Israel Active

Hadasit, the Hadassah Medical Organization’s technology transfer company, and Israel’s BioLineRx are to develop a treatment BL-1210 for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fatty liver disease.  It modulates the immune system to reduce scarring that leads to cirrhosis.  There is currently no FDA approved treatments.

Israeli biotech Pambio is developing a treatment that prevents bleeding and subsequent damage from brain hemorrhages.  No existing treatment exists.  Pambio has just received $7 million of funding.

Researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion University are studying how to use male prawns in Africa to kill the parasitic worm that causes Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia).  The disease affects 200 million people worldwide, coming only second to Malaria in terms of the devastation it causes.

The US FDA has approved the use of the WatchPAT Sleep Apnea device from Israel’s Itamar Medical being extended to adolescents of twelve years old and above.  Previously, WatchPAT was only approved for use on those aged seventeen and above.

Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered in laboratory tests that the molecule Urocortin-3 acts as a “social switch”.  High concentrations the molecule increases social interactivity, but blocking the molecule turns the subject into reclusiveness.

Very uplifting article by Paul Alster on the trials at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center of stem cell treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) and potentially other brain diseases and strokes.

Israel’s Aspect Imaging develops small, affordable and innovative MRI scanners.  Its non-claustrophobic WristView scans limbs (e.g. wrist and hand) and Embrace scans newborns.  WristView has just received the European CE Mark, to add to its existing US FDA approval.

Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have stimulated the feel-good center in mice and discovered that their immune cells were able to kill twice as much bacteria than those of non-stimulated mice.  The results, published in nature medicine, could explain the placebo effect.

Israeli founded Cleveland Diagnostics (CDX) is developing a technology and test kit that can eradicate inconclusive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. CDX says it will save the $4000 cost per negative biopsy, currently necessary in 70% of current testing.

Israel’s Micromedic Technologies (part of Israel’s Bio-Light Life Sciences) reported positive results in a trial of its prostate cancer diagnosis solution.  Its CellDetect technology was used to diagnose samples from 18 patients and healthy subjects, and both groups were accurately diagnosed.