Drug Discovery News and Research

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The drug discovery process begins with recognizing a disease or clinical condition in which there is a lack of adequate medical treatment. Once a potential drug has been identified, pre-clinical research can begin. This process includes several stages; the first of which involves identifying and validating the prospective drug’s target through assay development, high throughput screening, hit identification and finally, lead optimization. Once the pre-clinical process is complete, the newly synthesized drug candidate is selected for future clinical development.

California researchers develop new strategy to find novel antibiotics for bacterial infections

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed a new strategy for finding novel antibiotic compounds, using a diagnostic panel of bacterial strains for screening chemical extracts from natural sources.

27 Nov 2012

CLCA1 molecule plays a special role in the mucus pathway

Respiratory conditions that restrict breathing such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common killers worldwide. But no effective treatments exist to address the major cause of death in these conditions - excess mucus production.

26 Nov 2012

Apitope announces completion of recruitment in ATX-MS-1467 Phase I trial for MS

Apitope, the European drug discovery and development company focused on treating the underlying cause of autoimmune diseases, today announced completion of recruitment into its second Phase I clinical trial of ATX-MS-1467 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

26 Nov 2012

Discovery of DKK1-WNT pathway reveals new drug targets for Alzheimer's

The discovery of the molecular pathway that drives the changes seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients is reported today, revealing new targets for drug discovery that could be exploited to combat the disease. The study gives the most detailed understanding yet of the complex processes leading to Alzheimer's.

21 Nov 2012

Acetylon's ective histone deacetylase inhibitors to be showcased at 54th ASH annual meeting

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a leader in targeted epigenetic drug discovery and development for enhanced therapeutic outcomes, today announced that its selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors will be featured in five posters and one oral presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), taking place December 8-11, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia.

21 Nov 2012

Study: 2-PMPA improves cognition in mice with MS

Johns Hopkins researchers report the successful use of a form of MRI to identify what appears to be a key biochemical marker for cognitive impairment in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In follow-up experiments on mice with a rodent form of MS, researchers were able to use an experimental compound to manipulate that same marker and dramatically improve learning and memory.

21 Nov 2012

CFFT announces major expansion of research collaboration with Pfizer

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Inc. (CFFT), the nonprofit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, today announced a major expansion of its research collaboration with Pfizer Inc. designed to discover new drugs to treat people with the most common mutation of CF, Delta F508.

20 Nov 2012

GVK Biosciences receives AERB approvals to carry out 3H and 14C synthesis activities

GVK Biosciences, Asia's leading Drug Discovery Research & Development organization, has received approvals from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Government of India, to carry out 3H and 14C synthesis activities.

19 Nov 2012

New nanoparticle halts relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in mouse model

In a breakthrough for nanotechnology and multiple sclerosis, a biodegradable nanoparticle turns out to be the perfect vehicle to stealthily deliver an antigen that tricks the immune system into stopping its attack on myelin and halt a model of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.

19 Nov 2012

Scientists identify cell growth pathway that is unusually active in gliomas

Insights from a genetic condition that causes brain cancer are helping scientists better understand the most common type of brain tumor in children.

17 Nov 2012

Malaria Box helps identify three chemical series that target treatment of NTDs

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announce today the identification of three chemical series targeting the treatment of deadly neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), through DNDi's screening of MMV's open access Malaria Box.

14 Nov 2012

UIC researchers develop transgenic Alzheimer's mouse with apoE4 gene

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have developed a transgenic mouse that carries a human gene known to increase risk of Alzheimer's 15-fold. This new mouse mimics the genetics of the human disease more closely than any of the dozen existing mouse models and may prove more useful in the development of candidate drugs to prevent or treat the disease.

9 Nov 2012

Taiho Pharmaceutical announces early stage data for eight novel oncology compounds

Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the developer of the first orally available fluorouracil (FU) Chemotherapeutic treatment (TS-1/S-1), is presenting early stage data for eight novel oncology compounds, including potential first-in-class therapies.

7 Nov 2012

Isis Pharmaceuticals to receive $1.25M from Pfizer for continued advancement of EXC 001

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it will receive a $1.25 million contingent payment from Pfizer Inc. triggered by Pfizer's decision to advance EXC 001 into a Phase 2 study.

3 Nov 2012

Physicists to bring to market new drug-discovery tool using genetic sequencing

Today physicists at Wake Forest University and NanoMedica, their biotechnology company partner, received a $700,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to bring to market a new drug-discovery tool using next-generation genetic sequencing.

3 Nov 2012

University of Cambridge forms new spin-out company to supply hIPSC-derived cells

The potential therapeutic applications of stem cells - such as regenerating damaged tissues or organs - have generated a great deal of interest over the past decade. While these types of applications are exciting, it is a long journey from lab to clinic. The most immediate impact of stem cells on human health will most likely come from their use in the development of new drugs.

3 Nov 2012

Isis announces preliminary data from ISIS-STAT3 Phase 1 study on cancer

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that preliminary data from the Phase 1 study of ISIS-STAT3Rx in patients with cancer were presented today at the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society in Boston.

1 Nov 2012

Sprint Bioscience, TPP partner to develop small molecule inhibitors of choline kinase for cancer

TPP Global Development Ltd (TPP) enters into a collaboration with Sprint Bioscience AB to develop small molecule inhibitors of choline kinase as human therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

30 Oct 2012

Isis commences ISIS-FXIRx Phase 2 study in knee replacement surgery patients

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 2 comparator-controlled study evaluating ISIS-FXIRx in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery, also referred to as total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

29 Oct 2012

Researchers figure out 3D shape of promising TB drug target

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have figured out the three-dimensional shape of the protein responsible for creating unique bonds within the cell wall of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The bonds make the bacteria resistant to currently available drug therapies, contributing to the alarming rise of these super-bacteria throughout the world.

26 Oct 2012