Fred launches third-party apps marketplace for pharmacies

Australian pharmacy IT solutions provider Fred IT Group has launched an online marketplace of third-party applications for pharmacies.

Called Fred Marketplace, the web-based hub has solutions that have been approved and tested for use with Fred's software, including apps and integrations for robots, eCommerce, business intelligence, clinical services, drug information and medication management, loyalty and payment.

Third-party solutions come from Fred's trusted vendor partners, namely BD, Dataology, GuildLink, LifeSmart, MIMs, Modeus, Storbie, StrongRoom, Tyro, and Willach Pharmacy Solutions. 

The marketplace will continue to bring on new software partners and approved applications as it expands.

University of South Australia researchers develop fibre sensors to remotely monitor patients

Scientists from the University of South Australia have developed tiny optical fibre sensors to remotely track the positions of patients dealing with painful pressure sores in their beds.

"Each year, thousands of older Australians in hospitals and nursing homes experience pressure injuries, or ulcers, which take a long time to heal and can be fatal. At the very least, these injuries can cause severe pain, disrupt sleep, affect their mood, as well as their rehabilitation, mobility and quality of life," said Dr Stephen Warren-Smith, the lead researcher behind the new technology.

The fibre sensors are attached to the upper surface of a mattress to monitor movement and record heart and respiratory rates.

By picking up their breathing, the unobtrusive sensors can detect when a patient turns over, leaves a bed, or remains motionless. Nurses can be prompted if a patient has not moved for hours so they could adjust their position.

Current methods to monitor patients dealing with pressure sores use weight-based sensors, which cannot predict when a patient leaves the bed until their feet touch the floor. Camera-based technologies are also being used, although privacy is a major concern.

EpiAxis Therapeutics, Peptilogics partner for AI drug discovery

Australian drug developer EpiAxis Therapeutics and Peptilogics, a US-based biotechnology company, will harness AI in drug discovery to inhibit epigenetic oncology targets. 

Their project will make use of Peptilogics' AI platform Nautilus, together with EpiAxis's expertise in epigenetics, to advance drug discovery for cancers that escape existing therapies through epigenetic change, including metastatic breast cancer.

"We will focus on lead optimisation using Peptilogics’ Nautilus platform, which combines proprietary deep generative models, predictive models, and biophysical simulation to design multiparameter-optimised peptides with [the] potential to address historically challenging and novel drug targets," said Peptilogics CTO Nicholas Nystrom.

This partnership follows EpiAxis's recently concluded clinical trial which for the first time has used an epigenetic inhibitor alongside chemotherapy to treat metastatic cancer.