Oncology News and Research

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Oncology, meaning bulk, mass, or tumor, and the suffix ''-logy'', meaning "study of") is a branch of medicine that deals with tumors (cancer). A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''.

Enzon second-quarter loss from continuing operations reduces to $5.4 million

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010. For the second quarter of 2010, Enzon reported a loss from continuing operations of $5.4 million or $0.09 per diluted share, as compared to a loss of $19.7 million or $0.43 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2009.

4 Aug 2010

Celsion reports net loss of $2.6M for second-quarter 2010

Celsion Corporation, a biotechnology drug development company, today announced financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010 and addressed the progression of the clinical trials of ThermoDox, Celsion's heat activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin. ThermoDox is currently being evaluated in the Phase III HEAT trial for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and in a Phase I/II trial for patients with recurrent chest wall breast cancer.

3 Aug 2010

Research findings help shape long-term follow-up strategies for early stage lung cancer patients

In patients with non-small cell lung cancer, five-year disease-free survival is currently the benchmark of cure. However, there are two issues that remain with the follow-up standards: (1) When can cure be declared with confidence and (2) for how long should follow-up examination be continued?

3 Aug 2010

Study shows prevalence, severity of dyspnea in long-term lung cancer survivors

With the growing number of long-term lung cancer survivors, research is needed to identify and address cancer survivorship issues. One of the most common and debilitating symptoms among lung cancer patients is dyspnea, or shortness of breath. As most studies of dyspnea have reviewed patients with active lung cancer or immediately after treatment, the prevalence of dyspnea over the long-term once treatment has been completed is not well characterized.

3 Aug 2010

ArQule, Daiichi Sankyo announce decision to advance ARQ 197 into Phase 3 clinical trial for NSCLC

ArQule, Inc. and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. today announced that they will move forward with a Phase 3 clinical trial of ARQ 197, a small molecule inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In connection with this decision, the sponsor company, Daiichi Sankyo, will file a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a trial comparing ARQ 197 plus erlotinib against erlotinib plus placebo.

3 Aug 2010

Enzo Clinical Labs appointed as participating laboratory in Empire BlueCross BlueShield provider network

Enzo Biochem Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, Enzo Clinical Labs, Inc., and Empire BlueCross BlueShield, the largest health insurer in New York State, today jointly announced that effective August 1, 2010 Enzo Clinical Labs will be a participating laboratory in the Empire provider network for the metropolitan New York area.

3 Aug 2010

MRCC deploys CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device

Competitive Technologies, Inc. announced that McKinney Regional Cancer Care Center, a private physician oncology practice based in McKinney, TX, is the first cancer center in Texas treating with CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device. Patients suffering from pain related to cancer are being treated under the direction of medical oncologist Dennis Birenbaum, M.D.

3 Aug 2010

Rush University Medical Center first to receive Octapharma grant under anniversary program

Octapharma USA today announced the first grant recipient of the Octapharma 25th Anniversary Grants Program is the Rush Hemophilia & Thrombophilia Center at Rush University Medical Center. The Octapharma grants program supports clinical or pre-clinical research focused on human protein therapies in hematology, immune therapy, intensive care and emergency medicine.

3 Aug 2010

Mount Sinai joins MMRC to develop new treatments for multiple myeloma

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine today announced that Mount Sinai has become the newest Member Institution to join the MMRC to accelerate the development of new treatments for multiple myeloma.

3 Aug 2010

Patrys secures funding of up to A$15 million to support advancement of clinical products

Patrys Limited (ASX: PAB), a company focused on the development of natural human antibodies for the treatment of cancer, announced today that it has secured up to A$15 million in funding.

3 Aug 2010

ARO uses Elekta VMAT system for prostate cancer patients

In the expansive region of Australasia—which includes Australia, New Zealand and neighboring islands—Auckland Radiation Oncology Centre is the first to use Elekta VMAT, treating a patient with prostate cancer using a single 100-second arc of radiation. Such rapid treatments change the entire therapy experience for these patients, who have had to remain completely still for seven minutes during radiation delivery for each of 37 to 39 separate treatment sessions or "fractions."

From Elekta 2 Aug 2010

Osteologix grants Servier Research Group exclusive license to develop, commercialize NB S101

Osteologix, Inc. through its wholly owned Irish subsidiary Osteologix Limited and the Servier Research Group, the leading French independent pharmaceutical company, today announced that Osteologix has granted Servier an exclusive royalty bearing license to develop and commercialize NB S101 (strontium malonate) to treat post menopausal osteoporosis, other bone and joint disorders and dental indications worldwide, except in the U.S. NB S101 is an innovative molecule acting on both bone formation and bone resorption.

2 Aug 2010

IRIS International closes AlliedPath acquisition

IRIS International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of automated in-vitro diagnostics systems and consumables for use in hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide, announced today that it has closed the acquisition of AlliedPath, Inc., a private, early stage high complexity, CLIA-certified laboratory focused on oncology and molecular diagnostics.

2 Aug 2010

Merck reports strong bottom-line performance in second quarter

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of $0.86, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses, restructuring costs and the gain on AstraZeneca's asset option exercise. Second-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.24.

2 Aug 2010

Researchers create artificial RNA inhibitor to block excess blood cells formation

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have uncovered a key step in the creation of new red blood cells in an animal study.They found that a tiny fragment of ribonucleic acid (RNA), a chemical cousin of DNA, prompts stem cells to mature into red blood cells. The researchers also created an artificial RNA inhibitor to block this process.

2 Aug 2010

Body’s natural cell suicide program may trigger tumor development: Study

Cancer research springs a surprise. Researchers at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne have found that programmed cell death (apoptosis) or cell suicide plays a role in tumor development. This process is an important phenomenon in our body as it helps remove damaged cells. Now apoptosis has been found to be protective against cancer formation and autoimmune diseases.

1 Aug 2010

Formatech selects Femta's FM101 therapeutic candidate for Fillanthropy program

Today, Formatech, Inc. announced that it has selected Femta's FM101 therapeutic candidate to be enrolled in its Fillanthropy Program. Under this program, Formatech will donate the services required to aseptically fill and finish one lot of the drug candidate for use in support of Femta's upcoming clinical trials.

31 Jul 2010

Pathwork Diagnostics enters into research collaboration with Novartis

Pathwork Diagnostics Inc., a molecular diagnostics company focused on oncology, today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with Novartis. The parties intend to discover clinically meaningful biomarker signatures that can serve as the basis for diagnostics across a range of cancer types. Under the terms of the agreement, both parties have rights to develop and commercialize the diagnostic products. Financial terms were not disclosed.

31 Jul 2010

Water Street Healthcare Partners acquires Medical Specialties Distributors

Water Street Healthcare Partners, a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on health care, announced today that it has acquired Medical Specialties Distributors, LLC (MSD). Headquartered in Stoughton, Massachusetts, MSD is the nation's leading provider of infusion products, supplies, biomedical services and technology solutions to the growing home infusion therapy market. The acquisition expands Water Street's current group of health care companies to 12.

From Baxter International Inc. 31 Jul 2010

Conatus acquires Idun Pharmaceuticals

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that Conatus acquired the Idun Pharmaceuticals subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed. Conatus Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held drug development company focused on liver disease and oncology.

31 Jul 2010