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NIH Director to brief U.S. Senate on ways to leverage investments in medical research

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., will lead a briefing on Capitol Hill Thursday, May 20, to discuss how funding for medical research at the NIH can be used more quickly to create new therapies for patients and save lives.

20 May 2010

Basque researchers find new Alzheimer's-related mechanism

Researchers from the University of the Basque Country have found a new Alzheimer's-related mechanism that could give rise to the development of new therapies against this disease. The study was recently published in the Cell Calcium journal, and the authors have already applied for a European patent to protect the commercial exploitation of this new discovery.

20 May 2010

Modern malaria control efforts counteract effects of rising temperatures: Scientists

Contrary to a widespread assumption, global warming is unlikely to expand the range of malaria because of malaria control, development and other factors that are at work to corral the disease.

20 May 2010

Drug trend for children increased 10.8% in 2009 across America

In growing numbers, children across America are adding a dose of medicine to their daily routine. In 2009, drug trend for children – a measure of prescription spending growth – increased 10.8 percent, driven by a 5 percent increase in drug utilization and higher medication costs, according to the Medco 2010 Drug Trend Report. The growth in prescription drug use among children was nearly four times higher than the rise seen in the overall population.

20 May 2010

Mutation in BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene helps develop breast, ovarian cancer: Study

Studies have well established that women who harbor a mutation in the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene are at greater risk for developing breast and ovarian cancers. Less known is information on other molecular events that may impact cancer formation in cells having a BRCA1 mutation. Investigators from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and a number of major cancer centers in Europe have identified the role a key protein plays in helping cells with mutant BRCA1 genes to survive.

20 May 2010

Seniors, low-income earners more likely to be long-term users of benzodiazepines: Study

Drugs to treat anxiety and sleep disorders are still being prescribed for extended periods to British Columbian patients - and increasingly so for baby boomers - despite warnings against long-term use, according to a University of British Columbia study.

20 May 2010

New study shows CDPK1 controls toxoplasma's ability to secrete microneme proteins

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a parasite protein that has all the makings of a microbial glass jaw: it's essential, it's vulnerable and humans have nothing like it, meaning scientists can take pharmacological swings at it with minimal fear of collateral damage.

20 May 2010

World Health Assembly news

Media outlets continue to track news emerging from the 63rd annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.

20 May 2010

Lancet special series examines TB worldwide

The Lancet released on Wednesday a special series on tuberculosis, which includes a series of papers and comments highlighting the need for new tools, the threat posed by drug-resistant strains, results of current control efforts and other issues about TB worldwide, Agence France-Presse reports.

20 May 2010

Phase I study of SNS-032 demonstrates safety, potential clinical activity in treating B-cell malignancies

A Phase I clinical trial of SNS-032, one of the first in a new class of drugs that inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases, demonstrated the drug's safety and potential clinical action against advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cyclin-dependent kinases are enzymatic proteins that are integrally involved in cellular metabolism, renewal and signaling, and are thought to play key roles in the growth of cancers.

20 May 2010

Fraud and abuse cases come to conclusions

Los Angeles Times: "A man who recruited destitute HIV patients to be straw purchasers in a prescription drug scheme was convicted by a federal jury Tuesday in Los Angeles. Nathaniel Newhouse, 53, showed no expression as the verdict was read in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson." Newhouse was caught with 29 bottles of powerful painkillers two years ago. Investigators said they had a street value of up to $80,000. HIV patients arranged for doctors to prescribe the drugs, which were passed on to Newhouse (Glover, 5/19).

20 May 2010

FDA approves ZYMAXID ophthalmic solution for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

Allergan, Inc. today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved ZYMAXID (gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution) 0.5%, a topical fluoroquinolone anti-infective indicated for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible strains of the following organisms; Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mitis group, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus pneumonia.

20 May 2010

Positive data from Geron's TAT153 small molecule telomerase activator in animal model of IPF

Geron Corporation today announced positive data on its orally available small molecule telomerase activator, TAT153, in an animal model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The data show that administration of TAT153 increased telomerase activity in the lung tissue, reduced inflammation, preserved functional lung tissue, slowed disease progression and attenuated loss of pulmonary function.

19 May 2010

SBANE recognizes Isis Biopolymer with 2010 Rising Star Award

Isis Biopolymer has been awarded the 2010 Rising Star Award by SBANE (Smaller Business Association of New England). The Rising Star is a coveted annual award that honors innovative products and services offered by early-stage companies in New England.

19 May 2010

Study examines impact of APOE ε4 on cognitive function, brain anatomy in AD patients

In the most comprehensive study to date, neurologists have clearly identified significant differences in the ways that Alzheimer's disease affects patients with and without the apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disease, using a combination of cognitive and neuroanatomic measures. The study found that this gene influences the way the disease manifests, even at its mildest clinical stages.

19 May 2010

Cell Therapeutics reports cardiac safety results from phase II trial of pixantrone in CHOP-R regimen

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. reported today preliminary cardiac safety results from a North American randomized phase II trial which substituted pixantrone for doxorubicin in the standard CHOP-R regimen. Called PIX203, the randomized trial compared CPOP-R directly to CHOP-R in the 1st line treatment of high risk patients with diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (DLBCL, NHL).

19 May 2010

Use of life-ending drugs without explicit patient request occurs in hospital, among elderly patients

Despite fears to the contrary, the use of drugs to end life without patient request has not increased since euthanasia was legalized in Belgium, states an article in CMAJ.

19 May 2010

Gold Standard/Elsevier continues to publish transparent drug pricing information

Gold Standard/Elsevier, publisher of drug information databases and decision support solutions, has announced its commitment to continue publishing transparent drug pricing information, including average wholesale price and all other current and future pricing benchmarks. This announcement comes amidst statements by other drug database suppliers indicating they will discontinue publishing AWP in 2011.

19 May 2010

Study presents new technique that makes drug testing possible through exhaled air

A new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet presents a new technique that makes drug testing possible through exhaled air for the first time. By examining people who had received emergency care for an amphetamine overdose, the researchers found that in all cases there were traces of amphetamine and metamphetamine in the exhaled breath.

19 May 2010

Natural molecule in body counters progression of osteoarthritis: Scientists

An international team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute in California and the National Research Institute for Child Health and Development in Japan has discovered that a natural molecule in the body counters the progression of osteoarthritis. The findings could one day lead to new therapies for some common diseases of aging.

19 May 2010

Drugs News and Research

NIH Director to brief U.S. Senate on ways to leverage investments in medical research

Basque researchers find new Alzheimer's-related mechanism

Modern malaria control efforts counteract effects of rising temperatures: Scientists

Drug trend for children increased 10.8% in 2009 across America

Mutation in BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene helps develop breast, ovarian cancer: Study

Seniors, low-income earners more likely to be long-term users of benzodiazepines: Study

New study shows CDPK1 controls toxoplasma's ability to secrete microneme proteins

World Health Assembly news

Lancet special series examines TB worldwide

Phase I study of SNS-032 demonstrates safety, potential clinical activity in treating B-cell malignancies

Fraud and abuse cases come to conclusions

FDA approves ZYMAXID ophthalmic solution for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

Positive data from Geron's TAT153 small molecule telomerase activator in animal model of IPF

SBANE recognizes Isis Biopolymer with 2010 Rising Star Award

Study examines impact of APOE ε4 on cognitive function, brain anatomy in AD patients

Cell Therapeutics reports cardiac safety results from phase II trial of pixantrone in CHOP-R regimen

Use of life-ending drugs without explicit patient request occurs in hospital, among elderly patients

Gold Standard/Elsevier continues to publish transparent drug pricing information

Study presents new technique that makes drug testing possible through exhaled air

Natural molecule in body counters progression of osteoarthritis: Scientists

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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