South Africa buys Israeli virus testing system and scientists from Israel’s Technion are using tiny silicon “nanopore” scanners to detect molecular DNA biomarkers in cancer cells.

By: Michael Ordman

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

South Africa buys Israeli virus testing system

Israel’s Ilex Medical has won a tender issued by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) for its Panther blood testing systems to detect and identify viruses.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-ilex-medical-wins-huge-south-african-tender-1001068697

Detecting cancer using nanopores

Further to a previous newsletter, scientists from Israel’s Technion are the only team working for European research consortium BeyondSeq on early diagnosis of cancer. They are using tiny silicon “nanopore” scanners to detect molecular DNA biomarkers in cancer cells.
http://pard.technion.ac.il/2015/09/09/researchers-use-nanopore-scanners-to-find-early-signs-of-cancer/
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193312_en.html

Liver cancer treatment gets on the fast track

The FDA has granted fast track designation to the CF102 treatment from Israel’s Can-Fite BioPharma for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. A CF102 trial is about to start on 78 patients with Child-Pugh Class B cirrhosis, who failed the only FDA approved treatment on the market – Nexavar.
http://biotuesdays.com/2015/09/17/can-fite-gets-fda-fast-track-for-liver-cancer-drug/

A smarter bed

Israel’s EarlySense is launching its “smart bed” solution myEarlySense. The “under the mattress” sensors record data on how you are sleeping, such as tossing, turning, waking, sleeping, breathing and heart rates. It can also turn on heaters and make the coffee.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/smart-bed-lets-you-sleep-better-and-makes-coffee-too/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZPRv6BAeJs

IBM and Teva team up to find chronic treatments

IBM Israel has granted Israel’s Teva access to its Watson supercomputing Health Cloud program. Teva plans to use the global technology platform to design treatments for millions of people who suffer from chronic conditions like asthma, migraine, and pain.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-teva-ibm-partnership-to-seek-big-data-health-solutions-1001068493

Opening up a new strategy for HIV

Technion scientists have discovered that when the HIV virus encounters resistance, it looks for detours. It then mutates and replicates itself, like a Trojan horse, exploiting redundancy in the DNA of host cells.

http://www.technion.ac.il/en/2015/08/new-strategy-for-hiv/

Genetic test for BRONJ

Israel’s Micromedic Technologies, has identified several new genetic markers for predicting BRONJ (necrosis of the jawbone). BRONJ is a side effect of intravenous treatments in cancer and osteoporosis patients.
http://www.bio-light.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BRONJ-PR-clean-updated.pdf
http://biotuesdays.com/2015/08/31/biolight-unit-identifies-bronj-genetic-markers/

Microneedles deliver vital vaccines

Israel’s NanoPass Technologies is supplying its MicronJet600 microneedle system to US-based Immune Design who will use the system to deliver vaccines to cancer immunotherapy patients.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nanopass-technologies-to-supply-micronjet600-device-to-immune-design-for-use-in-zvex-based-oncology-immunotherapy-products-525620521.html

Israel ranks 6th in Healthy Life Expectancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Israel 6th in the world, with the average Israeli living without a terminal illness to age 71.5. Israeli men have the world’s fourth longest total life expectancy of 80.2 years. For women, Israel is ranked tenth with a total life expectancy of 84 years.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4696329,00.html

IBM Haifa’s diagnostic apps

More about the app developed by IBM Haifa to diagnose ADHD sufferers (see Sep 6 2015 newsletter). It won top prize at the Brain Inspired Technology for Education (BITE) Hackathon at Israel’s Technion Institute. Also describes IBM Haifa’s dementia early-detection app.
http://www.israel21c.org/diagnostic-apps-for-adhd-dementia/

Click here for all of this week’s Good News from Israel.

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