Biomarker News and Research

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A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.

Agilent acquires BioSystem Development business

Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced it has completed the acquisition of the BioSystem Development business. BioSystem Development is a privately held company that develops and manufactures the AssayMAP Microchromatography platform to meet the analytical needs of the life sciences industry.

22 Dec 2011

Lixte's LB-205 shows therapeutic potential against Gaucher disease

An article in the early edition (December 12, 2011) of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, reported that Lixte's investigational drug, LB-205, was shown to have therapeutic potential in a laboratory model of Gaucher disease.

19 Dec 2011

Vanderbilt to develop low-cost extraction device for people in resource-poor settings

They call it "The Extractionator." The prototype looks like nothing more than a length of clear plastic tubing until you inspect it closely. But it could be the basis of an easy-to-use and low-cost sample collection and preparation system that will help bring the benefits of medical diagnostic testing to the people who live in the poorest areas of the world.

17 Dec 2011

New MRI method can track progression of multiple sclerosis

Medical researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a new way to track the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in those living with the disease, by using a powerful, triple strength MRI to track increasing levels of iron found in brain tissue.

16 Dec 2011

Critical Diagnostics receives FDA clearance for Presage ST2 Assay

Critical Diagnostics, a U.S.-based biomarker company focused on cardiovascular diseases, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the company's Presage ST2 Assay for use as an aid in assessing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure.

16 Dec 2011

FIND, NUS collaborate to identify novel biomarkers for TB diagnosis

A research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING) is collaborating with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) to identify novel target molecules to be employed as biomarkers for the detection of active tuberculosis.

15 Dec 2011

Cereblon protein now holds hope in fight against multiple myeloma

Research on the same protein that was a primary mediator of the birth defects caused by thalidomide now holds hope in the battle against multiple myeloma, say Mayo Clinic researchers who presented results of several clinical trials at the 53nd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology Dec. 10-13 in San Diego.

15 Dec 2011

Fast Forward, Lineagen to fund clinical development and validation of blood-based assay for MS

Lineagen, Inc., an innovative molecular diagnostics company focused on complex, genetically linked disorders, and Fast Forward, LLC, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, today announced an alliance to fund the clinical development and validation of a blood-based assay for multiple sclerosis.

15 Dec 2011

DNA sequencing identifies new altered genes that drive CLL

The most comprehensive search to date of DNA abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has unearthed several new altered genes that drive this common blood cancer, a finding that could potentially help doctors predict whether an individual patient's disease will progress rapidly or remain indolent for years, say scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute.

13 Dec 2011

Immunomodulators show promise against multiple myeloma

Research on the same protein that was a primary mediator of the birth defects caused by thalidomide now holds hope in the battle against multiple myeloma, says the study's senior investigator, Keith Stewart, M.B., Ch.B. of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Dr. Stewart presented the results at the 53rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Diego.

12 Dec 2011

ZEN bust-enhancing supplements may increase risk of breast cancer

Women who use bust-enhancing dietary supplements containing the mycoestrogen zearalenone (ZEN), a naturally occurring toxin that widely contaminates agricultural products, could be increasing their risk of breast cancer. That is the warning from breast health experts in a paper published online ahead of print publication in the January issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

9 Dec 2011

Ixabepilone-sunitinib combination holds potential against chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer

The use of two drugs never tried in combination before in ovarian cancer resulted in a 70 percent destruction of cancer cells already resistant to commonly used chemotherapy agents, say researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

8 Dec 2011

Genetic variation predicts survival chances of ovarian cancer

Yale Cancer Center researchers have shown that a tiny genetic variation predicts chances of survival and response to treatment for patients with ovarian cancer.

5 Dec 2011

Agilent expands life sciences business with two strategic acquisitions

Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced it is expanding its life sciences business with two strategic acquisitions.

2 Dec 2011

Positive interim data from Anthera's PEARL-SC phase 2b clinical study in systemic lupus erythematosus

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat serious diseases associated with inflammation, today announced positive interim biomarker data from the PEARL-SC phase 2b clinical study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

1 Dec 2011