Gemcitabine News and Research

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Gemcitabine is the active ingredient in a drug that is used to treat pancreatic cancer that is advanced or has spread. It is also used together with other drugs to treat breast cancer that has spread, advanced ovarian cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer that is advanced or has spread. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Gemcitabine blocks the cell from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimetabolite

Histone modifications associated with pancreatic cancer development and progression

Specific chemical modifications to proteins called histones, which are found in the nucleus of cells and act as spools around which DNA is wound, can be used to predict prognosis and response to treatment in subsets patients with pancreatic cancer, a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.

12 Feb 2010

Second-quarter fiscal 2010 results announced by Pharmacyclics

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2009.

12 Feb 2010

Research study on epigenetic phenotypes published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology

PrognosDx Health, Inc. announced today that in an independent research study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, cellular levels of histone modifications define previously unrecognized subsets of patients with pancreatic cancer with distinct epigenetic phenotypes and clinical outcomes.

11 Feb 2010

sanofi-aventis reports 2009 fourth-quarter and full-year net earnings

Commenting on the Group's 2009 performance, sanofi-aventis Chief Executive Officer Christopher A. Viehbacher said, "2009 was the first year of implementation of our new strategy. Major steps have already been achieved in strengthening our growth platforms and reinforcing our R&D pipeline while delivering a double-digit EPS(1) growth".

10 Feb 2010

Phase III BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System-chemotherapy combination study for pancreatic cancer initiated

BSD Medical Corporation reports initiation of a randomized, multicenter Phase III clinical study using the BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients after R0/R1 surgical resection of their tumor (complete removal or only microscopic tumor remaining).

9 Feb 2010

Study sheds light on pancreatic cancer development and new potential drug targets

Researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have found one reason that pancreatic cancer tumors are so difficult to treat with drugs. They have shown how a molecular switch steps up pancreatic cancer cell survival as well as resistance to a standard chemotherapy drug, and have identified alternate routes cancer cells take to avoid the effects of the therapy.

29 Jan 2010

Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals closes $6.17M Series B-4 private equity financing

Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held, clinical stage oncology-focused pharmaceutical company, has announced the closing of its Series B-4 private equity financing of $6,175,000. The Company plans to use the proceeds for its on-going phase I/II clinical trials of its lead cancer drug--CPI-613, research and development, and general corporate purposes.

27 Jan 2010

COTI's novel small molecule effective against pancreatic cancer in animal model

Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. announced more positive results today from animal experiments carried out at a prominent Canadian cancer research facility. This new series of experiments adds to the impressive data package for COTI-2, demonstrating efficacy both as a single agent and in combination with current first line therapies, as well as low toxicity in several different animal models of human cancers.

21 Jan 2010

European Patent Office grants a patent for Rexahn Pharmaceuticals' RX-3117

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, today announced that the European Patent Office has granted a patent for its novel anti-cancer compound, RX-3117.

20 Jan 2010

FDA extends Tarceva's sNDA review period

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the review period for the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Tarceva® (erlotinib) as a first-line maintenance therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by an additional 90 days.

18 Jan 2010

Novelos Therapeutics to conclude pivotal Phase 3 trial in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Novelos Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutics to treat cancer and hepatitis, today announced that the 725th event (patient death) has been reached in its pivotal Phase 3 trial in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) studying its lead product, NOV-002, in combination with first-line chemotherapy.

8 Jan 2010

Tumor Biology Center to initiate Phase 2 clinical trial with CytRx’s INNO-206

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the Tumor Biology Center, Freiburg, Germany, plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial with CytRx’s doxorubicin prodrug INNO-206 as a treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

6 Jan 2010

Phase 3 trial of figitumumab discontinued by Pfizer

Pfizer Inc. announced today the discontinuation of A4021016 (also known as ADVIGO 1016), a Phase 3 trial examining the effects of investigational compound figitumumab (CP-751,871) as first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to the study meeting predefined boundaries for early termination.

30 Dec 2009

Enzyme dCK plays a profound role in normal lymphocyte development

Mice without the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) enzyme have defects in their adaptive immune system, producing very low levels of both T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in immune response, according to a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

23 Dec 2009

FDA Advisory Committee votes against the approval of Tarceva

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted 12 to one recommending against approval of the daily pill Tarceva® (erlotinib) for first-line maintenance use in people with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose cancer has not progressed (grown or spread) following first-line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy.

17 Dec 2009

Genentech announces Phase III study of Avastin in women treated with chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced results from a Phase III study (RIBBON 2) of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in women who had previously been treated with initial (first-line) chemotherapy for advanced HER2-negative breast cancer and needed additional (second-line) treatment.

14 Dec 2009

Results from Phase 2 trial evaluating Nexavar with capecitabine and paclitaxel presented

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced results from two collaborative group-sponsored randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials were presented at the 32nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

14 Dec 2009

Eli Lilly provides financial guidance for 2010

At its annual meeting today with the investment community, Eli Lilly and Company highlighted how its innovation-based strategy will enable it to better serve patients and compete effectively in a challenging health care environment. The company also detailed the progress being made in its labs and across its five new business units on an expanding pipeline of innovative molecules and marketed medicines, and provided investors with the company's financial guidance for 2010.

10 Dec 2009

Immune-boosting drug: A new way for improving cancer treatment

Stimulating the body's own immune system to fight cancer offers new treatment opportunities for cancer patients, and scientists have made the first step towards finding existing drugs that could help.

9 Dec 2009

Data from two phase Ib clinical trials of dacetuzumab for DLBCL reported

Seattle Genetics, Inc. today reported data from two phase Ib clinical trials of dacetuzumab, one in combination with Rituxan® (rituximab) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and the other in combination with Revlimid® (lenalidomide) for multiple myeloma.

8 Dec 2009