Health Canada for Prochymal

 BusinessWire COLUMBIA, Md.     Osiris Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR) announced today it has received market authorization from Health Canada to market its stem cell therapy Prochymal® (remestemcel-L), for the treatment of acute graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) in children. The historic decision marks the world's first regulatory approval of a manufactured stem cell product and the first therapy approved for GvHD — a devastating complication of bone marrow transplantation that kills up to 80 percent of children affected, many within just weeks of diagnosis.   "I am very proud of the leadership role Canada has taken in advancing stem cell therapy and particularly gratified that this historic decision benefits children who would otherwise have little hope," said Andrew Daly, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Oncology at the University of Calgary, Canada and Principal Investigator in the phase 3 clinical program for Prochymal. "As a result of Health Canada's comprehensive review, physicians now have an off-the-shelf stem cell therapy in their arsenal to fight GvHD. Much like the introduction of antibiotics in the late 1920's, with stem cells we have now officially taken the first step into this new paradigm of medicine."   Prochymal was authorized under Health Canada's Notice of Compliance with conditions (NOC/c) pathway, which provides access to therapeutic products that address unmet medical conditions and which have demonstrated a favorable risk/benefit profile in clinical trials. Under the NOC/c pathway, the sponsor must agree to carry out confirmatory clinical testing.   "Today is not only a great day for Osiris, but for everyone involved in the responsible development of stem cell therapies," said C. Randal Mills, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Osiris. "Most importantly, today is a great day for children and their families who bravely face this horrific disease. While today marks the first approval of a stem cell drug, now that the door has been opened, it will surely not be the last."   Health Canada's authorization was made following the recommendation of an independent expert advisory panel, commissioned to evaluate Prochymal's safety and efficacy. In Canada, Prochymal is now authorized for the management of acute GvHD in children who fail to respond to steroids. The approval was based on the results from clinical studies evaluating Prochymal in patients with severe refractory acute GvHD. Prochymal demonstrated a clinically meaningful response at 28 days post initiation of therapy in 61-64 percent of patients treated. Furthermore, treatment with Prochymal resulted in a statistically significant improvement in survival when compared to a historical control population of pediatric patients with refractory GvHD (p=0.028). The survival benefit was most pronounced in patients with the most severe forms of GvHD. As a condition of approval, the clinical benefit of Prochymal will be further evaluated in a case matched confirmatory trial and all patients receiving Prochymal will be encouraged to participate in a registry that will monitor the  long-term effects of the therapy.  "Refractory GvHD is not just deadly to the patients it afflicts, but is devastating for the family, friends, and caregivers who watch helplessly as the disease progresses," said Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, Head of the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Duke University and Lead Investigator for Prochymal. "I have personally seen Prochymal reverse the debilitating effects of severe GvHD in many of my patients and now, after nearly two decades of research, the data demonstrating consistently high response rates, a strong safety profile and improved survival clearly support the use of Prochymal in the management of refractory GvHD."   Prochymal is currently available in several countries, including the United States, under an Expanded Access Program (EAP). Prochymal will be commercially available in Canada later this year.   "Today Osiris turns the promise of stem cell research into reality, delivering on decades of medical and scientific research," said Peter Friedli, Chairman and Co-founder of Osiris. "It took 20 years of hard work and perseverance and I want to personally thank everyone involved for their dedication to this important mission."   In addition to the extensive intellectual property protection Osiris has around Prochymal, which includes 48 issued patents, Health Canada's decision will also provide Prochymal with regulatory exclusivity within the territory. Canada affords eight years of exclusivity to Innovative Drugs such as Prochymal, and an additional six-month extension is available since it addresses a pediatric population.   

Webcast and Conference Call   A webcast and conference call is scheduled for tomorrow, May 18, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. ET. To access the webcast, visit the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://investor.osiris.com/events.cfm. Alternatively, callers may participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 303-6133 (U.S. participants) or (970) 315-0493 (international participants).   A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call through May 24, 2012. Callers can access the replay by dialing (855) 859-2056 (U.S. participants) or (404) 537-3406 (international participants). The audio replay confirmation code is 82905846. To access a replay of the webcast, visit the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://investor.osiris.com/events.cfm.   

About GvHD   GvHD represents a major unmet medical need with no approved treatment until Prochymal. GvHD is the leading cause of transplant related mortality, in which immune cells contained within the transplanted marrow recognize the recipient as foreign and mount an immunologic attack. Severe GvHD can cause blistering of the skin, intestinal hemorrhage and liver failure. Severe GvHD is extremely painful and fatal in up to 80 percent of cases. Currently, steroids are used as first-line therapy with a success rate of only 30-50 percent. When steroids fail, treatment options are limited to immunosuppressive agents used off-label with little benefit and significant toxicities.   

About Prochymal (remestemcel-L)   Prochymal is the world's first approved drug which has a stem cell as its active ingredient. Developed by Osiris Therapeutics, Prochymal is an intravenous formulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are derived from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors between the ages of 18 and 30 years. The MSCs are selected from the bone marrow and grown in culture so that up to 10,000 doses of Prochymal can be produced from a single donor. Prochymal is truly an off-the-shelf stem cell product that is stored frozen at the point-of-care and infused through a simple intravenous line without the need to type or immunosuppress the recipient. Prochymal is currently approved in Canada for the management of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in children and is available for adults and children in eight countries including the United States, under an Expanded Access Program. Prochymal is currently in Phase 3 trials for refractory Crohn's disease and also being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and type 1 diabetes.   

About Notice of Compliance with Conditions   An NOC/c is a form of market approval granted to a product on the basis of promising evidence of clinical effectiveness following review of the submission by Health Canada. Products approved under Health Canada's NOC/c policy are intended for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a serious, life-threatening or severely debilitating illness. Such products have demonstrated promising benefit, are of high quality and possess an acceptable safety profile based on a benefit/risk assessment. In addition, they either respond to a serious unmet medical need in Canada or have demonstrated a significant improvement in the benefit/risk profile over existing therapies. Health Canada has provided access to such products on the condition that sponsors carry out additional clinical trials to verify the anticipated benefit within an agreed upon time frame.   

About Osiris Therapeutics   Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. is the leading stem cell company, having developed the world's first approved stem cell drug, Prochymal. The company is focused on developing and marketing products to treat medical conditions in inflammatory, cardiovascular, orthopedic areas and wound healing areas. Osiris currently markets Prochymal for refractory GvHD, Grafix® for burns and chronic wounds, and Ovation® for orthopedic applications. The company's pipeline of internally developed biologic drug candidates under evaluation includes Prochymal for inflammatory, autoimmune and cardiovascular indications, as well as Chondrogen for arthritis in the knee. Osiris is a fully integrated company with capabilities in research, development, manufacturing and distribution of stem cell products. Osiris has developed an extensive intellectual property portfolio to protect the company's technology, including 48 U.S. and 144 foreign patents.   Osiris, Prochymal, Grafix and Ovation are registered trademarks of Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. More information can be found on the company's website, www.Osiris.com. (OSIR-G)

NIH study: coffee drinkers with lower risk of death

NIH study finds that coffee drinkers have lower risk of death   Older adults who drank coffee — caffeinated or decaffeinated — had a lower risk of death overall than others who did not drink coffee, according a study by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and AARP.  Coffee drinkers were less likely to die from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries and accidents, diabetes, and infections, although the association was not seen for cancer. These results from a large study of older adults were observed after adjustment for the effects of other risk factors on mortality, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Researchers caution, however, that they can't be sure whether these associations mean that drinking coffee actually makes people live longer. The results of the study were published in the May 17, 2012 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.   Neal Freedman, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, and his colleagues examined the association between coffee drinking and risk of death in 400,000 U.S. men and women ages 50 to 71 who participated in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Information about coffee intake was collected once by questionnaire at study entry in 1995-1996. The participants were followed until the date they died or Dec. 31, 2008, whichever came first.   The researchers found that the association between coffee and reduction in risk of death increased with the amount of coffee consumed. Relative to men and women who did not drink coffee, those who consumed three or more cups of coffee per day had approximately a 10 percent lower risk of death. Coffee drinking was not associated with cancer mortality among women, but there was a slight and only marginally statistically significant association of heavier coffee intake with increased risk of cancer death among men.  "Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in America, but the association between coffee consumption and risk of death has been unclear. We found coffee consumption to be associated with lower risk of death overall, and of death from a number of different causes," said Freedman. "Although we cannot infer a causal relationship between coffee drinking and lower risk of death, we believe these results do provide some reassurance that coffee drinking does not adversely affect health."  The investigators caution that coffee intake was assessed by self-report at a single time point and therefore might not reflect long-term patterns of intake. Also, information was not available on how the coffee was prepared (espresso, boiled, filtered, etc.); the researchers consider it possible that preparation methods may affect the levels of any protective components in coffee.   "The mechanism by which coffee protects against risk of death — if indeed the finding reflects a causal relationship — is not clear, because coffee contains more than 1,000 compounds that might potentially affect health," said Freedman. "The most studied compound is caffeine, although our findings were similar in those who reported the majority of their coffee intake to be caffeinated or decaffeinated."  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

China to Approve its First Non-animal Testing Method for Cosmetics Ingredients

 - May 17, 2012    Following to guidance from PETA-funded scientists, Chinese officials are now in the final stages of approving the country's first non-animal testing method for cosmetics ingredients.  According to PETA, the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Assay, which tests chemicals for their potential toxicity when they come into contact with sunlight-and which is already in widespread use in the U.S. and the E.U.-is expected to be accepted in China by late summer.  Last year, when Chinese Officials discovered that China was requiring animal tests for cosmetics to be funded by cosmetics companies-including Avon, Estée Lauder, and Mary Kay, which for years had been on PETA's list of companies that don't test cosmetics on animals-PETA awarded a grant to scientists at the Institute for In Vitro Sciences. These scientists traveled to China several times to offer their expertise and guidance in replacing animal-based tests-which are cruel and unreliable-with non-animal alternatives.  PETA is delighted to have helped jump-start the acceptance of non-animal tests in China and congratulates Chinese officials for acting swiftly to implement the first in a wide range of non-animal tests.  About People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it says it is the largest animal rights group in the world. Its slogan is "animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment." 

Source: PETA

Many Primary Care Docs Don't Know Long-Term Effects of Chemo: Survey

 Wednesday, May 16, 2012   WEDNESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Many primary care doctors don't know the long-term side effects of the chemotherapy treatments that cancer survivors under their care may have been given, a new survey found.  On the other hand, most oncologists -- though not all -- are familiar with the side effects of four common treatments used to treat breast and colon cancer, according to the results of the survey being presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.   "While oncologists commonly identify the main late effects of four common cancer drugs, primary care providers did not," study author Dr. Larissa Nekhlyudov said during a Wednesday news conference. "This is not surprising in that primary care providers have different training and exposure to chemotherapy drugs," she noted.  "However, these findings emphasize that in the transition of patients from oncology to primary care settings, primary care providers should be informed of late effects of cancer treatments so they are better prepared to recognize and address these effects," added Nekhlyudov, who is an assistant professor of population medicine at Harvard Medical School.  Advances in cancer treatment have pushed the number of cancer survivors in the United States from 3 million in the 1970s to 12 million today.   Once cancer treatments -- such as chemotherapy or radiation -- are complete, primary care physicians become a critical part of continuing care for cancer survivors.  The new findings are based on a 2009 survey of more than 1,100 primary care doctors and more than 1,100 oncologists (doctors who specialize in cancer) across the United States.  Both types of doctors were asked to identify side effects of four commonly used chemotherapy drugs for breast and colon cancer: Adriamycin (doxorubicin); Eloxatin (oxaliplatin); Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide); and Taxol (paclitaxel).   Fifty-five percent of primary care doctors identified heart problems as a late-occurring effect of Adriamycin, while only 27 percent and 22 percent identified peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage to the arms and legs) as a possible result of Taxol and Eloxatin, respectively.   Only 15 percent to 17 percent of primary care doctors knew that early menopause and second cancers could result from Cytoxan.   Oncologists performed better on the survey, with 62 percent to 97 percent aware of these late effects.   It was "surprising that oncologists were not more aware of late effects," Nekhlyudov said. But she also pointed out that the area of cancer survivorship is relatively new.  "As more and more attention is placed on survivorship, oncologists will become more equipped with that information," she said.  The findings highlight the need for more communication between the different doctors involved in a patient's care, one expert stressed.  The burden of that communication lies not only with doctors (oncologists and primary care physicians) but also with patients, said Dr. Stephanie Bernik, chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.  "This study just highlights the importance of communication on everyone's part, including the patient, including the doctors in trying to get that information across," she added. "If an oncologist is discharging a patient, they should make it clear what they need to be looking for in the future and that they need to convey this to their doctor."  The knowledge rates shown here make "a good case for electronic medical records . . . which would allow primary care providers to access patients' cancer care," said ASCO spokesman Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang.  A second study being presented at the ASCO meeting in June found that the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa (olanzapine), used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, reduced post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting among patients who had not responded to other therapies.  Eighty patients with chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting were randomized to receive either Zyprexa or the heartburn drug Reglan (metoclopramide), often used to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.   Over the next three days, 71 percent of patients taking Zyprexa did not vomit, compared with 32 percent of patients receiving Reglan.  About two-thirds of patients on Zyprexa experienced no nausea, compared with only one-quarter of Reglan patients, the study found.   Zyprexa can cause side effects if used for six months or longer, but did not cause significant side effects for the short duration used in this study. Generally, those getting chemotherapy would not need to take Zyprexa for longer than three days.  The data and conclusions of research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.   

SOURCES: May 16, 2012 press conference with: Nicholas Vogelzang, M.D., ASCO spokesman, and Larissa Nekhlyudov, M.D., assistant professor, population medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Stephanie Bernik, M.D., chief, surgical oncology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; study abstracts

Outpatient trial for Smartphone Glucose Monitor

Smartphone Turned Into Glucose Monitor  May 17, 2012 By Dale McGeehon  Medical researchers have started an outpatient trial on a medical device built by reconfiguring a smartphone that will allow patients with type 1 diabetes to more easily monitor their condition.   The smartphone-turned-into-medical-device is handheld and can continuously monitor a patient's glucose level, reports ScienceDaily. The device automates much of the work to maintain safe blood sugar levels in diabetics, according to the researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where the device was created.   The first outpatient, Justin Wood, started his trial in April and says that "the device automates a lot of the tracking and monitoring I do now." Before the trial started, he used an insulin pump but had to prick his finger five times a day to check his blood sugar level. The device should reduce that need to no more than two times per day. The machine is "a step forward in technology that could change my view and outlook on life," he says.   Before the trial, Wood had to precisely estimate his food consumption, particularly with carbohydrates, to help properly adjust his insulin supply. But the device automatically read and balanced his blood sugar level. At mealtimes, he entered what he ate to help balance his blood sugar more quickly.   "The operating interface was very slick and very fast," he says. "The extra second or two you save pressing buttons adds up when you have to do it every day."   Outpatient testing will continue through 2013 at the University of Virginia and three other locations. Researchers plan to enroll 120 patients in the trial.   

Source: "Artificial Pancreas Gets First U.S. Outpatient Test," ScienceDaily, 5/14/12