Weekly Roundup: Nuritas to present at AI in Pharma Summit, processed meat may increase breast cancer risk

08 Oct 2018 --- This week, a study has identified a link between processed meat consumption and higher breast cancer risk, while vitamin D insufficiency was linked with earlier death in older Thai men. Potentially high levels of sugar were flagged in Kellogg's Nutri-Grain breakfast product. Biotechnology company Nuritas is to present and host an interactive workshop with global pharmaceutical industry leaders at the annual AI in Pharma Summit 2018 this week. Spanish supermarket chain EROSKI has participated in the Global Social Economy international meeting to underline its commitment to a healthier and more sustainable diet.

In brief: Research studies
Higher levels of processed meat consumption could lead to a nine percent increase in breast cancer risk, an analysis published in the International Journal of Cancer has identified. The findings led the lead author, Dr. Maryam Farvid of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to recommend cutting down on processed meats for the prevention of breast cancer.

Vitamin D insufficiency is linked with earlier death in community-dwelling older Thai men; specifically, those who have diabetes, according to a study published in Geriatrics and Gerontology International. Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with a 77 percent higher risk of dying during follow-up among men, but there was no increased risk in women. Previous studies on the association between vitamin D and survival have primarily come from high-income countries.

In brief: Miscellaneous 
Nuritas, a biotechnology company studying drugs through the power of artificial intelligence (AI) based peptide discovery, will be presenting and hosting an interactive workshop with global pharmaceutical industry leaders at the annual AI in Pharma Summit 2018, on Tuesday the 9th of October in Boston, US. The workshop will explore how AI can be utilized to discover the next generation of therapeutics with reduced time and cost to foster industry discovery. “At Nuritas, we harness the power of AI to rapidly and efficiently discover peptide-based therapies for the world’s growing healthcare needs, with unmatched success rates across a broad range of disease areas. However, much work remains in understanding and maximizing the impact of this emerging technology,” says Emmet Browne, Chief Executive Officer of Nuritas. 

Spanish supermarket chain EROSKI has underlined its commitment to providing a more sustainable and healthy diet, through its participation in the Global Social Economy international meeting. Under the theme “Social Economy and Cities: Values and competitiveness for inclusive and sustainable local development,” EROSKI’s Health and Sustainability Manager, Alejandro Martínez Berriochoa, presented more than 20 measures that the supermarket is implementing, such as a commitment to healthier own brand products, fresh produce, an emphasis on local production and a focus on animal welfare.

Kellogg’s has been awarded the “tongue in cheek” Choice group’s “shonky” award for its Nutri-Grain Banana & Honey Smash Protein Squeezer. The Australian consumer lobby group says that the product contains too much sugar for breakfast – with its sugar level standing at 14.7 grams. The group also points out that the product is advertised with “fit” looking adults and, in this way, gives the image of a healthy product. 

By Laxmi Haigh