Leukemia News and Research

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Leukemia (Leukaemia) is a cancer of the blood cells. It is the most common type of blood cancer and affects 10 times as many adults as children. Most people diagnosed with leukemia are over 50 years old. No one knows why some people develop leukemia and others do not. However, scientists have identified some risk factors for the disease. Most people who have known risk factors do not get leukemia, while many who do get the disease have none of these risk factors. During the early stages of leukemia, there may be no symptoms. Many of the symptoms of leukemia don't become apparent until a large number of normal blood cells are crowded out by leukemia cells.

St. Jude Doctors and scientists work together to improve survival rates for childhood cancer

Survival rates overall for childhood cancer are almost 80 percent—a marked advance against a disease that was curable in only a small fraction of children 50 years ago. However, despite progress, pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death due to disease among U.S. children older than 1 year of age.

3 Sep 2010

Agent Orange cases expanded; Added costs raise fiscal concerns

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam War veterans are receiving disability compensation for diseases normally associated with aging - not combat - because of the possibility of a link Agent Orange exposure. The diseases in question range from diabetes, for which 270,000 veterans receive Agent Orange-related checks, to erectile dysfunction.

2 Sep 2010

Cellerant Therapeutics signs contract with BARDA to develop CLT-008 therapy for ARS

Cellerant Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel hematopoietic stem cell-based cellular and antibody therapies for blood disorders and cancer, announced today that it has signed a contract valued at up to $153 million over five years with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services, to develop CLT-008, a cellular therapy for the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS).

2 Sep 2010

Asuragen launches KRAS, BRAF mutational testing in CLIA laboratory

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and nucleic acid-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has launched KRAS and BRAF mutational testing services in its CAP-accredited CLIA laboratory.

2 Sep 2010

Celator Pharmaceuticals raises $20 million in Series D private equity financing

Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company developing new and more effective therapies to treat cancer based on the company's proprietary technology, today announced that it raised $20 million in a Series D private equity financing.

2 Sep 2010

VA prepares to expand Agent Orange related claims for Vietnam veterans

The Washington Post: "The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing for more than 150,000 Vietnam War veterans to apply for benefits in the next 18 months thanks to new regulations making it easier to compensate for health problems caused by exposure to the Vietnam-era defoliant Agent Orange. Changes set for publication in Tuesday's Federal Register could result in payouts of about $42 billion in the next decade, VA said.

2 Sep 2010

NewYork-Presbyterian /Columbia sets up new Myelodysplastic Syndromes Center

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center has established a new center devoted to research and treatment of pre-leukemia blood disorders. Known as the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Center, it is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation.

31 Aug 2010

Final regulation to aid Veterans exposed to herbicides published in 'Federal Register'

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation under a final regulation that will be published on August 31, 2010 in the Federal Register by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures to add two new conditions and expand one existing category of conditions.

31 Aug 2010

Roche's MabThera continues to dwarf recently launched monoclonal antibodies: Report

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 41 percent of surveyed European hematologist-oncologists say that the favorable efficacy profile of Roche's MabThera (rituximab) is the most significant driver of their use of this brand, while 26 percent say MabThera's favorable risk-benefit profile is the most significant driver.

31 Aug 2010

Jenevieve Fisher to launch book on children living with cancer

Jenevieve Fisher is a children's author with specific expertise in childhood cancer. Her first book "I'm a Kid Living with Cancer" will be launched during September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

30 Aug 2010

Cord Blood America announces Quality Service Guarantee for stem cell engraft

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, today announced a $50,000 Quality Service Guarantee.

27 Aug 2010

V Foundation Wine Celebration raises fund for cancer research

The 12th Annual Wine Celebration benefitting The V Foundation took place August 6&7 in Napa Valley, raising $2.2 million for cancer research. The event, a signature fundraiser for sportscaster/coach Jim Valvano's eponymous foundation, has raised more than $35 million since 1998.

27 Aug 2010

FDA grants LFB's recombinant anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody orphan drug status for CLL

The recombinant anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody produced by LFB Biotechnologies received orphan drug status for the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). This approval from the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development was granted on August 6th, 2010.

26 Aug 2010

Fox Chase Cancer Center to host Philadelphia Chromosome Symposium

In celebration of a seminal discovery in cancer biology, Fox Chase Cancer Center will host the Philadelphia Chromosome Symposium: Past, Present and Future, on September 28, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the first genetic abnormality associated with cancer, and the first to lead to a targeted therapy for cancer.

25 Aug 2010

CAS researchers confirm Gleevec’s first generation drug targets chronic myelogenous leukemia

Today, leukemia patients who have struggled with cancer therapy resistance and intolerance will now have more options thanks to targeted drug therapy. Such new treatment options are due, in part, to a rapid increase in journal and patent publications following the discovery of Gleevec, as reported by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), the world's authority for chemical information.

25 Aug 2010

Scientists discover influence of vitamin D in genes linked with autoimmune diseases

UK scientists at the University of Oxford have discovered that vitamin D can affect the activity of more than 200 genes of cells grown in the lab. Some of these genes are known from previous studies to be involved in diseases like diabetes and cancer.

24 Aug 2010

First patient treated in Synta Pharmaceuticals' clinical trial of STA-9090

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that the first patient has been treated in its clinical trial of STA-9090 in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of advanced solid tumor malignancies.

24 Aug 2010

Researchers find gene sequences of MLV in chronic fatigue syndrome patients' blood samples

Researchers have found murine leukemia viruses (MLV) related gene sequences in blood samples collected from patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and some healthy blood donors, according to a study published online today by the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

24 Aug 2010

Epicept receives refusal to file letter on new drug application

EpiCept Corporation today announced that it received a refusal to file letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the New Drug Application (NDA) for Ceplene(histamine dihydrochloride).

23 Aug 2010

NCF announces formal disease model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The National CFIDS Foundation Inc., of Needham Mass, has announced its formal disease model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) also known as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) as well as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). According to the NCF, a subgroup of patients with CFS fit a unique disease profile based on a model for a radioactive toxin.

21 Aug 2010

Leukemia News and Research

Further Reading

St. Jude Doctors and scientists work together to improve survival rates for childhood cancer

Agent Orange cases expanded; Added costs raise fiscal concerns

Cellerant Therapeutics signs contract with BARDA to develop CLT-008 therapy for ARS

Asuragen launches KRAS, BRAF mutational testing in CLIA laboratory

Celator Pharmaceuticals raises $20 million in Series D private equity financing

VA prepares to expand Agent Orange related claims for Vietnam veterans

NewYork-Presbyterian /Columbia sets up new Myelodysplastic Syndromes Center

Final regulation to aid Veterans exposed to herbicides published in 'Federal Register'

Roche's MabThera continues to dwarf recently launched monoclonal antibodies: Report

Jenevieve Fisher to launch book on children living with cancer

Cord Blood America announces Quality Service Guarantee for stem cell engraft

V Foundation Wine Celebration raises fund for cancer research

FDA grants LFB's recombinant anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody orphan drug status for CLL

Fox Chase Cancer Center to host Philadelphia Chromosome Symposium

CAS researchers confirm Gleevec’s first generation drug targets chronic myelogenous leukemia

Scientists discover influence of vitamin D in genes linked with autoimmune diseases

First patient treated in Synta Pharmaceuticals' clinical trial of STA-9090

Researchers find gene sequences of MLV in chronic fatigue syndrome patients' blood samples

Epicept receives refusal to file letter on new drug application

NCF announces formal disease model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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