Atherosclerosis News and Research

RSS

Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque - the fatty deposits and other cells - in the inner walls of the arteries. The condition is a consequence of elevated cholesterol and for many it's a silent disease, with no visible signs or symptoms. The disease can begin in early adulthood and continues to progress for the rest of a person's life. Despite the serious nature of atherosclerosis, many people do not understand how it develops and progresses.

FDA designates XOMA 052 orphan drug for Behcet's disease

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated XOMA 052, an antibody to interleukin-1 beta, an orphan drug for the treatment of Behcet's disease. As previously announced, the Committee for Orphan Medical Products of the European Medicines Agency has recommended the granting of orphan medicinal product designation for XOMA 052 for the same indication in the European Union.

5 Aug 2010

Research findings show normal rise and fall in triglycerides

When the circadian rhythm gets thrown off, it could come with an unexpected side effect: high triglycerides. The discovery, based on studies in mice with a "broken clock," helps to explain the normal rise and fall in triglycerides, which happens at about the same time each day, according to researchers who report their findings in the August issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication.

4 Aug 2010

Celera decreases second-quarter net loss to $6.1 million

Celera Corporation today reported net revenues of $32.6 million for the second quarter of 2010 that ended June 26, 2010, compared to $41.4 million for the prior year quarter. For the second quarter of 2010, Celera reported a net loss of $6.1 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to a net loss of $31.7 million, or $0.39 per share, for the prior year quarter.

4 Aug 2010

FDA clears Hotspur's new balloon dilatation and embolectomy catheters

Hotspur Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has received FDA clearance for the first three commercial products in its portfolio. These products are based on Hotspur's unique and groundbreaking technology that makes dialysis access interventional and peripheral vascular procedures that open blood vessels less expensive, more efficient, and less invasive for patients.

30 Jul 2010

EMA recommends orphan medicinal product designation for XOMA 052 in treatment of Behcet's disease

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that the Committee for Orphan Medical Products of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion and recommends the granting of orphan medicinal product designation for XOMA 052, an antibody to interleukin-1 beta, for the treatment of Behcet's disease. Positive opinions are submitted to the European Commission for decision and are generally adopted within 30 days of receipt.

29 Jul 2010

Cerenis Therapeutics closes first round of series C, raises €40 million

Cerenis Therapeutics SA (Cerenis), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of novel therapies based on the metabolism of HDL (the "good" cholesterol) to treat cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases, announced today it has raised €40 million in the first close of its series C financing. In this round €20 million came from the Fund for Strategic Investment (FSI) with an additional €20 million coming from the existing investors: Sofinnova Partners, HealthCap, Alta Partners and TVM Capital, EDF Ventures, OrbiMed and DAIWA Corporate Investment.

26 Jul 2010

Inhibiting fatty acid synthase can reduce atherosclerosis: Study

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a way to significantly reduce atherosclerosis in mice that does not involve lowering cholesterol levels or eliminating other obesity-related problems.

26 Jul 2010

Genomics researchers study role of protein in metabolic disorders, heart disease

Studying a protein already known to play an important role in type 2 diabetes and cancer, genomics researchers have discovered that it may have an even broader role in disease, particularly in other metabolic disorders and heart disease. In finding unsuspected links to other disease-related genes, the scientists may have identified future targets for drug treatments.

22 Jul 2010

TCF7L2 protein may play important role in heart disease, other metabolic disorders: Researchers

22 Jul 2010

Replacing hydrogen with deuterium increases stability, shelf life of fluorescent probes: Research

By swapping out one specific hydrogen atom for an isotope twice as heavy, researchers have increased the shelf life and detection ability of fluorescent probes that are essential to studying a variety of inflammatory diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis. The probes detect and measure reactive oxygen species, which play an important role in disease processes.

21 Jul 2010

Scientists find major shortcomings in assessing CVD risk in HIV patients

At the same time that medical science has nearly eliminated AIDS deaths in patients treated for human immunodeficiency virus, two international meetings of HIV/AIDS scientists and patient advocates find major shortcomings in the design and analysis of studies used to assess cardiovascular disease risk in people with HIV with significant implications for improving medical care.

20 Jul 2010

BioInvent reports net revenues of SEK 63.1M for January - June 2010 period

BioInvent reached an important milestone when the results of a phase II trial of TB-402 following orthopaedic surgery, were reported in May. The data showed that TB-402 is statistically better at preventing thrombosis than enoxaparin, the current standard treatment. Supported by these good results, BioInvent and the company's partner, ThromboGenics, will now prioritise securing a development partner for the programme to ensure that the necessary resources is in place to take the product candidate to the market.

14 Jul 2010

Individual genes and networks that play an important role in inflammation, atherosclerosis identified

HemoShear, LLC, a leading developer of innovative, cell-based, human surrogate models for discovery and assessment of new drug compounds, has produced a profile of all of the genes that influence the biology and function of the human artery system. This research has generated valuable information on the entire spectrum of genes that are found in specific cell-types that make up human arteries.

14 Jul 2010

UMMC receives $26M to identify risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

The University of Mississippi Medical Center and four collaborating academic medical centers have received $26 million from the National Institutes of Health to identify risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related forms of cognitive decline, said Dr. Thomas Mosley, UMMC professor of geriatric medicine and one of the new study's lead investigators.

14 Jul 2010

BioImage Study published in American Heart Journal

BG Medicine, Inc., a U.S.-based biomarker discovery and in vitro diagnostics company, announced today the publication of The BioImage Study trial design and key objectives in the American Heart Journal. The American Heart Journal is a peer- reviewed journal that publishes original research and review articles on clinical research studies in the field of cardiology.

13 Jul 2010

Johnson & Johnson to acquire Micrus Endovascular

Johnson & Johnson and Micrus Endovascular Corporation, a global developer and manufacturer of minimally invasive devices to address hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, today announced a definitive agreement whereby Micrus Endovascular will be acquired in a cash for stock exchange.

12 Jul 2010

UMMC to partner with Mayo Clinic to discover new therapies, train new medical scientists

The University of Mississippi Medical Center will partner with the renowned Mayo Clinic on a series of initiatives intended to convert laboratory discoveries into new therapies and train a new generation of medical scientists.

9 Jul 2010

Phase II trial results of TB-402 presented at International Congress on Thrombosis

BioInvent International AB and ThromboGenics NV announce that the positive results from a Phase II trial of TB-402 (Anti-Factor VIII antibody) were presented at the 21st International Congress on Thrombosis in Milan, Italy yesterday. TB-402 is a novel, long acting anticoagulant that is being developed as a single injection for the prevention of venous thromboembolism following orthopaedic surgery.

9 Jul 2010

Dysautonomia linked to CKD: Study

Individuals with a high resting heart rate and a low beat-to-beat heart rate variability have an increased risk of developing kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The findings suggest that the behavior of the autonomic nervous system may be a sentinel marker for late development of certain cases of kidney disease.

9 Jul 2010

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

New findings reported in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said.

8 Jul 2010