Israel Active

(Thanks to Israel21c) Being wheeled into an operating room is a stressful experience for everyone. The Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel has now decided to try and alleviate that anxiety among its youngest patients by pushing them in pedal cars.

Israel’s Cell Cure Neurosciences has been awarded a grant of NIS 6.1 million from the Office of the Chief Scientist. The grant will help finance the human clinical trials in 2014 of OpRegen, a cell-based therapeutic product for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a computer algorithm that identifies genes involved in the aging process. The findings could lead to the development of medication that transforms cells from a diseased state into a healthy one.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI) In March I included the NoCamels article about the Dario glucose iPhone monitor from Israel’s LabStyle. In Sept the Dario received the European CE Mark and last week the world launch commenced in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

A new video showing how much easier life has become for patients with type-1 diabetes who are using the MD-Logic Artificial Pancreas. An international program based at the Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petach Tikvah, Israel.

Israel’s Kadimastem is turning stem cells into beta cells that can produce insulin in the pancreas or nerve cells in the brain. Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist has just given Kadimastem an NIS 8.5 million grant to continue its research into both technologies.

Israeli biotech Ormed is developing oral medicines to treat conditions that normally require injections. Its flagship product, the ORMD-0801 insulin capsule for Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes has just successfully completed clinical trials. Ormed’s share price rose 115 percent on the news.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI) The US FDA has granted orphan designation for Teva’s TREANDA treatment for indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). TREANDA is already used for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Israel’s B-Shoe has developed a “smart shoe” that stops wearers from falling if they lose their balance. A microprocessor and patented algorithms detect a stumble triggering the motion device to roll the shoe slightly and gently backwards until the person regains balance.

Israeli biotech Prolor reported positive pre-clinical trial results of its long-acting anti-obesity drug candidate oxyntomodulin.