OBBeC.com: Analysis & Opinion

22 April 2008 | Genomics:

Study Reveals Legacies Left Behind by Crusader

Results from a recent study, aimed at testing the hypothesis that migrations within historical times could have contributed to the Y-chromosomal (male) genetic diversity in modern day Lebanon, have revealed the legacies left behind by these travellers.

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14 April 2008 | Office Applications:

Of Big Pharmas and Layoffs

Big pharma companies, big lay-offs and big biotech deals. Stakeholders will be smiling as the pharma giants roll up their sleeves to set things right. While many consider the recent trend a knee-jerk reaction to declining profits and drug failures, people who pull the strings in these companies have a different view of the situation. Rising healthcare expenditures has been a major concern to the European governments. While price regulations and generic manufacturers are doing a great job in reducing the costs for the government, the companies developing drugs have not helped themselves.

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17 March 2008 | Healthcare:

Changing Dynamics in the European Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Market

There are about 1.8 million people worldwide living with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). It is the sixth most common form of cancer in Europe. The disease is complicated in nature with about 25-30 sub types. Its incidence in Europe varies from 4 to 14 for every 100,000 people. In the European Union alone approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The risk of developing the disease increases with age, especially among the 55-85 year group. The incidence rate peaks between the ages of 75 and 85 years. With rising life expectancy levels across Europe, the demand for NHL drugs is set to grow.

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04 March 2008 | Medical Imaging:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Market Trends

MRI systems represent one of the strongest markets in the medical imaging industry. MRI is a non-invasive method of using a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the human body. It was originally used to view the central nervous system. With time, its use has expanded to study the internal anatomical structures of the human body.

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13 February 2008 | Industry Analysis:

The Healthcare Infrastructure Opportunities in the United Kingdom – A Symbiotic Approach to Success

The saga to bring to life - efficiency, absolute patient safety, and cost-effectiveness continues. The United Kingdom decided to take proactive steps to overhaul its health systems by introducing new infrastructure and healthcare technology solutions. The process involved partnering with large systems integrators on a journey that has been envisaged to culminate with health professionals and staff maximizing limited resources and providing the highest levels of care to the aging British population.

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07 January 2008 | Life Science Computing:

The Beginning of Pay Per Use Services for Bioinformatics Software?

As I approach my thirtieth year of life I look back with fond memories of weekends spent round a friends house playing our way through the bunch of games rented from the local video store. If my friends suggestion of a fun weekend had been along the lines of “fancy coming over to use some software I have leased for defined amount of time for a specific unit cost” I would probably have gone to play football with someone else.

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04 December 2007 | In-vitro Diagnostics:

In-Vitro Diagnostics: Promising Market With Tremendous Potential For Growth

In vitro diagnostics (IVD) involves diagnosing and analyzing the pathological condition of diseases and plays a major role in clinical decisions. The diagnostics market involves two different types of testing methods: In vivo and In vitro diagnostics. In vivo diagnostics involves imaging technology like X-rays, CT scans, MRI and nuclear imaging. In vitro diagnostics involves testing patient’s body fluids, tissue samples. Both these markets have traditionally been independent of each other. Over the past few years, however, synergies between the two have been highly evident, as aptly demonstrated by the entrance of GE Healthcare and Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics.

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08 November 2007 | Clinical Trials:

Erbitux – First Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancer arises in the head or neck region (in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lip, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or larynx [voice box]). Most cancers of the head and neck are of a type called carcinoma (in particular squamous cell carcinoma - SCCHN), making up to 90.0 percent of all H&N cancers. The cancer begins in the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck. Carcinomas of the head and neck start in the cells that form the lining of the mouth, nose, throat or ear, or the surface layer covering the tongue.

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30 October 2007 | Clinical Trials:

EDC in Clinical trials – Imperative or Not?

Clinical trials stage account for more than 50 per cent of the total cost for developing a new drug. The high profile drug withdrawal of Vioxx has brought around a greater regulatory scrutiny on the way clinical trials are conducted. It has been estimated that an average number of patients per clinical trial has increased from 1,700 during the 1980s to around 4,000 people in the current decade. Not only is the number of patients increasing but also is the number of studies required.

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16 October 2007 | Mobile Technology:

A Green Giant got Busted!

Latest independent tests commissioned by Greenpeace have revealed a variety of hazardous chemicals in both the external and internal components of Apple's iPhone. This comes after Apple has specifically pledged to phase out all PVC plastics and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) by the end of 2008.

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