STMicroelectronics and Veredus Laboratories Launch Market’s First Lab-on-Chip for Rapid Molecular Flu Detection at Point of Need
 

 
Joint ST/Veredus lab set up in Singapore to develop future lab-on-chip applications
Net cash from operating activities was $476 million in the first quarter. Capital expenditures were $285 million in the 2007 first quarter compared to $386 million in the prior quarter. Net operating cash flow* was $172 million for the first quarter, compared to $187 million in the year-ago quarter, and $157 million in the prior quarter.

At March 31, 2007, ST's cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, short-term deposits and restricted cash equaled $3.0 billion. Total debt was $2.1 billion. ST's net financial position** was $917 million at the end of the first quarter. Shareholders' equity was $9.9 billion. The Company noted that inventory increased approximately $20 million sequentially, net of currency effects.



 

Click for larger image Geneva and Singapore, March 24,2008 - Following the success of the evaluation trials conducted at the prestigious National University Hospital of Singapore, Veredus Laboratories and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) today announced the commercial availability of VereFlu™, a portable lab-on-chip application for rapid detection of all major influenza types at the point of need. Unlike existing diagnostic methods, VereFlu is a breakthrough molecular diagnostic test that can detect infection with high accuracy and sensitivity, within two hours providing genetic information of the infection that traditionally would take days to weeks to learn. With its high level of automation, users outside the traditional lab environment can easily perform the tests at the point of need.

 

Combining STMicroelectronics’ In-Check™ lab-on-chip platform with Veredus’ bio-application capability, VereFlu is the market’s first test which has integrated two powerful molecular biological applications in a lab-on-chip the size of a fingernail. It can identify and differentiate human strains of Influenza A and B viruses, including the Avian Flu strain H5N1, in a single test.

“We are pleased to report that our evaluation trials show the suitability of the VereFlu diagnostic application for field testing and deployment,” said Associate Professor Raymond Lin, Head of Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital in Singapore. “The diagnostic reliability of this novel device makes it a powerful weapon against future influenza pandemics.” 

“VereFlu will enable healthcare professionals to effectively monitor mutations of flu viruses and quickly identify the main strain of the season,” said Dr Rosemary Tan, Chief Executive Officer of Veredus Laboratories. “This unique capability can significantly increase the effectiveness of flu vaccination and reduce public health risks associated with the emergence of a new flu virus.”

“The launch of VereFlu marks a substantial breakthrough in enabling rapid identification of the infectious agent to limit the spread of the disease and speed patients’ treatment,” said Gian Luca Bertino, Corporate VP and General Manager of ST’s Computer Peripherals Group. “The combination of Veredus’ diagnostic know-how with ST’s microfluidic lab-on-chip technology has bred the market’s first solution that detects multiple flu viruses at the point of need in a fraction of the time, cost, and complexity of conventional diagnostic systems.”

A miniature laboratory on a chip, ST’s In-Check platform allows users to accurately and reliably process and analyze minute patient samples – human blood, serum or respiratory swabs - on a single disposable thumbnail-sized chip. This approach reduces the time and complexity, as well as the risk of cross-contamination inherent in conventional analysis methods.

Encouraged by the success of the VereFlu project, STMicroelectronics and Veredus Laboratories have set up a joint lab, where experts from both companies will work together on the development of new biomedical applications based on ST’s In-Check lab-on-chip platform. Future application areas of interest include other infectious diseases, oncology and heart-disease markers. The new ST/Veredus biomedical laboratory, called the Bio-Application Lab, is located at the Science Park in Singapore and will be managed by Dr Rosemary Tan, CEO of Veredus. 

About Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd
 

Founded in 2003, Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd is a privately held, medical diagnostics company engaged in the development, commercialization and manufacture of diagnostic assays for diseases. As a successful enabler for innovative technologies, products and services, Veredus is the partner of choice for academic and increasingly industrial research in Life Sciences, Diagnostics and Pharma. For more information, please visit www.vereduslabs.com.

Click here for the high-resolution photo

 


About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2007, the Company's net revenues were $10.0 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
Information last updated Jan 2008




™ In-Check is a trademark of STMicroelectronics

 

For further information, please contact:
Dr Rosemary Tan
CEO, Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd

Mobile: +65 9619-9690
Email: rosemary@vereduslabs.com

 

[Ed. Note: This report should be read from its website location at http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1082.htm as this email copy does not contain the links embedded in the original report.]

 

March 24, 2008

US And Allies To Microchip All Citizens To Prevent Bird Flu Pandemic

By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers (Traducción al Español abajo)

Russian infectious disease specialists are reporting in the Kremlin today that the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to approve an ?emergency measure? mandating that all human beings on our planet have implanted within their bodies a newly invented microchip said to be able to prevent the deaths of over a billion people from the dreaded avian flu virus H5N1.

Prompting this horrific WHO actions, these reports continue, is Europe's top semiconductor maker, STMicroelectronics, announcement of its development of this new microchip, and as we can read as reported by the Reuters News Service, and as we can read:

"Europe's top semiconductor maker, STMicroelectronics, said it has developed a portable chip to detect influenza viruses including bird flu in humans.

The device, which functions as a mini laboratory on a chip, can screen and identify multiple classes of pathogens and genes in a single diagnostic test within two hours, unlike other tests available on the market that can detect only one strain at a time and require days or weeks to obtain results.

The chip can differentiate human strains of the Influenza A and B viruses, drug-resistant strains and mutated variants, including the Avian Flu or H5N1 strain."

Though rarely reported on in the West, the avian flu virus is, once again, exploding across Asia and the Middle East, with a further warning from Chinese expert, Zhong Nanshan, as he stated to the Ming Pao newspaper, that the H5N1 avian flu virus is showing signs of mutating, "When avian flu is around and human flu appears, this will raise the chances of avian flu turning into a human flu. We have to be very alert and careful in March."

Indonesia, the World?s largest Muslim Nation, however, and which the United Nations has stated is ?losing the battle against the bird flu?, has accused the United States of using the avian flu virus to produce biological weapons, and as we can read as reported by China?s Xinhua News Service, and as we can read:

"The United States has flatly denied allegations it was producing biological weapons from bird flu samples sent by Indonesia to the World Health Organization, the English daily The Jakarta Post reported Monday.

Michael H. Anderson, counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia, has explained the U.S. has undertaken "not to develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire or retain microbial or other biological agents or toxins of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective, and other peaceful purposes, as well as weapons and means of delivery."

Indonesia today rejected the denials of the United States and announced it would cease sending avian flu samples to the World Heath Organization until ?new global mechanisms were put into place.?

Russian Military Analysts further state in these reports that the United States, and its Western Allies, have long sought to microchip their population, indeed the entire World, to further their goal of establishing a New World Order through the establishment of a One World Government, and Religion, under their complete control.

But, these madmen in the West have been constantly thwarted in their efforts to have mass public acceptance for the microchiping of human beings by their Christian believers, and who say that such a scheme would introduce into our World their prophecies of the Anti-Christ, and who, according to these Christians, would seek to have all of humanity accept the Mark of the Beast.

The Christian?s prophetic book of Revelations says about this ?mark?

that, "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead.", and further warns of ?eternal destruction? for any human being accepting it.

It is, without doubt, clearly apparent that the United States, and its allies, have embarked upon a course of terrorizing their citizens into the accepting of some of the most draconian laws meant to deny them their freedoms and liberties, and one can, also, clearly see these people accepting these new microchips under the belief that it will further protect them from the dangers they face.

But, one cannot help but wonder what catastrophes lie ahead for these people when forced to accept these microchips for ?their own good? and threats to their very lives should they trade their religious beliefs for those of their new Earth masters.

© March 24, 2008 EU and US all rights reserved.

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