Israel Active

The US Biomedical R&D Authority has awarded Israel’s Atox Bio $24 million to develop its treatments for severe infections.  Atox Bio’s AB103 uniquely modulates the patient’s immune response rather than attacking the virus or bacteria. Pathogens cannot develop resistance to the treatment.

The US FDA has awarded Fast Track Designation to Israeli biotech Galmed for its Aramchol treatment of Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis, or NASH.  Galmed is to perform Phase IIb trials of Aramchol this year with 240 NASH patients who also suffer from obesity and insulin resistance.

An Israeli Broadcasting Authority report about the groundbreaking robotic catheterization procedure that was broadcast live from Israel to 12,000 US doctors two weeks ago.  Two Israelis founded Corindus, the company that developed the system.  

Two Israeli baby-food executives have developed a new vegetable-based product called INDI (Innovative Non Dairy Infant formula).  It provides a solution for babies who cannot tolerate cows milk.  It also doesn’t contain soy, which can affect a baby’s hormones.

An old Jewish blessing states, “You should live for 120 years.” Jerusalem’s Herzog Hospital, Israel’s oldest hospital, is celebrating its 120th birthday and is still expanding. Herzog is Israel’s foremost center for geriatric and mental health care, treatment and research.

Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem together with the Max Dellbruck Institute in Berlin, has discovered how circular RNA is produced.  The findings increase knowledge of degenerative diseases both in muscle and the brain, and eventually can help their treatment.

Israel’s Biocancell Therapeutics has reported a successful clinical trial on high-risk bladder cancer patients.  It will allow the company to proceed to a Phase III trial of its BC-819 product, which is administered together with BCG, the standard treatment.

Israel’s XLVision Sciences manufactures the IOPtiMate CO2 laser treatment for severe Glaucoma sufferers.  The treatment has just made its first sale in Hong Kong.  (Warning the video – although only an animation - may be unsettling to some readers)

Israeli scientists have discovered that a bad taste memory can be overcome by re-tasting the food in a different place.  There is a link in the brain between remembering what you ate and where you ate it.  It could help parents struggling to persuade children to eat food that they say they don’t like.

Technion scientists are the first in the world to build cancer-killing chemicals whilst inside the tumor.  Their system will allow chemotherapy treatments to be tailored for the patient and concentrated only where it is necessary, thus escaping the usual harsh side effects.