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New clues about why immune system fails to kill tumors in mice

A pioneering approach to imaging breast cancer in mice has revealed new clues about why the human immune system often fails to attack tumors and keep cancer in check. This observation, by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), may help to reveal new approaches to cancer immunotherapy.

3 May 2012

Probiodrug AG, collaborators explain interplay of key suspects in Alzheimer’s

Probiodrug AG (Probiodrug), a biotech company developing products for the treatment of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases with a particular focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD), today announced its scientists and academics collaborators published seminal findings on the role of pyroglu Aβ in AD pathology in the May 2, 2012 online edition of the journal Nature (DOI: 10.1038/nature11060). The new findings add to the growing body of evidence that pyroglu Aβ plays a crucial role in the initiation of AD. In addition, the research results further elucidate the mechanism by which pyroglu Aβ triggers neuronal toxicity.

3 May 2012

Hypothalamic neuropeptide changes cause obesity in low-birth-weight babies

It seems improbable that a baby born underweight would be prone to obesity, but it is well documented that these children tend to put on weight in youth if they're allowed free access to calories. Now, researchers believe they understand why this happens.

3 May 2012

African-Americans with HIV less likely to adhere to ART therapy

African-Americans with HIV are much less likely to adhere to drug therapy than others with the disease, according to a University of Michigan study.

3 May 2012

EKOS launches two landmark clinical studies on pulmonary embolism

EKOS Corporation today announced the launch of two more landmark clinical studies named SEATTLE I & II, intended to further establish the safety and efficacy of its unique, ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis in treating patients with life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

3 May 2012

Ligand first quarter total revenues increase to $5.6 million

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, and provided an operating forecast and program updates.

3 May 2012

Study confirms that COX-2 inhibitors predispose people to cardiovascular disease

After nearly 13 years of study and intense debate, a pair of new papers from the Perelman School of Medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania have confirmed exactly how a once-popular class of anti-inflammatory drugs leads to cardiovascular risk for people taking it.

3 May 2012

Arena's first quarter net loss decreases to $29.4 million

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, and reviewed recent developments.

2 May 2012

FDA approval of TDF/FTC as PrEP for HIV infection receives support

In public comments submitted this week, a group of 14 leading HIV/AIDS and health organizations stated their support for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of emtricitabine/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC or Truvada) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection in adult men and women.

2 May 2012

German BfArM grants Moberg Derma approval to initiate Limtop phase II actinic keratosis trial

The German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has granted Moberg Derma approval to initiate a clinical phase II trial for Limtop. The aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three different dose regimens of Limtop in a study involving 96 patients with Actinic Keratosis (AK) on the head or face.

2 May 2012

Levetiracetam to be tested for seizure management in malaria endemic regions

Michigan State University researchers, with the help of a groundbreaking medical device, are starting a clinical trial in Africa they hope will provide relief for the hundreds of thousands of children who survive cerebral malaria but are left stricken with epilepsy or other neurologic disorders.

2 May 2012

Expression of tyrosine kinases may limit effectiveness of agents against sarcomas

To better understand the signaling pathways active in sarcomas, researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center used state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based proteomics to characterize a family of protein enzymes that act as "on" or "off" switches important in the biology of cancer. The tyrosine kinases they identified, the researchers said, could act as "drivers" for the growth and survival of sarcomas.

2 May 2012

Lobbyists drive up taxpayer costs by obstructing state efforts to reform Medicaid drug programs

By obstructing state efforts to reform Medicaid drug programs, lobbyists drive up taxpayer costs, according to a new study by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA).

2 May 2012

SMC rules abiraterone as too expensive for routine prostate cancer treatment

Cancer Research UK is extremely disappointed that the advanced prostate cancer drug, abiraterone, has been ruled too expensive for routine use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

2 May 2012

Cell-based test to discover molecules for treatment of ER-positive breast cancer

Cancer Research UK and its commercial arm, Cancer Research Technology have developed a unique test to discover molecules that could lead to potential new treatments for oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer.

2 May 2012

Diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome triples between 2000 and 2009

About one baby is born every hour addicted to opiate drugs in the United States, according to new research from University of Michigan physicians.

2 May 2012

Scientists identify how cell architecture changes during formation of gametes

Scientists using high-powered microscopes have made a stunning observation of the architecture within a cell - and identified for the first time how the architecture changes during the formation of gametes, also known as sex cells, in order to successfully complete the process.

2 May 2012