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Beneforté Broccoli - New Research Published - Explained: Why Beneforte reliably delivers more glucoraphanin than standard broccoli
Reliably higher levels of healthy compound in Beneforté broccoli
Field trials and genetic studies have shown that a new variety of broccoli reliably yields higher levels of a health-promoting compound.
Broccoli contains a compound called glucoraphanin, which has been shown to promote health by maintaining cardiovascular health and a reduction in the risk of cancer. A long term breeding programme to increase glucoraphanin levels has resulted in the commercial release of Beneforté broccoli. Beneforté was developed by crossing standard broccoli with a wild relative derived from Sicily.
Publicly funded research to develop Beneforté broccoli was led by two of the UK’s world-leading biological research institutes: the Institute of Food Research and the John Innes Centre, on the Norwich Research Park. They both receive strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Three years of field trials at over 50 different sites in Europe and the United states have shown that Beneforté broccoli consistently produces 2-3 times the amount of glucoraphanin than other leading varieties of broccoli, without affecting yield, quality or the levels of other nutrients.
Glucoraphanin contains sulphur, which broccoli derives from the soil. New research, published in the journal New Phytologist, shows that Beneforté increases the amount of sulphur it takes up from the soil, and also channels more of it into glucoraphanin. Genetic analysis identified a single gene derived from the original wild relative that is responsible for both of these changes. In standard broccoli varieties, different soils can cause variation in glucoraphanin levels. These findings explain how Beneforté consistently delivers more glucoraphanin than ordinary broccoli.
Professor Richard Mithen of the Institute of Food Research is now leading ongoing studies to understand how glucoraphanin in Beneforté exerts its effects on human health, with particular focus on the cardiovascular system and prostate cancer.
Beneforté broccoli was launched in the UK in 2011 and is available from Marks and Spencer and Asda.
Reference: Genetic regulation of glucoraphanin accumulation in Beneforté broccoli. Traka M H, et al. New Phytologist (2013) doi: 10.1111/nph.12232
For more information, please contact Dr Jan Chojecki at PBL, or Andrew Chapple at IFR +44 1603 251490.
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April 2013 |
Dicerna and PBL Sign Agreement for Baulcombe & Hamilton RNAi Patents
WATERTOWN, Mass. & Norwich, UK, April, 9, 2013 – Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Dicerna), a second generation RNA interference (RNAi) company focused on developing novel therapeutics utilizing its proprietary Dicer Substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) Technology™ and EnCore™ delivery system, and Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL), today announced that they have entered an agreement for a non-exclusive licence to PBL’s RNAi intellectual property estate. PBL will grant Dicerna a world-wide, non-exclusive license to the Baulcombe patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 8,097,710; 8,258,285; 8,299,235 and 8,263,569) for use in the field of human therapeutics. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Please click here to read article in full, and here for a link to the Short RNA section on our website.
For more information please contact:
+1 617-612-6214 Jim Weissman, Chief Business Officer, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
+1 617-730-8284 Michele Rozen, Pure Communications
+44 1603 456500 Rebecca McIntosh, Plant Bioscience Ltd
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April 2013 |
PBL Awarded Further US Patent on Short RNAi Molecules: US 8,349,607
Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL) is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued US Patent No. 8,349,607. This is the first patent to extend the method claims into specific applications. The patent claims methods to silence target genes in a second cell or organism which is one of the major applications for the use of RNAi silencing in organisms.
Please click here for a link to the Short RNA section on our website.
For licensing enquiries, please contact Dr Lars von Borcke. All other enquiries to info@pbltechnology.com.
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March 2013 |
Bioneer acquires Model Gut Contract Research business and is granted licence to the Dynamic Gastric Model
The Dynamic Gastric Model expands Bioneer's readily available services for pharmaceutical dosage form testing, drug discovery screening, bioequivalence assessment, and functional food analysis.
Bioneer has signed an exclusive license agreement with UK technology management company Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL), regarding use of the Dynamic Gastric Model (DGM) developed at the Institute of Food Research, UK. Bioneer has also acquired PBL's highly successful DGM contract research business (www.modelgut.com) which provides specialist DGM services to the pharmaceutical and food-related industries. The Model Gut services will be integrated into Bioneer's own service offering, under the Bioneer:FARMA brand. The DGM is a breakthrough in the accurate simulation of the human gastric compartment. It is the first truly 'dynamic' in vitro system that fully replicates the complex biochemical conditions, as well as the array of gastric forces crucial for the prediction of the bio-performance of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Please click here to read article in full, and here for a link to the Model Gut section on our website.
For more information please contact:
Professor Anette Müllertz, Head of Department, Bioneer:FARMA
Or:
Rebecca McIntosh at PBL
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January 2013 |
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