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Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma in-licenses CETP inhibitor to Dezima Pharma

Dezima Pharma ('Dezima'), the biotechnology company developing innovative drugs in the field of dyslipidemia, announced today the in-licensing of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor DEZ-001 (formerly TA-8995) from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

22 Jan 2013

Chemical sensitivity of TRPA1 ion channel may boost melanin production

Last year, a team of researchers at Brown University discovered that certain skin cells use a light-sensitive receptor found outside of the eye to sense ultraviolet light and quickly begin pumping out melanin to protect against DNA damage.

22 Jan 2013

Researchers identify clear role for tags in mediating genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis

In one of the first genome-wide studies to hunt for both genes and their regulatory "tags" in patients suffering from a common disease, researchers have found a clear role for the tags in mediating genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an immune disorder that afflicts an estimated 1.5 million American adults.

21 Jan 2013

Enrollment complete in GlycoMimetics’ GMI-1070 Phase 2 study for sickle cell disease

GlycoMimetics, Inc. (GMI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company researching a new class of glycobiology-based therapies for a broad range of diseases, today announced that it has completed enrolling patients in its Phase 2 study of GMI-1070, its lead investigational drug candidate.

18 Jan 2013

FDA approves Protein Sciences’ Flublok to prevent seasonal influenza

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Protein Sciences Corporation's vaccine Flublok for the prevention of seasonal influenza in adults 18 to 49 years of age. Diamyd Medical holds about 8 percent of the shares in Protein Sciences Corporation.

18 Jan 2013

Spain approves pSivida’s ILUVIEN to treat chronic diabetic macular edema

pSivida Corp., a leader in developing sustained release, drug delivery products for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, announced today that the Spanish Agency of Drugs and Medical Devices (Agencia Espanola de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios) granted marketing authorization to ILUVIEN for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies.

18 Jan 2013

Abattis receives Intl Class 5 Trademark for DefenZall in the U.S. and Taiwan

Abattis Bioceuticals Corp., announces it has been granted Intl Class 5 Trademark for DefenZall in Taiwan and the USA.

17 Jan 2013

Hepatitis B virus X protein represses miRNA-148a to enhance tumorigenesis

Viruses prompt oncogenic transformation by genetically altering infected cells. Several recent studies have demonstrated that viruses alter the expression of microRNAs, non-coding RNA molecules that can block the expression of target genes.

17 Jan 2013

UCLA, NanoSmart partner to develop novel cancer drug delivery platform

NanoSmart Pharmaceuticals, a private biotechnology company, has entered into a research collaboration agreement with University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to continue the development of NanoSmart's novel drug delivery platform for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

17 Jan 2013

FDA approves InfraScan’s noninvasive handheld brain hematoma detector

InfraScan, a medical device company specializing in brain injury diagnostic products, announced today that it has obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to market the Infrascanner Model 2000, a noninvasive handheld brain hematoma detector.

17 Jan 2013

Top-line results from Amgen’s Aranesp Phase 3 trial on heart failure and anemia

Amgen today announced top-line results of the Phase 3 Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) RED-HF (Reduction of Events With Darbepoetin Alfa in Heart Failure) Trial.

17 Jan 2013

Florida Atlantic University announces $3M gift to endow medical student scholarships

Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine has announced a $3 million gift to endow medical student scholarships. The endowment will be named the "Dr. Morton and Cynthia Levitt Endowed Scholarship for Medical Education," and the announcement was made during the Schmidt College of Medicine's inaugural "Your Medical School" celebration honoring Dick and Barbara Schmidt.

16 Jan 2013

Elan, Biogen Idec submit applications to FDA and EMA for updation of TYSABRI labels

Today Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation, plc announced that they have submitted applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) requesting updates to the TYSABRI (natalizumab) labels.

16 Jan 2013

FDA approves Santarus’ UCERIS for induction of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis

Santarus, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved UCERIS (budesonide) extended release tablets for the induction of remission in patients with active, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.

16 Jan 2013

Update on Cytos’ CYT003 Phase 2b trial for allergic asthma

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd today announced an update on the Phase 2b clinical trial with its lead product candidate, CYT003, in allergic asthma.

16 Jan 2013

Genetics researchers identify 25 additional copy number variations associated with autism

Genetics researchers have identified 25 additional copy number variations (CNVs)—missing or duplicated stretches of DNA—that occur in some patients with autism. These CNVs, say the researchers, are "high impact": although individually rare, each has a strong effect in raising an individual's risk for autism.

16 Jan 2013

BGI-Shenzhen, CHOP to collaborate on research into pediatric brain tumors

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and BGI-Shenzhen today announced a formal agreement to collaborate on research into next-generation sequencing and analysis of pediatric brain tumors, in support of the Childhood Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC).

11 Jan 2013

Scientists track electrical signals in the brain region linked to spatial awareness

Research at the University of Edinburgh tracked electrical signals in the part of the brain linked to spatial awareness.

11 Jan 2013

Blocking TRIP-Br2 gene protects against obesity and insulin resistance

Scientists observed that blocking the expression of the gene TRIP-Br2 in mice protects them against obesity and insulin resistance. The study shows that the gene modulates fat storage by regulating energy expenditure and lipolysis, the process which transforms fat into lipids for the body's energy consumption.

11 Jan 2013

Scientists develop playbook to end devastating impact of fibrotic diseases

A team of scientists has developed a playbook for ending the devastating impact of fibrotic diseases of the liver, lung, kidney, and other organs, which are responsible for as many as 45 percent of all deaths in the industrialized world.

11 Jan 2013