Central Nervous System News and Research

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Scientists uncover alternative source for damage associated with MS

Scientists have uncovered an alternative source for some of the damage associated with multiple sclerosis, an incurable neuroinflammatory disorder. The research, published online by Cell Press on September 23rd in the journal Immunity, reveals a direct interaction between immune cells and neurons that plays a significant role in neuronal injury and may respond to therapeutic intervention.

24 Sep 2010

Immune-mediated disturbances of neurons contribute to MS: Research

Researchers in Germany have gained new insight into how the immune system causes damage associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), an incurable neuroinflammatory disorder.

24 Sep 2010

FDA grants clearance for HPβCD treatment for Niemann Pick Type C disease

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to introduce Trappsol Cyclo (Hydroxypropyl Beta Cyclodextrin or HPβCD) into the brains of six year old identical twin girls dying of a rare brain-destroying cholesterol disease called Niemann Pick Type C (NPC).

24 Sep 2010

Scientists to develop methotrexate nose drops for brain cancer

Scientists are reporting the development and successful initial testing of a new form of methotrexate the mainstay anticancer drug designed to be given as nose drops rather than injected. It shows promise as a more effective treatment for brain cancer, they say. The report appears in ACS' Molecular Pharmaceutics, a bi-monthly journal.

23 Sep 2010

Nerve inflammation may cause postsurgical neuropathies: Study

A new Mayo Clinic study found that nerve inflammation may cause the pain, numbness and weakness following surgical procedures that is known as postsurgical neuropathy. The development of postsurgical neuropathies is typically attributed to compression or stretching of nerves during surgery. This new research shows that, in some cases, the neuropathy is actually caused by the immune system attacking the nerves and is potentially treatable with immunosuppressive drugs.

23 Sep 2010

FDA approves Gilenya capsules for reducing MS relapses

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Gilenya capsules (fingolimod) to reduce relapses and delay disability progression in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

22 Sep 2010

Researchers discover new drug to control acute and chronic pain

American and Italian researchers have found that a novel drug allows anandamide a marijuana like chemical in the body to effectively control pain at the site of an injury.

21 Sep 2010

URB937 drug boosts natural painkiller level: Study

A new study has shown how a novel compound boosts levels of a natural painkiller at the site of an injury. The ground-breaking study published today in Nature Neuroscience shows how the potential drug URB937 acts in peripheral tissue and may have the potential to relieve pain without the side effects associated with many current painkillers that act centrally on the nervous system.

20 Sep 2010

Ligand Pharmaceuticals transfers license rights to Proximagen for CXCR4 target

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has transferred exclusive license rights to Proximagen Limited for a series of compound hits related to the CXCR4 target with application for a number of indications including those related to the central nervous system. Ligand will receive an upfront payment and continue to be entitled to receive potential future milestone and royalty payments.

18 Sep 2010

AACN endorses 'Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies'

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently endorsed the "Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies," developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing , Washington, D.C., with The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University and National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists , Philadelphia.

17 Sep 2010

AMRI selects compound for advanced preclinical testing in treatment of IBS

AMRI today announced the selection of a compound from its proprietary research program for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for advanced preclinical testing, with the goal of submitting an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011.

15 Sep 2010

VBL Therapeutics' VB-201 candidate delays onset of EAE, shows potential for MS, CNS treatment

VBL Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the development of novel treatments for immune-inflammatory diseases and cancer, today announced the publication of preclinical data in the Journal of Neuroimmunology finding that its lead development candidate VB-201 significantly delayed the onset and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice, the commonly used Multiple sclerosis.

14 Sep 2010

Gilead Sciences announces Quad regimen Phase II clinical trial results for HIV infection treatment

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced Phase II clinical trial results showing that its investigational fixed-dose, single-tablet "Quad" regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat and Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for the treatment of HIV infection maintained a high rate of virologic suppression through 48 weeks, exhibiting antiretroviral activity comparable to that of Atripla(efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg).

14 Sep 2010

ADHD medication improves childhood cancer survivors: Research

A medicine widely used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also provides long-term relief from the attention and behavior changes that affect many childhood cancer survivors, according to a multicenter trial led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators.

14 Sep 2010

Orion extends use of Medidata Rave enterprise-wide EDC and clinical data management system

Medidata Solutions, a leading global provider of SaaS-based clinical development solutions, today announced that European pharmaceutical company Orion has extended its use of Medidata Rave® as its enterprise-wide electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data management (CDM) system, which Orion successfully brought in-house and deployed for all clinical trials for the past three and a half years.

13 Sep 2010

XenoPort intends to initiate Phase 3 XP19986 trial for multiple sclerosis

XenoPort, Inc. announced today that it plans to move arbaclofen placarbil (AP), also known as XP19986, into Phase 3 development as a potential treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

13 Sep 2010

Athersys signs agreement with RTI Biologics for MAPC technology access

RTI Biologics Inc., a leading provider of orthopedic and other biologic implants, and Athersys Inc. a leader in regenerative medicine and cell therapy research and development, announced today an agreement under which Athersys will provide RTI access to its Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cell (MAPC) technologies.

13 Sep 2010

Multi-disciplinary team awarded grant to develop interdisciplinary oncology palliative care education program

A multi-disciplinary team representing the schools of Medicine, Nursing and Social Work at the University of Louisville, as well as clinical pastoral education programs in three Louisville hospitals, has been awarded a grant of $1,518,092 from the National Institutes of Health that will fund the development, implementation and evaluation of an interdisciplinary oncology palliative care education program. Work related to the project will begin immediately.

9 Sep 2010

Santarus, VeroScience enter agreement to commercialize CYCLOSET drug for type 2 diabetes

Santarus, Inc., S2 Therapeutics, Inc. and VeroScience LLC today announced that they have entered into a distribution and license agreement granting Santarus exclusive rights to manufacture and commercialize CYCLOSET (bromocriptine mesylate) tablets in the U.S.

9 Sep 2010

Consumption of medications for treatment of insomnia or anxiety increases mortality risk

Taking medications to treat insomnia and anxiety increases mortality risk by 36%, according to a study conducted by Genevi-ve Belleville, a professor at Universit- Laval's School of Psychology. The details of this study are published in the latest edition of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

9 Sep 2010