In a sort-of approval for an implantable ID chip the FDA opened the door for use in humans when it declined to regulate the device, reports Wired: ‘…For the past several weeks, Applied Digital Solutions has worked to get its VeriChip — a biochip containing personal data that is similar to devices used to identify lost pets — classified as a non-regulated device. On Thursday, the company’s wish was granted. “They inquired about the use of the product for non-medical, identification purposes,” said FDA spokeswoman Sharon Snider. “If it’s a non-medical use, the FDA doesn’t regulate it.”
Monthly Archives: April 2002
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Uses Linux NetworX Cluster to Aid in Drug Discovery
Linux NetworX announced today that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is advancing its human healthcare research and development processes with a 120-processor Linux NetworX Evolocity™ cluster supercomputer. Full press release enclosed.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, April 2, 2002 – Linux NetworX announced today that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is advancing its human healthcare research and development processes with a 120-processor Linux NetworX Evolocity™ cluster supercomputer.
The Ridgefield, Conn. laboratory of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals is using the cluster supercomputer to help predict the suitability of certain molecules in potential drugs. This process is ideal for a Linux cluster supercomputer because the same compute process is completed for hundreds of thousands of molecules. Computational chemists and biologists at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals are also using the cluster to run applications to find the best combinations of molecules and protein binding sites for drug development.
�With a 120-processor cluster, managing every aspect of the system can be quite overwhelming,� said Dave Craska, lead systems engineer for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. �The ClusterWorX software from Linux NetworX helps alleviate the complexities of cluster management, especially when upgrading and propagating new releases of software.�
Before switching to a Linux NetworX cluster, scientists at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals were running the same applications on a variety of systems, but results were slowed because of the limited number of available CPUs. After deploying the Linux NetworX cluster, information was processed quickly and efficiently, saving Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals time and money.
The massive amount of data computation inherent in drug design typically requires the power of a supercomputer class system. Cluster technology is a method of linking multiple computers, or compute nodes, together to form a powerful, unified system. Linux NetworX clusters can match the performance of traditional supercomputers for a fraction of the cost.
�The bioinformatics industry is experiencing an enormous demand for cost-effective, reliable supercomputing solutions and many pharmaceutical companies are turning to Linux clusters to meet that need,� said Clark Roundy, vice president of marketing at Linux NetworX. �Companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals demand quick, accurate results and Linux NetworX provides the management tools to ensure our customers focus on their core competencies instead of system management.�
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals� Evolocity system includes 120 Pentium III 866 MHz processors, 50 GB of memory, an Intel 10/100 NIC connection and ClusterWorX cluster management software. To ensure optimum cluster operation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals also signed a service and support contract with Linux NetworX.
About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies. The Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies, with headquarters in Ingelheim (Germany) is one of the 20 leading pharmaceutical firms in the world and reported revenues of almost US $5.8 billion in 2000. Boehringer Ingelheim, which has some 140 affiliated companies worldwide, focuses on human pharmaceuticals and animal health. The human pharmaceuticals business, which accounts for 95% of sales, is comprised of prescription medicines, consumer health care products and chemicals and biopharmaceuticals for industrial customers . Research and development, production, and distribution facilities are located around the globe. In 2000, Boehringer Ingelheim spent almost US $914 million on R&D, equivalent to 15.6% of net sales.
For more information on Boehringer Ingelheim, please see the international Internet website www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
About Linux NetworX
Linux NetworX (www.linuxnetworx.com) brings its powerful and easy-to-manage cluster technology to those demanding high performance and high availability systems. Linux NetworX provides solutions for organizations involved in oil and gas exploration, aeronautical and chemical modeling, biotechnology research, graphics rendering and visual effects, Web serving, ISPs, ASPs, and other technological research fields. Through its innovative Evolocity hardware, ICE™ cluster management tools and professional service and support, Linux NetworX provides end-to-end clustering solutions. To date, the company has built some of the largest cluster systems in the world, and boasts numerous Fortune 500 customers.
CONTACT:
Brad Rutledge
Linux NetworX
801-562-1010 ext. 218
brutledge@linuxnetworx.com
JSOnline: Doctor prescribes cure for office
This article looked like yet another: ‘I’m going to fix medicine by selling software to those dumb doctors.’ articles that crop up frequently only to sink beneath the waves. However, this one has an intriguing approach: ‘…Half of the company will belong to its founders, investors and employees. The other 50% will belong to all of the physicians who sign up. At the end of each year, the company will set aside some reserves and distribute half of the remaining profits to the network of physician owners. The remaining money will go to the founders, investors and employees with equity stakes in the company…’ Now if Zelko and co would only go open source, they’d have something.