Cure for smokers’ lung disease?

US-based drug researcher Arriva Pharmaceuticals says an inhaled protease inhibitor, Ilomastat, may prevent emphysema due to cigarette smoke.

The study, announced at the 13th Congress of the European Respiratory Society in Vienna, Austria, showed that lung degeneration caused by cigarette smoke could be reduced by up to 96% using this strategy. The firm’s vice president for R&D, Dr Philip Pemberton, said “The study gives rise to very real hopes for the clinical treatment of this widespread disease.” Recent estimates show that the global frequency of smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) accounts for up to $20bn in healthcare costs each year.

Cigarette smoke leads the body to recruit immune-response cells, especially macrophages and neutrophils. These cells are very abundant in the finer extensions of the bronchi (bronchioles) and the alveolar walls, precisely where emphysema tends to develop. The inflammatory cells then secrete enzymes that can damage the connective tissue that makes up the structure of the lung.

These enzymes, called proteases, are able to break up other proteins. This is true particularly of the so-called matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). These proteases, especially MMP-9, are suspected of destroying the elastic tissue of the bronchioles and alveolar walls in smokers, which leads to COPD in many individuals. These proteases are not normally present at such high levels in the lungs. But the inflammation caused by smoking causes a rise in their level, upsetting the delicate natural balance and leading to lung damage.

Ilomastat, a synthetic enzyme inhibitor, is especially promising at redressing the natural balance, even where the subject smokes, says Arriva.

The results presented in Vienna showed that low doses of inhaled Ilomastat could limit inflammatory cell accumulation in lung tissue, especially macrophages and neutrophils. This reduces the level of destructive MMPs. In particular, the results indicate that Ilomastat reduces lung damage proportionately to the dose inhaled and by as much as 96% when compared to the damage found in control mice that were not treated with Ilomastat.

Comment: Possible next step – to modify tobacco genes to express the protease inhibitor, thus creating healthy cigarettes. Now, what would that be worth?

Ink batteries led to beauty breakthrough
Past their sell-by date
Royal Society to explore nanotech safety
Spend, spend, spend
Birds Eye winks for NationFresh tomatoes

Innovation

Ink batteries led to beauty breakthrough

Special inks that create printed batteries have led to the development of micropowered skin patches that improve the transmission of cosmetic ingredients through the skin, claims their Israeli developer.

Dr Dov Tamarkin, chief scientist for Power Paper, says the firm’s technology improves the level of user satisfaction and increases intent to purchase by improving cosmetic efficacy in delivering active cosmetic agents into the skin “by orders of magnitude”.

Introducing its thin, flexible, disposable micro-powered patches, he said the patches are intended to either enhance skin rejuvenation and hydration and/or enhance the delivery of cosmetic formulations.

However the firm has applied the technology in other ways, namely active radio frequency identification (RFID), smart labels, novelties and toys, games, packaging and inks.

Technologies 

Past their sell-by date

Writer Bruce Sterling has given the recent MIT Emerging Technologies conference a list of “10 technologies that deserve to die”.

“Technologies die rather routinely, but it’s rare for them to be singled out and righteously put to death. Some technologies, however, are so blatantly obnoxious that the human race would rejoice if they were obliterated,” he writes in MIT’s Technology Review. “A wise society would honour its young technical innovators for services rendered in annihilating obsolete technologies that are the dangerous hangovers of previous, less advanced generations. Let me offer some candidates.

1. Nuclear weapons

2. Coal-based power

3. The internal combustion engine

4. Incandescent light bulbs

5. Land mines

6. Manned space flight

7. Prisons

8. Cosmetic implants

9. Lie detectors

10. DVDs

For Sterling’s reasons, click here.

Nanotechnology

Royal Society to explore nanotech safety

The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering study on nanotechnology is to address concerns about the safety of nanoparticles, Prof. Ann Dowling, chair of the working group, said today.

The move is a response to comments from over 80 stakeholders from academia, NGOs and industry. Respondents stressed the need to separate science fiction from science fact the “grey goo” effect). A series of workshops, starting on 30 September, will take the issue further. Today’s meeting aims to establish where research is now, where it could be in five or 10 years, and explore possibilities for the use of nanotechnology further in the future.  A full report of the workshop will be available in November.

Prof. Dowling, said working at the molecular scale incorporates many branches of science, including most chemistry. "Developing a more appropriate definition is one of the tasks for the working group,” she said.

Regarding safety issues, she added that the air is already full of both natural and man-made nanoparticles. “Everyday incidents like burning a piece of toast add to them,” she said. “The study will explore whether nanoparticles produced by new technology have the potential to cause additional risks.”

Dowling said the working group will meet 30 NGO representatives on 30 October, and that they will have a chance to set the agenda.  A public consultation will follow, including a survey of 1000-2000 people to establish nanotechnology awareness levels, plus a month-long web consultation.

The working group will also meet health, safety and environmental experts, and regulators, and consider written and oral evidence. 

R&D

Spend, spend, spend

Budgets for R&D will have to rise if companies are to have a future. That’s the message from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers’ new survey on the world’s top R&D spenders.

Several years of budgets cuts have led to flaccid new product pipelines and bored consumers. As a result, boardroom thinking is changing and R&D budgets are rising. The survey quotes Microsoft’s Bill Gates saying the software firm plans to spend 20% more this year after it cut R&D spending by 1.6% in 2002. General Electric boss Jeffrey Immelt is on record saying GE's growth depends on increases in R&D spending. Immelt cranked up GE's R&D spending for FY 02 by 12% or $235m.

Distribution

Birds Eye winks for NationFresh tomatoes

US-based tomato distributor NationFresh has won the exclusive right to Birds Eye Fresh tomatoes from Birds Eye Foods, the US’s largest processor of frozen vegetables.

The deal leverages NationFresh’s global network of growers, packers and shippers, premium programs, and their “unparalleled” national distribution system to food service and retail customers. "Matching these capabilities with the equity of the Birds Eye name -- a name that is synonymous with quality and freshness - creates a valuable strategic alliance for both companies."

NationFresh will also carry other Birds Eye Fresh products to retailers across the country.