GLG News by Luminex 100 System Users

* MRSA is a serious problem in the US, particularly with the increasing spread of community acquired strains (caMRSA). * Toxins produced by many caMRSA are rapidly lethal in populations who get soft-tissue infections or sepsis from these organisms (children, elderly). * Nosocomically-acquired MRSAs...

* Another HIV viral load assay in an increasingly crowded market. * Abbott has a reputation for recalls and recalcitrance in its diagnostics arena. 2007 has not been a good year for them. * Not clear this assay provides significant advantages over other assays recently obtaining FDA approval.

* New class of antibiotic with activity against MRSA that has been used in the US to treat sepsis and severe infections. * As or more expensive than other drug regimens for the patient populations indicated. * Resistance to daptomycin has been reported in MRSA and enterococci. * Has a role, but generally...

* Some interesting in vitro data regarding cidal/killing activity of oritavancin, another peptide antibiotic in the same class as vancomycin. * No significant animal models to date. * One study has shown some toxic effects on eukaryotic cells in vitro. * Remains to be determined if this antibiotic...

* Adding a cephalosporin to the armentarium of antibiotics against MRSA remains a big plus. * Await to hear of available methods for in vitro susceptibility testing of Ceftobiprole to guide use of the antibiotic, alone or in combination with other antibiotics.

* IL-8 is one of the key "screams" a cell can emit to recruit neutrophils to a site of infection. * More recent studies have suggested that IL-8 can also play a role in tumor-promoted angiogenesis. Metastatic breast cancer, or its prevention, is one area in which anti-IL-8 therapeutics could be of use....

* identifying the cause of peptide-chain switching among IgG4 molecules should facilitate genetic engineering of an IgG4 that prevents this from occurring. The modified IgG4 would be an ideal isotype to use in development of monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic use against diseases such as cancer,...

* Novel class of antibiotic with potential specific activity against C. difficile * Only in vitro studies shown, and even these are limited. * No data available to address the key question of whether the antibiotic inhibits toxin production, germination or killing of vegetative cells.

Complement activation via antibody binding to a tumor cell could promote destruction of that cell. However, if the epitope to which the antibody binds is not specific, normal/healthy cells could also be damaged. Absolute specificity of the antibody for a cell-surface target on the cancer cell...

Per Quest's own website, their assay uses an existing technology employed by metabolic labs across the country (e.g. nothing new, nor obviously innovative in what they're marketing). They may be able to generate business from smaller hospitals/practices that don't have ready access to a local metabolic...