Bristol-Myers Squibb Sells ConvaTec Business Unit

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (New York, NY) has signed an agreement to sell its ConvaTec (Princeton, NJ) business unit to Nordic Capital Fund VII (Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Helsinki) and Avista Capital Partners (New York, NY and Houston, Tex) for $4.1 billion.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and delivery of the company’s audited 2007 financial statements. The closing is anticipated to take place the third quarter of 2008.

The purchasers have entered into a fully committed loan agreement, which provides funding by the lenders with no material conditions other than the purchase agreement and customary conditions relating to the delivery of closing documents and financial information, as well as conditions related to the status of the purchaser.

Visit http://www.convatec.com for more information.

Wound Closure System Utilized on the Front Lines

A new medical device designed by Canica Design Inc (Almonte, Ontario) is being utilized on the front lines throughout Iraq.

The ABRA^® Surgical Skin Closure System has helped battle zone surgeons implement the new surgical regimen—dynamic wound closure. The procedure applies continuing tension uniformly across a wound for a few days to close it gradually and completely, eliminating the need for skin grafting.

The procedure can be used on different types of wounds, including fasciotomies, skin lacerations, and large abdominal eviscerations. The system’s technology is also used to protect wounds from re-opening.

An independent clinical study by US Army combat-support surgeons in Baghdad showed that the device saved the lives and limbs of numerous soldiers and civilians. The ABRA helped minimize complications through faster healing.

Visit http://www.canica.com for more information.

Alligator Blood May Help Fight Infections

During the American Chemical Society conference, researchers at McNeese State University (Lake Charles, La) disclosed that recent studies revealed alligator blood may have the potential to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), severe burns, and ulcers. While alligators suffer serious injuries from fierce territorial battles, their wounds heal quickly despite contact with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Researchers anticipate applying this healing ability to human wound care.

In order to learn how the alligators are resistant to infection, researchers collected blood samples from American alligators after injecting them with a substance to stimulate their immune systems. They then isolated infection-fighting white blood cells and extracted antibiotic proteins that were then tested on various bacteria.

The small amounts of extracted proteins killed a wide range of bacteria, including MRSA. The proteins killed 6 of the 8 different strains of the yeast infection Candida albicans, which can have altering effects on people with weakened immune systems, such as persons with AIDS.

Researchers hope these proteins can be used as a basis for new antibacterial and antiviral drugs to treat human infections. Scientists are investigating using the proteins in developing treatments for HIV after alligator white blood cells have shown potential to destroy the virus in a Petri dish. The researchers hope alligator blood can be used for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers or to keep infections in check among burn patients. Mapping the chemical structure of these proteins is the next step in order for researchers to move forward.