Embargoed for Release Wednesday, February 29, 2012 9 a.m. EST An online tool launched today by the National Institutes of Health will make it easier to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of genetic tests. The free resource, called the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR), is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/. "Im delighted that NIH has created this powerful, new tool. It is a tremendous resource for all who are struggling to make sense of the complex world of genetic testing," said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., who unveiled GTR at NIH's observance of international Rare Disease Day. "This registry will help a lot of people from health care professionals looking for answers to their patients diseases to researchers seeking to identify gaps in scientific knowledge." Genetic tests currently exist for about 2,500 diseases, and the field continues to grow at an astonishing rate. To keep pace, GTR will be updated frequently, using data voluntarily submitted by genetic test providers. Such information will include the purpose of each genetic test and its limitations; the name and location of the test provider; whether it is a clinical or research test; what methods are used; and what is measured. GTR will contain no confidential … Continue reading →

By a GenomeWeb staff reporter NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) The National Institutes of Health has launched a new web resource aimed at providing consumers and healthcare providers with information about all of the genetic tests that are currently on the market. The Genetic Testing Registry, unveiled today international Rare Disease Day was developed to serve as an encyclopedia of the genetic tests that currently exist for around 2,500 genetic diseases, one which will be updated as new tests and applications come on the market. The goal was to create a resource that would help healthcare providers and consumers sort through information about the available tests, because most do not require premarket review by the US Food and Drug Administration. The GTR entries will cover information on the purpose of the test, its limitations, the name and location of the providers, whether it is for clinical or research use, what methods are used, and how the results are measured. NIH will not verify the content of the entries provided by the testing providers, but it will require that they agree to a code of conduct for accuracy that will enable NIH to require submitters to correct inaccuracies or to remove such … Continue reading →

SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), an emerging biotechnology provider of cell and gene therapy solutions, announced today Goldman Small Cap Research has reissued its buy recommendation on Nuvilex with a short term price target of $0.50 per share. According to the research report prepared by Goldman, The current share price represents but a fraction of its true value, in our view. With recently increased interest and valuation in the pancreatic cancer treatment arena, we believe that Nuvilex is worth $0.20 just on the oncology therapies alone and that the shares will reach $0.50 in the next six months. Looking ahead, as milestone events occur, $1.00 per share is within reach over the next 12-18 months. Goldman bases this value projection, in part, on the pending acquisition of SG Austria assets, and with it complete control over the cell encapsulation technology that forms the backbone of Nuvilexs planned biotechnology development. The report states in part the following: Following execution of the SG Austria asset acquisition, we expect to see a flurry of events and progress on the development side which will serve as catalysts, including when management submits its protocol for the next stage pancreatic cancer trial. We would … Continue reading →

Celltex hosts the largest stem-cell bank in the United States. TYLER RUDICK With Texas pouring millions of dollars into developing adult stem-cell treatments, doctors there are already injecting paying customers with unproven preparations, supplied by an ambitious new company. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any such stem-cell treatment for routine clinical use, although it does sanction them for patients enrolled in registered clinical trials. Some advocates of the treatments argue, however, that preparations based on a patient's own cells should not be classed as drugs, and should not therefore fall under the FDA's jurisdiction. There are certainly plenty of people eager to have the treatments. Texas governor Rick Perry, for instance, has had stem-cell injections to treat a back complaint1, and has supported legislation to help create banks to store patients' harvested stem cells. One company that has benefited from this buoyant climate is Celltex Therapeutics, which multiplies and banks stem cells derived from people's abdominal fat, according to chairman and chief executive David Eller. Its facility in Sugar Land, just outside Houston, opened in December 2011 and houses the largest stem-cell bank in the United States. Celltex was founded by Eller and Stanley Jones, … Continue reading →

More Topics: Choose a Sector Accounting Firms Advertising/Media/Communications Capital CEO/Board General Business Health/Biotech Internet/Technology Investment Firms Law Firms Mergers & Acquisitions Money Managers People Private Companies Public Companies Venture Capital Posted February 29, 2012 Nanotechnology Expert Younan Xia is one of world's "Top 10" Chemists; Joins Georgia Tech ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Younan Xia, Ph.D., an internationally recognized leader in the field of nanotechnology, recently joined the Georgia Institute of Technology as the first Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Nanomedicine. Dr. Xia is the Brock Family Chair and GRA Eminent Scholar in Nanomedicine in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, with a joint appointment in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research focuses on nanocrystals -- a novel class of materials with features smaller than 100 nanometers -- as well as the development of innovative technologies enabled by nanocrystals. One nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter. These technologies span the fields of molecular imaging, early cancer diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, biomaterials, regenerative medicine and catalysis. "The possible applications of nanotechnology in medicine have only begun to be explored," said Michael Cassidy, president and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance. … Continue reading →

About MagForce AG: MagForce AG is a leading medical technology company focusing on nanomedicine in oncology. The company`s proprietary procedure, NanoTherm therapy, enables the targeted treatment of solid tumors through the intratumoral generation of heat via activation of magnetic nanoparticles. NanoTherm, NanoPlan, and NanoActivator(TM) are components of the therapy and have received EU-wide regulatory approval as medical devices for the treatment of brain tumors. MagForce, NanoTherm, NanoPlan and NanoActivator are trademarks of MagForce AG in selected countries. For more information, please visit http://www.magforce.com. Disclaimer: This release may contain forward-looking statements and information which may be identified by formulations using terms such as "expects", "aims", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or "will". Such forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and certain assumptions, which may be subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. The results actually achieved by MagForce AG may substantially differ from these forward-looking statements. MagForce AG assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to correct them in case of developments, which differ from those, anticipated. Contact: Stacy Wiedenmann Director Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Magforce AG Max-Dohrn-Str. 8 10589 Berlin T +49 30 308 380 31 F +49 30 308 380 99 M … Continue reading →

FRANKFURT & BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nanostart (OTCQX: NASRF.PK - News) -holding MagForce AG (Frankfurt, XETRA: MF6), a leading medical technology company focusing on nanomedicine in oncology has completed a share placement with institutional investors. All of the 825,408 newly issued shares were placed, with profit participation rights dating from January 1, 2011, at a price of EUR 5.50 per share. The gross proceeds from the capital increase, in the amount of EUR 4,539,744.00 will be used for further commercialization activities and the clinical development of the NanoTherm technology along with the expansion of commercial and strategic partnerships. This transaction increases the nominal share capital of the company, from EUR 4.127.041, divided into 4,127,041 shares with an imputed nominal value of EUR 1.00, to EUR 4,952,495.00. To support the transaction, Nanostart AG as the major shareholder of the company, signed a lock-up which indicates that Nanostart AG will sell no shares of MagForce AG over the stock exchange within the next twelve months. The capital increase and the meetings with the strategic investors were managed by Silvia Quandt & Cie. AG as a tied agent as defined in 2 paragraph 10 of the Banking Act (KWG) and called on account of biw … Continue reading →