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Synthetic compound derived from sea anemone toxin shows potential to treat obesity

Scientists at UC Irvine reported this week that a synthetic compound ShK-186, originally derived from a sea anemone toxin, has been found to enhance metabolic activity and shows potential as a treatment for obesity and insulin resistance.

28 May 2013

Smartphone solutions for clinical trials

mHealth broadly refers to the use of a mobile device to send patient information to or from a medical service provider. In most medication management mobile applications that are out there now, the “information” sent is usually a unidirectional nagging reminder to the patient. The application may populate a diary or it may not.

24 May 2013

Researchers recommend that bexarotene should not be tested on Alzheimer's patients

Approximately a year ago, the leading journal Science published an article about bexarotene as a potential Alzheimer's drug. A significant breakthrough and an important starting point for further Alzheimer's research.

24 May 2013

Novel multiplex immunoassay approach to capture HIV antibodies

Detection of HIV antibodies is used to diagnose HIV infection and monitor trials of experimental HIV/AIDS vaccines. New, more sensitive detection systems being developed use microspheres to capture HIV antibodies and can measure even small amounts of multiple antibodies at one time.

24 May 2013

New approach to genetic engineering reduces time and effort needed to insert genes into bacteria

A new, streamlined approach to genetic engineering drastically reduces the time and effort needed to insert new genes into bacteria, the workhorses of biotechnology, scientists are reporting.

24 May 2013

Long-term depression linked with life-threatening chronic disease, earlier death

The first symptoms of major depression may be behavioral, but the common mental illness is based in biology — and not limited to the brain. In recent years some studies have linked major, long-term depression with life-threatening chronic disease and with earlier death, even after lifestyle risk factors have been taken into account.

23 May 2013

Researchers develop new method for delivering molecules into targeted single cells through temporary holes

Northwestern University researchers have developed a new method for delivering molecules into single, targeted cells through temporary holes in the cell surface. The technique could find applications in drug delivery, cell therapy, and related biological fields.

22 May 2013

Biogen Idec seeks FDA BLA approval for PLEGRIDY to treat multiple sclerosis

Today Biogen Idec announced it has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of PLEGRIDY (peginterferon beta-1a), the company's pegylated subcutaneous injectable candidate for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS).

21 May 2013

Groundbreaking germ-fighting vaccine research to be presented at National Biotechnology Conference

A novel vaccine study from South Dakota State University will headline the groundbreaking research that will be unveiled at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists' National Biotechnology Conference.

21 May 2013

New computational method may help track tumor progression, risk of relapse

In their quest to learn more about the variability of cells between and within tissues, biomedical scientists have devised tools capable of simultaneously measuring dozens of characteristics of individual cells. These technologies have led to new challenges, however, as scientists now struggle with how to make sense of the resulting trove of data. Now a solution may be at hand.

20 May 2013

Understanding the role of dsRNA in antiviral host defense systems

Animals, insects, and plants use a variety of sensing mechanisms to detect invading pathogens such as viruses. One complex and effective antiviral defense system they share is based on recognition of double-stranded RNA, often produced when a virus invades a host cell.

20 May 2013

RUCDR Infinite Biologics creates new Genomics Technology Center

RUCDR Infinite Biologics, the world's largest university-based biorepository, has completed an $11.8 million renovation project to create a new Genomics Technology Center, comprising 12,500 square feet of laboratory, office, and storage space on the Busch Campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

18 May 2013

Alnylam reports pre-clinical data from ALN-AS1 program for treatment of AIP

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has presented key pre-clinical proof-of-concept data from its RNAi therapeutic program targeting aminolevulinate synthase-1 (ALAS-1) for the treatment of porphyria including acute intermittent porphyria.

18 May 2013

FDA clears Oramed Pharmaceuticals' IND for ORMD-0801

Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a developer of oral drug delivery systems, announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Company's Investigational New Drug application for ORMD-0801, its oral insulin capsule.

17 May 2013

A*STAR, Cytos Biotechnology provide update on Phase 1 clinical trial of H1N1 influenza vaccine

Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research and Switzerland's Cytos Biotechnology AG today announced that the first healthy volunteer has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial with their H1N1 influenza vaccine candidate based on Cytos' proprietary bacteriophage Qbeta virus-like particle technology.

17 May 2013

Researchers use new analysis method to determine genes that result in cell death

Lethal and rescuer genes are defined as genes that when inactivated result in cell death or enhanced cell growth, respectively. The ability to identify these genes in large-scale automated screening campaigns could lead to the discovery of valuable new drug targets.

17 May 2013

New research shows dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can lead to learning disabilities

Neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken of VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and KU Leuven has shown for the first time that dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can lead to learning disabilities.

17 May 2013

NW Bio starts Phase III clinical trial with DCVax-L for brain cancer at King's College Hospital in UK

Northwest Biotherapeutics, a biotechnology company developing DCVax-L personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, today announced that its Phase III clinical trial with DCVax-L for brain cancer has been initiated at King's College Hospital in the UK.

17 May 2013

Transgenomic launches new mutation detection test for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Transgenomic, Inc. today announced the global, commercial availability of CRC RAScan, a new mutation detection test to screen patients with metastatic colorectal cancer for RAS mutations (KRAS and NRAS).

16 May 2013

Study: Breastfeeding can prevent the development of ADHD later in childhood

Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the physical and mental development of infants. A new study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood.

15 May 2013

Biotechnology News and Research

Synthetic compound derived from sea anemone toxin shows potential to treat obesity

Smartphone solutions for clinical trials

Researchers recommend that bexarotene should not be tested on Alzheimer's patients

Novel multiplex immunoassay approach to capture HIV antibodies

New approach to genetic engineering reduces time and effort needed to insert genes into bacteria

Long-term depression linked with life-threatening chronic disease, earlier death

Researchers develop new method for delivering molecules into targeted single cells through temporary holes

Biogen Idec seeks FDA BLA approval for PLEGRIDY to treat multiple sclerosis

Groundbreaking germ-fighting vaccine research to be presented at National Biotechnology Conference

New computational method may help track tumor progression, risk of relapse

Understanding the role of dsRNA in antiviral host defense systems

RUCDR Infinite Biologics creates new Genomics Technology Center

Alnylam reports pre-clinical data from ALN-AS1 program for treatment of AIP

FDA clears Oramed Pharmaceuticals' IND for ORMD-0801

A*STAR, Cytos Biotechnology provide update on Phase 1 clinical trial of H1N1 influenza vaccine

Researchers use new analysis method to determine genes that result in cell death

New research shows dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can lead to learning disabilities

NW Bio starts Phase III clinical trial with DCVax-L for brain cancer at King's College Hospital in UK

Transgenomic launches new mutation detection test for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Study: Breastfeeding can prevent the development of ADHD later in childhood

Industry Focus eBook - Biotechnology (4th edition) eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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