Telomerase News and Research

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Researchers unveil protection mechanism of telomeres from DNA repair

In the latest issue of the journal Nature, Miguel Godinho Ferreira, Principal Investigator at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) in Portugal, lead a team of researchers to shed light on a paradox that has puzzled biologists since the discovery of telomeres, the protective tips of chromosomes: while broken chromosome ends generated by DNA damage (such as radiation or cigarette smoke) are quickly joined together, telomeres are never tied to each other, thus allowing for the correct segregation of the genetic material into all cells in our body.

9 Sep 2010

Geron second-quarter net loss decreases to $17.0 million

Geron Corporation today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

30 Jul 2010

Geron commences enrollment in imetelstat Phase 2 clinical trial for NSCLC

Geron Corporation today announced enrollment of the first patient in a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of its telomerase inhibitor drug, imetelstat (GRN163L), as maintenance therapy following platinum-based induction therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

19 Jul 2010

Researchers discover potential way to stop tumor growth

Washington State University researchers have discovered a way to help cancer cells age and die, creating a promising avenue for slowing and even stopping the growth of tumors. "Hopefully, we can make cancer cells die like normal cells," says Weihang Chai, an assistant professor in the WSU School of Molecular Biosciences and WWAMI medical education program in Spokane. "Basically, you make the cancer cell go from immortal to mortal."

17 Jul 2010

Activities of TAT fully consolidated into Geron

Geron Corporation today announced that the activities of TA Therapeutics, its joint venture with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, are being fully consolidated into Geron.

15 Jul 2010

Interim progress from Phase III TeloVac study of GV1001 vaccine announced

KAEL-GemVax, a leading oncology vaccine company, today announced, through its subsidiary GemVax A.S, encouraging interim progress from the UK-based Phase III TeloVac study of its anti-telomerase therapeutic cancer vaccine GV1001 in pancreatic cancer. The company also strongly believes GV1001 has major "blockbuster" potential as a universal therapeutic cancer vaccine and is developing a strong pipeline for other indications, including lung and liver cancer and melanoma.

12 Jul 2010

Study may yield more targeted therapies for telomere associated diseases

A new study at the University of Leicester is examining a sequence of DNA- known as telomeres - that varies in length between individual.

14 Jun 2010

Study to understand process of telomere shortening

A new study at the University of Leicester is examining a sequence of DNA- known as telomeres - that varies in length between individual.

10 Jun 2010

Lytix Biopharma, KAEL-GemVax granted approval for GV1001/LTX-315 combination cancer therapy study

The Norwegian biopharmaceutical company Lytix Biopharma and Korean company KAEL-GemVax today announced approval by the Norwegian Medicines Agency ('Statens Legemiddelverk') to test a combination of LTX-315 and GV1001 as vaccine therapy in patients with resected tumours. Lytix Biopharma CEO Gunnar Salid states, "We are delighted to announce the approval of our joint study to test a combination of two very interesting experimental drugs.

9 Jun 2010

Clinical trial data of imetelstat in patients with breast cancer presented at ASCO annual meeting

Geron Corporation today announced the presentation of data from the clinical trial of imetelstat (GRN163L), the company's telomerase inhibitor drug, in combination with paclitaxel and bevacizumab in patients with breast cancer at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago.

7 Jun 2010

Targeted monoclonal antibodies show promise for pancreatic and metastatic breast cancer

Early trials using targeted monoclonal antibodies in combination with existing therapies show promise in treating pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer, according to research that will be presented by investigators from the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology June 4 through 8.

2 Jun 2010

UCSF research shows brief exercise buffers the effects of stress-induced cell aging

Exercise can buffer the effects of stress-induced cell aging, according to new research from UCSF that revealed actual benefits of physical activity at the cellular level.

27 May 2010

Positive data from Geron's TAT153 small molecule telomerase activator in animal model of IPF

Geron Corporation today announced positive data on its orally available small molecule telomerase activator, TAT153, in an animal model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The data show that administration of TAT153 increased telomerase activity in the lung tissue, reduced inflammation, preserved functional lung tissue, slowed disease progression and attenuated loss of pulmonary function.

19 May 2010

152 research and training grants awarded to researchers at 93 institutions nationwide

The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has awarded 152 new national research and training grants totaling $50,717,000 in the first of two grants cycles for 2010. The grants, primarily to early career researchers, cover a broad range of investigator-initiated ideas at 93 institutions nationwide, from whether cadmium exposure increases the risk of endometrial cancer, to studies of plant and bacterial-bourne compounds, to a study on a protein called survivin that could lead to novel drugs targeting prostate cancer.

18 May 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $1.9M for first-quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates targeted to Toll-like Receptors, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010

Geron reports net loss of $16.6M for first-quarter 2010

Geron Corporation today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

29 Apr 2010

Geron scientists highlight importance of telomerase inhibitor, GRN163L at AACR 2010

Geron Corporation today announced five presentations by Geron scientists and collaborators on the company's telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat sodium, including the drug's activity against cancer stem cells, at the 101st American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting held in Washington D.C.

23 Apr 2010

New insights on events that lead to immortalized cells

Researchers at Umeå University can now show that cells that grow forever get this capacity through gradual changes in the expression of genes that govern the repair of DNA damage and regulate growth and cell death. The research also shows that activation of the enzyme complex telomerase, which is necessary for unlimited growth, occurs late in this process.

29 Mar 2010

Reversal of aging shown in human stem cells

A team of North American collaborators from both industrial research centers (Biotime Inc, Mandala Biosciences LLC and Sierra Sciences LLC) and academic institutes (Ontario Cancer Institute, Burnham Institute for Medical Research and The Scripps Research Institute) have demonstrated successful reversal of the developmental aging of normal human cells.

18 Mar 2010

Reversal of aging in normal human cells

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced the publication of a scientific paper titled “Spontaneous Reversal of Developmental Aging in Normal Human Cells Following Transcriptional Reprogramming.”

17 Mar 2010