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Gilead Sciences halts Phase II trial of GS 9450 for chronic hepatitis C

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced the company is stopping its ongoing Phase II clinical trial of GS 9450, an investigational caspase inhibitor, in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This decision follows reports of significant laboratory abnormalities and adverse events in a number of clinical study participants.

20 Apr 2010

HAMLET substance found in breast milk can kill cancer cells: Researchers

A substance found in breast milk can kill cancer cells, reveal studies carried out by researchers at Lund University and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

20 Apr 2010

Consumers: How will health reform affect insurance premiums?

Las Vegas Sun: "Like many other Las Vegas Valley residents, Yvette Williams is hoping the new national health insurance law will choke down the siphoning of money from her family's budget." The family spends $12,000 a year on health care. "Because the new national health insurance law is supposed to give consumers more ways to get insurance, it's expected to force industry giants to offer more comprehensive plans at lower prices" (Kanigher, 4/19).

20 Apr 2010

Biomarkers to help predict development of aggressive colorectal cancer discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pathology have discovered a set of four biomarkers that will help predict which patients are more likely to develop aggressive colorectal cancer and which are not. The findings also shed light on the genetics that result in worse colorectal cancer-treatment outcomes for African-Americans, compared with Caucasians, the researchers said.

19 Apr 2010

Pivotal preclinical data of YM BioSciences' CYT387 JAK1/2 inhibitor pre-published in Blood

YM BioSciences Inc., announced the pre-publication of pivotal preclinical data for CYT387, the company's highly selective and potent JAK1/2 inhibitor, currently in a Phase I/II trial for myelofibrosis.

19 Apr 2010

Methotrexate therapy not recommended beyond 6 months after remission: JAMA

For patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in remission, withdrawal of treatment with the drug methotrexate over 12 months vs. 6 months did not reduce the rate of relapse, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

19 Apr 2010

Sexual communication within species

To look at the tobacco budworm moth and its close cousin, you wouldn't be able to tell the fuzzy-looking, fingertip-size moths apart. But put males of each species as far as six car-lengths away from females, and even in the darkness of midnight they easily find their way to mates from their own species while ignoring females from the other species. Today, the genes that keep the species sexually isolated are no longer a mystery, thanks to research from North Carolina State University and the University of Utah.

19 Apr 2010

Phase II study: Hepatitis C patients receiving ANA598 bid plus SOC attain undetectable levels of virus

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that 72% of hepatitis C patients receiving ANA598 400 mg twice daily (bid) plus standard of care achieved undetectable levels of virus at week eight in an ongoing Phase II study, compared to 38% of patients receiving placebo plus SOC.

19 Apr 2010

Hidden neuronal circuit that modulates sensory perception under stress identified

Did you ever wonder how you are able to perform complex tasks - even under stress? And how do emotions and memories mould your ability to live your everyday lives? The answer is just beginning to be understood and lies in hidden circuits in the brain.

19 Apr 2010

Radiolabeled hedgehog can differentiate stem-like cancer cells, identify aggressive tumors

At the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting 2010, scientists and clinicians will present more than 6,300 abstracts dealing with innovative aspects of biology, technology and emerging therapies.

19 Apr 2010

Enigma Diagnostics receives patent for amplification consumables

Enigma Diagnostics Limited, the decentralised and point-of-care molecular diagnostics company, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. Patent No. 7,659,096 with claims that cover the use of amplification consumables in several current real-time and end point PCR instruments.

19 Apr 2010

Role of lactate in breast cancer development to be showcased at AACR 2010

Does lactate play a role in the metabolic fate of cancer cells? Researchers from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey are in Washington, D.C., this week for the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research to share their findings on what role this common energy byproduct in the body plays in the development of breast cancer cells and surrounding connective tissue.

19 Apr 2010

Health insurance roundup: N.Y.'s high costs, COBRA concerns, high-risk pools

News outlets are covering various aspects of the health insurance industry, especially in light of health reform.

19 Apr 2010

RSCRC scientists explore mysteries of human embryonic stem cells

At Rutgers' Stem Cell Research Center scientists are exploring the mysteries of human embryonic stem cells and their potential use in treating diseases, repairing damaged organs, and drug development. Center staff also offer a course in proper lab techniques in working with stem cells.

17 Apr 2010

MU researchers determine efficient method for assessing body composition

Measuring body composition - the amount of fatty tissue, muscle tissue and bone present in the body - can provide valuable information for determining an individual's overall health status. However, obtaining accurate measurements can be difficult and expensive, according to Steve Ball, University of Missouri Extension fitness specialist.

17 Apr 2010