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Novel scrapbook-inspired test helps patients diagnosed with hepatitis C

To the relief of patients diagnosed with hepatitis C, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two new treatments late last year, and a few more are on the way.

22 May 2014

Researchers show how bacteria responsible for strep throat can be used to fight colon cancer

Researchers at Western University (London, Canada) have shown how the bacteria primarily responsible for causing strep throat can be used to fight colon cancer. By engineering a streptococcal bacterial toxin to attach itself to tumour cells, they are forcing the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer.

21 May 2014

Biovision provides list of businesses, projects selected for Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions

Biovision, the annual forum on future-oriented research in life sciences, today announces the list of biotech and medtech companies and projects selected for the Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions. Awards will be presented during the closing ceremony.

20 May 2014

Shire intends to submit NDA for lifitegrast to treat dry eye disease

Following a May 15, 2014, meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces today that it intends to submit a New Drug Application for lifitegrast as a treatment for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adults in the first-quarter 2015, as we complete remaining chemistry and manufacturing work.

19 May 2014

Low risk prostate cancer not always low risk

More and more men who believe they have low-risk prostate cancers are opting for active surveillance, forgoing treatment and monitoring the cancer closely with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, digital rectal exams and ultrasounds at regular intervals to see if their tumors are growing. Nearly 400 men are now enrolled in the UCLA Active Surveillance program, the largest in Southern California.

19 May 2014

Kymab raises US$40 million in Series B financing

Kymab, a monoclonal antibody biopharmaceutical company, announced today it has successfully raised US$40 million in a Series B financing.

16 May 2014

Scientists reveal how and why immune system's B cells respond only to true threats

The immune system's B cells protect us from disease by producing antibodies, or "smart bullets," that specifically target invaders such as pathogens and viruses while leaving harmless molecules alone.

16 May 2014

Shark antibodies reveal evolutionary principles of immunoglobulins

Custom-tailored antibodies are regarded as promising weapons against a multitude of serious illnesses. Since they can accurately recognize specific structures on the surface of viruses, bacteria or cancer cells, they are already being deployed successfully in cancer diagnostics and therapy, as well as against numerous other diseases. The stability of the sensitive antibodies is a decisive factor in every step, from production and storage to therapeutic application.

15 May 2014

Autoimmune epilepsy diagnostics: an interview with Dr. Joseph J. Higgins, Medical Director, Neurology, Athena Diagnostics, a business of Quest Diagnostics

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders often characterized by seizures and cognitive impairment due to electrical disturbances in the brain.

From Quest Diagnostics 14 May 2014

Carbohydrate-binding proteins fill in gaps in immune defenses

Our bodies produce a family of proteins that recognize and kill bacteria whose carbohydrate coatings resemble those of our own cells too closely, scientists have discovered.

13 May 2014

Inovio Pharmaceuticals reports total revenue of $2.4 million for first quarter 2014

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

12 May 2014

Experimental antibody temporarily halts progression of neuroblastoma in children

Tumors shrank or disappeared and disease progression was temporarily halted in 15 children with advanced neuroblastoma enrolled in a safety study of an experimental antibody produced at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

9 May 2014

Researchers create universal flu vaccine

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch are working to create a universal flu vaccine - one that could eliminate the need for an annual flu shot.

8 May 2014

UCB announces results from PRECiSE clinical trial of Cimzia in patients with Crohn's disease

UCB announced today results from the PRECiSE 3 7-year open label extension clinical trial of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), the longest continuous trial of an anti-TNF therapy evaluating long-term safety in Crohn's disease.

6 May 2014

Covagen begins COVA322 Phase Ib/IIa study to treat patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis

Covagen today announced it has initiated a Phase Ib/IIa study with COVA322, a bispecific TNF/IL-17A inhibitor.

6 May 2014

Possible link between aggressive prostate cancer and vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency was an indicator of aggressive prostate cancer and spread of the disease in European-American and African-American men who underwent their first prostate biopsy because of abnormal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and/or digital rectal examination (DRE) test results, according to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

1 May 2014

Noninvasive technique detects prostate cancer using an electronic nose

We may soon be able to make easy and early diagnoses of prostate cancer by smell. Investigators in Finland have established that a novel noninvasive technique can detect prostate cancer using an electronic nose. In a proof of principle study, the eNose successfully discriminated between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by "sniffing" urine headspace (the space directly above the urine sample). Results using the eNose are comparable to testing prostate specific antigen (PSA), reports the Journal of Urology.

1 May 2014

Inflammation has ‘etiologic link’ with prostate cancer

Chronic inflammation of prostate tissue is strongly associated with subsequent development of prostate cancer, show results of a US observational study.

28 Apr 2014

Agenus enters into agreement with Merck for development of therapeutic antibodies

Agenus Inc. announced today that the company has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, through a subsidiary, for the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies to immune checkpoints for the treatment of cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, Agenus will discover and optimize fully human antibodies against two undisclosed Merck checkpoint targets using the 4-Antibody Retrocyte Display® platform.

28 Apr 2014

New data from EMD Serono's multiple sclerosis portfolio to be presented at the 66th AAN Annual Meeting

EMD Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that new data from the company's multiple sclerosis (MS) portfolio will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting, taking place from April 26 – May 3, in Philadelphia, PA.

26 Apr 2014