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Production of Immutep’s ImmuFact IMP321 starts at WuXi AppTec facilities in China

Immutep S.A., the biopharmaceutical company specializing in immuno-oncology, and Eddingpharm have started production of Immutep’s ImmuFact IMP321 (a LAG-3Ig fusion protein) at WuXi AppTec facilities in China. The product is being produced to European, U.S. and Chinese GMP standards.

8 Apr 2014

Patient-friendly examination method reduces need for prostate cancer biopsies

Each year prostate tissue samples are taken from over a million men around the world - in most cases using 12 large biopsy needles - to check whether they have prostate cancer.

8 Apr 2014

6 months of hormonal treatment in addition to radiotherapy improves outcome for prostate cancer

Vienna, Austria: Men with prostate cancer that is small and confined to the prostate gland but that is at risk of growing and spreading, do better if they are treated with radiotherapy combined with androgen deprivation therapy, which lowers their levels of the male hormone, testosterone, according to new research.

7 Apr 2014

Merck KGaA initiates Phase 3 START2 study of MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy tecemotide

Oncothyreon Inc. today announced that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has initiated the international Phase 3 START2 study, which is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the investigational MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy tecemotide (also known as L-BLP25) in patients with unresectable, locally advanced Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

7 Apr 2014

Scientists identify new biomarker linked to non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancers

A team led by a scientist from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute has identified a new biomarker linked to better outcomes of patients with head and neck cancers and non-small cell lung cancer. The work could help scientists develop new diagnostics and therapies and help physicians determine the best long-term treatments for patients with these cancers.

3 Apr 2014

FDA expands age indication of Adacel vaccine for immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved age indication of Adacel® (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed; Tdap) for active booster immunization for the prevention of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis as a single dose in persons 10 through 64 years of age.

2 Apr 2014

FDA grants orphan drug designation for Kite Pharma's cancer immunotherapy product

Kite Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing engineered autologous T cell therapy (eACT) products for cancer, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Orphan Products Development granted orphan drug designation for the Company's lead investigational therapy, an autologous engineered T cell product that targets CD19 expression on B cell malignancies, for the treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

31 Mar 2014

MD Anderson's Jim Allison honored with 2014 Canada Gairdner International Award

A Canadian institution that annually recognizes seminal medical discoveries selected cancer immunotherapy leader Jim Allison, Ph.D., chair and professor of Immunology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, for one of its 2014 Canada Gairdner International Awards.

29 Mar 2014

Researchers develop potentially safer and more cost-effective therapeutics against West Nile virus

An international research group led by Arizona State University professor Qiang "Shawn" Chen has developed a new generation of potentially safer and more cost-effective therapeutics against West Nile virus and other pathogens.

29 Mar 2014

Research findings help explain rare genetic disorder that causes immunodeficiency syndrome

IRCM researchers led by Javier M. Di Noia, PhD, uncovered a new function of AID, a crucial enzyme for the immune response. The discovery, recently published by the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, helps explain a rare genetic disorder that causes an immunodeficiency syndrome.

28 Mar 2014

RuiYi declares $15M Series B financing to advance monoclonal antibodies targeting GPCR receptors

RuiYi, Inc. announced today a $15 million Series B financing by existing investors: 5AM Ventures, Versant Ventures, Apposite Capital, SR One, the independent corporate healthcare venture capital fund of GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Serono Ventures, the strategic corporate venture fund of Merck Serono, and Aravis SA.

27 Mar 2014

Experimental vaccine for HSV-2 infection reduces rate of viral shedding at 6 months

Updated Phase 1/2a results with GEN-003, a vaccine candidate under development by Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNCA) for the treatment of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, showed the experimental vaccine to generate highly significant reductions in both the number of clinical lesion days and rate of viral shedding at six months after the final vaccine dose.

27 Mar 2014

Adaptimmune awarded £2.1 million grant to expedite development of engineered T cell therapy

Adaptimmune today announced that it has been awarded a grant of £2.1 million from the Biomedical Catalyst Fund, managed by the UK’s innovation agency the Technology Strategy Board and the Medical Research Council. The prestigious award will expedite the development of Adaptimmune’s second engineered T cell therapy programme into the clinic in triple negative breast cancer.

26 Mar 2014

Inovio Pharmaceuticals receives three industry awards at World Vaccine Congress

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it was recognized with three industry awards at the World Vaccine Congress, which is being held this week in Washington, D.C. The Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) Awards recognize outstanding vaccine advancements and achievements of therapeutic and preventive vaccine developers across the global industry as judged by a panel of global biotech industry stakeholders.

26 Mar 2014

Radiation therapy fights cancer in more ways than one

Radiation therapy fights cancer in more ways than one. Not only does it force cancer cells to self-destruct, but several studies demonstrate that it also activates the immune system to attack tumor cells.

25 Mar 2014

Prostate stiffness is a risk factor for voiding dysfunction

Prostate elasticity is an independent risk factor for urinary voiding symptoms, although not for lower urinary tract symptoms in general or storage symptoms, clinical research indicates.

24 Mar 2014

Measuring circulating tumor cells may help better predict prostate cancer survival

New research by USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists demonstrates that measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs) - the cells that spread cancer through the body - may be a better predictor of patient survival than the prostate specific antigen (PSA).

24 Mar 2014

VaxInnate starts Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate VAX2012Q for prevention of seasonal influenza

VaxInnate Corporation today announced that enrollment has commenced in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate VAX2012Q, a recombinant quadrivalent vaccine in development for the prevention of seasonal influenza. VaxInnate is a biotechnology firm pioneering a breakthrough technology platform for the development of novel vaccines.

20 Mar 2014

Two new risk loci for bipolar disorder identified

Researchers have found two new risk loci for bipolar disorder in a genome-wide association study of 2.3 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

19 Mar 2014

Bisphenol A may promote prostate tumourigenesis

Bisphenol A, an organic compound that is ubiquitous in plastic products, may have a direct tumourigenic effect in the prostate, US researchers have shown.

17 Mar 2014