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Ancient immunoglobulin study explains evolution of human intestinal immune responses

A study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has identified the function of one of the earliest antibodies in the animal kingdom, an ancient immunoglobulin that helps explain the evolution of human intestinal immune responses. It was discovered to play a predominant role in the guts of fish and paves the way for a better understanding of human gut immunity as well as for safer, healthier approaches to keeping fish from pathogen infections. The findings appear in the online version of Nature Immunology and will be featured on the cover of the September issue.

11 Aug 2010

Penwest Pharmaceuticals signs merger agreement with Endo Pharmaceuticals

Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co. today announced that it has entered into a merger agreement under which its long-time partner in the development and commercialization of Opana ER, Endo Pharmaceuticals, has agreed to acquire all of the common stock of Penwest for $5.00 per share in cash. The total equity value of the transaction is approximately $168 million.

10 Aug 2010

Endo to acquire Penwest for $5.00 per share

Endo Pharmaceuticals today announced actions designed to advance the company's leadership and growth in pain management, including an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Penwest Pharmaceuticals for $5.00 in cash per share, or an estimated enterprise value of approximately $144 million at the time of deal close. Penwest has been working with Endo since 1997 on the development and commercialization of OPANA® ER and receives a royalty stream on net sales of the product.

10 Aug 2010

New insight into protein transport mechanism can improve chemotherapy treatments

A new study conducted in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Tel Aviv University (TAU) elucidates the way in which toxic, yet essential, copper ions enter human cells. As a chemotherapy drug presumably enters the cells in a similar manner, the results of this study pave the way for the development of improved chemotherapeutic drugs. The groundbreaking work was published in the leading American scientific journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

10 Aug 2010

Today's OpEds: U.S. vs. Nordic health care; Medicare solvency; Patients and health costs; Mystery of ACOs

Beginning, like the United States, with excellent intentions, [each of the Nordic countries'] health care system evolved similarly. Initially, all care was covered. But costs rose. The government covered fewer illnesses. Expensive treatments increased government spending. ... This is not an evolution that the U.S. can avoid (Mark B. Constantian, 8/8).

9 Aug 2010

AMS AdVance XP sling for male stress urinary incontinence receives CE Mark

American Medical Systems, a leading provider of world-class devices and therapies for both male and female pelvic health, announced today the company received CE Mark for AdVance XP. The device is the latest generation of AMS' AdVance sling, a minimally invasive implant for the treatment of male stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

9 Aug 2010

Salamander research findings bring scientists closer to future regenerative therapies

Tissue regeneration in salamanders and newts seems like it should be the stuff of science fiction. But it happens routinely. Why can't we mammals just re-grow a limb or churn out a few new heart muscle cells as needed? New research suggests there might be a very good reason: Restricting our cells' ability to pop in and out of the cell cycle at will - a prerequisite for the cell division necessary to make new tissue - reduces the chances that they'll run amok and form potentially deadly cancers.

6 Aug 2010

Research on human disease origins to predict, prevent next outbreak

Most infectious diseases infect multiple host species, but to date, efforts to quantify the frequency and outcome of cross-species transmission (CST) of these diseases have been severely limited.This lack of information represents a major gap in knowledge of how diseases emerge, and from which species they will emerge.A paper published this week in the journal Science by a team of researchers led by Daniel Streicker of the University of Georgia has begun to close that gap.

6 Aug 2010

Genomic sequence of living marine sponge reveals some basic information about cancer: Scientists

This week's publication of the complete genomic sequence of a living marine sponge reveals genes dating back hundreds of millions of years -- a result far exceeding the expectations of the scientific world.

5 Aug 2010

Certain human leukemias can be treated by targeting stem-cell microRNAs: Research

Hematopoietic stem cells provide the body with a constant supply of blood cells, including the red blood cells that deliver oxygen and the white blood cells that make up the immune system. Hematopoietic-or blood-stem cells must also make more copies of themselves to ensure that they are present in adequate numbers to provide blood throughout a person's lifetime, which means they need to strike a delicate balance between self-renewal and development into mature blood-cell lineages. Perturb that balance, and the result can be diseases such as leukemia and anemia.

5 Aug 2010

Study links sea sponge genome sequence with first animals and cancer

The sponge, which was not recognized as an animal until the 19th century, is now the simplest and most ancient group of animals to have their genome sequenced. In a paper appearing in the August 5 issue of the journal Nature, a team of researchers led by Daniel Rokhsar of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (JGI), report the draft genome sequence of the sea sponge Amphimedon queenslandica and several insights the genome gives into the origins of both the first animals and cancer.

5 Aug 2010

Blood coagulation, antimicrobial defence processes are functionally coupled: Research

The adaptive immune system can recognize and respond specifically to particular infectious agents. But the first line of defence against pathogens is the so-called innate immune system. This system reacts to invaders by initiating unspecific inflammatory responses which attract various types of specialized cells such as neutrophils to the site of the incursion.

4 Aug 2010

Boston Scientific initiates enrollment in EVOLVE clinical trial of SYNERGY Coronary Stent

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the start of patient enrollment in the EVOLVE clinical trial, which is designed to assess the safety and performance of its fourth-generation SYNERGY™ Coronary Stent. The first patient was enrolled by Ian Meredith, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., Professor and Director of MonashHeart, at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

4 Aug 2010

Simulations Plus releases MedChem Studio software for drug discovery

Simulations Plus, Inc., a leading provider of simulation and modeling software for pharmaceutical discovery and development, has announced the launch of its MedChem Studio™ software for drug discovery.

4 Aug 2010

POZEN reports $16.2M net income for second-quarter 2010

POZEN Inc., a pharmaceutical company committed to transforming medicine that transforms lives, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Obama Administration releases U.S. MDGs strategy

Obama Administration officials on Friday unveiled the U.S. government's strategy to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals by 2015 during a meeting at the U.N. Foundation "that was closed to the press," Washington Post's "Checkpoint Washington" blog reports.

3 Aug 2010

Researchers develop techniques to identify evolution of drug resistance strains of malaria

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed techniques to quickly identify evolution of drug resistance in strains of malaria. Their goal is to enable the medical community to react quickly to inevitable resistance and thereby save lives while increasing the lifespan of drugs used against the disease.Currently, disease monitoring requires months of clinical trials. The new methods can provide more information in just days, and far cheaper.

3 Aug 2010

microRNA protects red blood cells from oxidant stress: Study

Pediatric researchers have discovered a new biological pathway in which small segments of RNA, called microRNA, help protect red blood cells from injury caused by chemicals called free radicals. The microRNA seems to have only a modest role when red blood cells experience normal conditions, but steps into action when the cells are threatened by oxidant stress.

2 Aug 2010

Researchers identify new genetic route to treat epilepsy

New research points to a genetic route to understanding and treating epilepsy. Timothy Jegla, an assistant professor of biology at Penn State University, has identified an ancient gene family that plays a role in regulating the excitability of nerves within the brain.

2 Aug 2010

Path-O-Cide, Fiber Coat with Kevlar protect from major health issues: Prime Coat Coating Systems

The Annual ACA Convention attendees will be the first to see 2 new products from Prime Coat Coating Systems. Path-O-Cide and Fiber Coat with Kevlar will revolutionize the way that correctional facilities are constructed and refurbished for the near future.

31 Jul 2010

Evolution News and Research

Ancient immunoglobulin study explains evolution of human intestinal immune responses

Penwest Pharmaceuticals signs merger agreement with Endo Pharmaceuticals

Endo to acquire Penwest for $5.00 per share

New insight into protein transport mechanism can improve chemotherapy treatments

Today's OpEds: U.S. vs. Nordic health care; Medicare solvency; Patients and health costs; Mystery of ACOs

AMS AdVance XP sling for male stress urinary incontinence receives CE Mark

Salamander research findings bring scientists closer to future regenerative therapies

Research on human disease origins to predict, prevent next outbreak

Genomic sequence of living marine sponge reveals some basic information about cancer: Scientists

Certain human leukemias can be treated by targeting stem-cell microRNAs: Research

Study links sea sponge genome sequence with first animals and cancer

Blood coagulation, antimicrobial defence processes are functionally coupled: Research

Boston Scientific initiates enrollment in EVOLVE clinical trial of SYNERGY Coronary Stent

Simulations Plus releases MedChem Studio software for drug discovery

POZEN reports $16.2M net income for second-quarter 2010

Obama Administration releases U.S. MDGs strategy

Researchers develop techniques to identify evolution of drug resistance strains of malaria

microRNA protects red blood cells from oxidant stress: Study

Researchers identify new genetic route to treat epilepsy

Path-O-Cide, Fiber Coat with Kevlar protect from major health issues: Prime Coat Coating Systems

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (2nd Edition) eBook

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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