Articles
Last week, the Systech team had the opportunity to attend Pharmapack 2024 in Paris, France. This event, attracting over 5,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors, is a pivotal trendsetter for the European pharmaceutical industry. This year, three key trends particularly stood out, each likely to significantly influence the future of pharmaceutical packaging. Combating Counterfeits Combating counterfeiting is high on the agenda this year. Counterfeit d…
The life science sector has seen a major amount of technological adoption in the past few years, prompted largely by the pandemic. As the industry progresses in 2024, it will remain dedicated to using technology to improve clinical trials, expand patient diversity, and strengthen drug safety systems. Several trends are likely to shape the pharmaceutical and clinical research industries this year: R…
Phosphorus catalysts are widely used in organic chemistry laboratories to convert acetic acid and formaldehyde into acrylic acid or used to catalyze hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN). It also plays an important role in photocatalyst or electrocatalyst by combining phosphorus with carbon materials or other metals and metal derivatives such as TiO2. Catalyst Used in Organic Chemistry Lab: Vanadium phosphorus oxide catalyst (VPO) can convert acetic acid and formaldehyde into acrylic acid for the conversion of oxidized butane to maleic anhydride or for certain…
Many individuals may not be familiar with hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in human health and medical research. Today, we delve into the essence of this crucial enzyme, its remarkable functions, and its applications in biotechnology. So, what is hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase? It is a catalytic enzyme involved in the metabolism of ketone bodies, primarily Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BH), in living organisms. It performs a rather complex biochemical task - converting Beta-Hydroxybutyrate to Ac…
Leica Microsystems, a world leader in microscopy and scientific instrumentation, has launched an evolved version of its ARveo 8 digital visualization microscope for neurosurgery. The ever-growing ecosystem, ARveo 8, enhances surgical visualization through the application of a 3D view and Augmented-Reality (AR) fluorescence. For brain-tumor surgery, the new GLOW400* 3D AR fluorescence helps surgeons to achieve a new level of clinical value creation with clear visualization of both anatomical structures and a wide range of fluorescence information. In vascular surgery, they can now visualize fluorescent vascular flow in 3D with the GLOW8…
According to Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), Germany constitutes the major European pharmaceutical market and the fourth largest worldwide, with a pharmaceutical market that is growing at a faster rate than the German economy. The country is home to more than 600 pharmaceutical companies, with the pharma industry emplo…
With 2024 officially underway, the global life science marketing space finds itself, as always, facing challenges and opportunities. The need for innovation and to attract and convert buyers in a hugely competitive space whilst staying on top of industry advancements remains crucial. New marketing trends are always emerging across every sector and the pharmaceutical and contract outsourcing space is no different. Companies operating in life sciences are still feeling the aftermath of the COVID come down which h…
The global biotechnology market was estimated at $1.37 trillion in 2022, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 13.96% between 2023 and 2030. As the industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate, talent acquisition professionals within the life science industry face unique challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining the top talent needed to propel this growth. In 2023, the industry u…
Introduction Liposomes, as drug carriers, provide a superior solution for maintaining or enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy while reducing the severity of reactions and side effects. Classification When the surface of the liposome is modified, the properties of the liposome can be changed to control the release of the internal drug, to achieve better targeting effect and drug efficacy. Current liposome release triggers include heat, light, pH, temperature, ultrasound, enzymes, magnetism and et al., which have been widely used in anti-t…
What are Isotopes? An isotope is one of two or more atoms of the same chemical element with the same atomic number, occupying the same position on the periodic table and having almost identical chemical behavior, but with different atomic weights or mass numbers, which results in differences in mass spectral behavior, radioactive transitions, and physical properties (e.g., diffusion ability in the gaseous state). Isotopes can be categorized into the following two types according to their stability and the physical properties of radioactivity: Sta…
What are Adjuvants? Adjuvants, also known as immunomodulators or immune enhancers, are an additive to vaccines. Adjuvants are non-specific immune enhancers that enhance or alter the type of immune response to an antigen. Based on their chemical properties, adjuvants can be broadly classified into the following categories: Inorganic adjuvants such as aluminum adjuvants; emulsion-based adjuvants such as MF59 and AS03; water-soluble adjuvants such as saponins; adjuvants targeting pattern-recognition recep…
What is Ergothioneine? At physiological pH, ergothioneine is stable since it mainly exists in the form of thione. It possesses various physiological functions, including scavenging free radicals, detoxification, maintaining DNA biosynthesis, promoting normal cell growth, and supporting cellular immunity. L-(+)-Ergothioneine can play a protective role in human cells, serving as an essential active substance in the body. Additionally, research indicates that ergothioneine can inhibit the activity of mitochondrial complex II, providing protection to mitochondria; and that ergothioneine has a protective effect on mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis…
The addition of the linker should not induce aggregation and needs to ensure acceptable PK characteristics, while limiting the premature release of the payload in plasma and enabling the effective release of active molecules at the targeted site. These linkers can be divided into cleavable linker and non-cleavable linker. ADCs based on non-cleavable linkers must be internalized and the antibody needs to be degraded by lysosomal proteases to release active molecules. Many non-cleavable linkers have been explored during the ADC development process, the most representative one is N-succinimide-4-(N-maleimideme…
Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are a novel approach for degrading target proteins. Recently, a new split-and-mix PROTAC (SM-PROTAC) system based on liposome self-assembly, known as LipoSM-PROTAC, was reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The LipoSM-PROTAC system exhibits selective degradatio…
We are in the midst of a golden era of healthcare innovation and advancement. Breakthrough technologies like genetics, nanomedicine, robotics, and…
Alcohol use disorder is a difficult condition for many people to battle, from those who are experiencing it to the healthcare providers treating it. While each journey has its own timeline, several factors can slow down an individual’s recovery. It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has had quite an impact on many industries in recent years. When it comes to the healthcare landscape, AI may also be able to help people combat alcohol use disorder. What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Alcohol use disorder is a term for chronic and compulsive drink…
Varicose veins cause considerable suffering for more than cosmetic reasons. This disorder also poses health risks, sometimes severe ones. What is the most significant risk factor for varicose veins? What genetic risks do scientists associate with the disorder? Researchers now have more answers than ever. Recent investigations have identified several genetic risk loci that predispose a person to the disorder. Knowing your risk helps you take the appropriate steps to protect your health. What should you know if you have concerns? Here…
Exploring the Structure and Function of CD73 The CD73 gene finds its home in the 6q14.3 region of human chromosome 6, encoding a protein comprised of 549 amino acid residues. CD73 functions as a glycosylphospholipase, residing on the cell membrane surface and engaging with the extracellular matrix through its extracellul…
The world of pharmacy is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Once considered a strategic choice, pharmacy workflow optimization has become a necessity. It encompasses a systematic approach to enhancing the processes and operations within a pharmacy, aiming to achieve higher efficiency, improved patient care, and compliance with ever-evolving healthcare regulations. Benefits of Pharmacy Workflow Optimization 1. Improved Patient Care…
Pharmaceutical excipients play a crucial role in the formulation and production of drugs, supporting their stability, efficacy, and palatability. Among the numerous excipients used in pharmaceutical preparations, preservatives, stabilizers, suspending agents, thickener excipients, and flavoring agents are commonly observed. Understanding their functions and characteristics is essential for pharmaceutical scientists and formulators. In this article, we will delve into each of these excipients to gain a comprehensive understanding of their roles in drug formulation. Preservatives Preservatives are vital components in pharmaceutical formulations as t…