Chemistry World Blog

US loans $405 million to biofuel projects

The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $405 million (£250 million) in loans to three cellulosic ethanol projects. The largest loan, of $250 million, will go towards a biorefinery from US company Coskata that will use woody biomass to make ethanol. In addition, Canadian biofuel company Enerkem will receive $80 million for a biorefinery that uses municipal solid waste and Ineos New Planet BioEnergy – a joint venture of UK chemical major Ineos and New Planet Energy – will receive $75 million for a biorefinery that uses vegetable, yard and wood waste, as well as municipal solid waste. (more…)

The nomination deadline for the Chemistry World Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2011 is drawing near. Only 10 days to go!!

This Award recognises an individual’s contribution to the commercialisation of research and the winner will be featured in Chemistry World, read by 50,000 people, therefore receiving valuable press coverage. On top of that, they will also receive £4,000 and a trophy. Nominations are welcome from both organisations and individuals, and candidates are permitted to nominate themselves so you’ve got no excuse….

Other RSC Industry & Technology related awards which may be of interest include:

Inspiration & Industry Award
Young Industrialist of the Year Award
Process Technology Award
Teamwork in Innovation Award

For more information about industry and technology related awards and to make a nomination please click here.

Prizes & Awards in other areas of the chemical sciences are also open for nomination but remember: the deadline is 31 January 2011. Good luck!

Bibiana Campos Seijo

— Olive oil

US researchers have found that a cell receptor called TRPA1 is activated by two apparently unrelated anti-inflammatory agents – the well known anti-inflammatory ibuprofen, and the rather less well known anti-inflammatory, olive oil (or, more specifically, a component of olive oil called oleocanthal).

The TRPA1 receptor is found at the back of the throat, which leads the researchers, whose data are published in the Journal of Neuroscience, to conclude that it is responsible for the slight stinging sensation you get with some of the more expensive extra virgin olive oils.

‘Oleocanthal and ibuprofen are chemically unrelated, yet both are potent anti-inflammatory compounds that activate the TRPA1 receptor and cause sensory irritation,’ says corresponding author Gary Beauchamp of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, US.

Lead author Catherine Peyrot des Gachons points out that the two anti-inflammatory agents promote irritation and pain. ‘These two facts seems antagonistic and excitingly mysterious from a scientific perspective,’ she concludes.

Bea Perks

Reference: C Peyrot des Gachons et al, J. Neurosci., 2011, 31, 999, DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1374-10.2011

It won’t make you laugh or your car go faster, but Phillip Broadwith discovers that nitric oxide can certainly get a message across in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast

Pharma brand erosion hits US hardest

The US will be the region hit hardest by erosion of the branded small molecule drug market by generic competition, according to a new report. Cheaper generic alternatives are becoming available as patents for key drugs expire, making it harder for drugmakers to recover money spent during drug development. Analysts at UK market research company Datamonitor said that on average US sales fall 72 per cent in the six months following the appearance of generic competition. Meanwhile, global trends are more complicated. In China, for example, patent expiries have little if any impact because brands face generic competition from the outset. Erosion is greatest for infectious disease, oncology and cardiovascular small molecule brands, and is greater in the market for hospital use than that for direct patient consumption.  (more…)

17 January 2011: Have something to say about an article you’ve read on Chemistry World this week? Leave your comments below…

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Abbott wins approval for dissolving implant

Pharma major Abbott has been granted EU approval for ‘the world’s first drug eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold’ for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The scaffold restores blood flow in clogged vessels by providing support for the walls of the structure. But it is made of polylactide, which means it should dissolve within two years of insertion, unlike a metal scaffold, which would be permanent. The company says that after the implant dissolves blood vessels treated with the scaffold might regain the ability to move, flex and pulsate in a similar way to untreated vessels. In addition, the scaffold releases Zortress (everolimus), a Novartis drug that suppresses the immune system to reduce the risk of rejection. (more…)

Hear how a well stocked chemistry set got a teenage Brian Clegg into all sorts of mischief with the contact explosive nitrogen triiodide, in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast

MedImmune interest in Amgen biologic

MedImmune – the biologics unit at pharma major AstraZeneca – has gained rights to a monoclonal antibody from US biotech Amgen. AMG 108 is a fully human monoclonal antibody in Phase I and II clinical trials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The companies have not disclosed financial details. (more…)

I have just found out that my local crematorium is offering two new eco-friendly alternatives to cremation. Freeze-drying or dissolving could be the green way to go after death for all you environmentalists out there.

Those of you with a squeamish disposition may not want to read on, but when looking into this, I found it morbidly fascinating… rather like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car, I just had to keep reading… (more…)