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.

Experts address fundamental questions related to renal failure in ICU

Despite the fact that recent medical advances have allowed healthcare professionals to stabilize patients who would have otherwise died, many stabilized patients later develop organ system failure. In fact, acute renal failure is one of the biggest threats to critically ill patients: forty percent of patients with this condition die.

14 May 2010

Interleukin Genetics reports 166% increase in overall genetic test revenue for first-quarter 2010

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. announced today financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

14 May 2010

Atherotech to showcase VAP Cholesterol Test at NLA Scientific Sessions 2010

Atherotech Inc. will exhibit its VAP® Cholesterol Test in booth #102 at the National Lipid Association (NLA) Scientific Sessions 2010. The meeting takes place May 13-16 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Chicago.

13 May 2010

FDA should apply equal rigor in assessing food claims and drug approvals, says new report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should apply the same rigor to evaluating the science behind claims of foods' and nutritional supplements' health benefits as it devotes to assessing medication and medical technology approvals, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

13 May 2010

Tracking genes in infant's intestine helps compare early development of breast-fed and formula-fed babies

Is breast milk so different from infant formula? The ability to track which genes are operating in an infant's intestine has allowed University of Illinois scientists to compare the early development of breast-fed and formula-fed babies. They say the difference is very real.

13 May 2010

Clinical Data expands PGxHealth's FAMILION tests to include two new tests to diagnose heart diseases

Clinical Data, Inc., announced today that its PGxHealth division is expanding its FAMILION family of genetic tests to include two new tests to diagnose heart diseases. With the launch of a test for Conduction Disease associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and a test for Short QT Syndrome, PGxHealth continues to lead the industry with the most comprehensive menu of genetic tests to diagnose or confirm familial heart diseases.

12 May 2010

Updated data from Vical's Phase 2 trial of high-dose Allovectin-7 in metastatic melanoma patients

Vical Incorporated announced the publication in the June issue of Melanoma Research of updated data from the company's Phase 2 trial of high-dose (2 mg) Allovectin-7® in patients with metastatic melanoma. A separate article in the May issue of Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy reviewed results from the Phase 2 trial and previous clinical studies of Allovectin-7®.

12 May 2010

Wheat aleurone contains high levels of potentially healthpromoting compounds

Wheat aleurone is a novel wheat grain fraction with high levels of potentially healthpromoting compounds. New clinical trials with ready-to-eat cereals and bread containing wheat aleurone have been performed, and showed increased blood concentrations of tentatively beneficial compounds such as betaine, and decreased homocysteine and LDL-cholesterol which are both associated with heart disease risk.

12 May 2010

Academic scientist receives $125,000 from ADDF/LBDA program to study LBD

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and the Lewy Body Dementia Association announced today the recipient of their first partnership research award through the Lewy Body Dementia Biomarker Research Program.

12 May 2010

OriGene Technologies, ISB to create proteotypic PeptideAtlas and SRM/MRM mass spectrometry standard database

OriGene Technologies, Inc., a leading gene-centric life sciences company, and the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), announce plans to create a proteotypic PeptideAtlas and develop an SRM/MRM (single reaction monitoring, multiple reaction monitoring) mass spectrometry standard database for 5,000 human proteins. The new collaboration will apply ISB's novel systems biology mass spectrometry expertise to OriGene's large collection of full length human proteins.

12 May 2010

Study confirms Resveratrol's impact on cognitive processes of the brain

The subject of extensive studies across the world, Resveratrol is proving to be a major talking point in the scientific community. And as evidence comes to light of the continuing beneficial effects of this compound, a further study by the University of Northumbria in the UK has confirmed what many scientists already believe to be the case - that Resveratrol could have a significant impact on the cognitive processes of the human brain.

12 May 2010

FDA approves delivery of Cefepime in B. Braun's DUPLEX System

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved an application that permits B. Braun Medical Inc. (B. Braun) to deliver FDA-approved 1g and 2g Cefepime for Injection USP and Dextrose Injection USP in B. Braun's DUPLEX® Drug Delivery System.

From B. Braun Melsungen AG 12 May 2010

Phase IIb study of EVP-6124 initiated in patients with Alzheimer's disease

EnVivo Pharmaceuticals today announced the initiation and dosing of patients in a Phase IIb study of its EVP-6124 compound, a selective alpha-7 nicotinic agonist in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

12 May 2010

Personalized treatments for thyroid disorders to be presented at ATA meeting

Internationally recognized thyroid disease experts will meet to discuss "Thyroid Disorders in the Era of Personalized Medicine" May 13 - 16 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the American Thyroid Association's (ATA) (www.thyroid.org) Spring Meeting to be held at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency Hotel.

11 May 2010

SNP biomarker could reduce guesswork associated with prescribing drugs

A tiny gene mutation in human liver cells could one day influence how high or low a dose patients need of about half of the clinically used drugs on the market, new research suggests.

11 May 2010

Harbor BioSciences reports encouraging results from Triolex Phase IIa trials

Harbor Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, metabolic and inflammatory diseases, today released an update to its development program for Triolex to treat obesity-induced insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

10 May 2010

Astute Medical completes $26.5 million series B financing

Astute Medical, Inc., a developer of novel, biomarker-based medical diagnostics, today announced completion of a $26.5 million series B financing co-led by Domain Associates and Delphi Ventures. Astute will use the funding to advance research and development aimed at the identification and validation of protein biomarkers with the goal of commercializing high potential diagnostic products.

10 May 2010

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals first-quarter revenues down 61%

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated its drug development progress and reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

10 May 2010

Inflammation enzyme regulates production of brown fat tissue

Love handles, muffin tops and stomach tires - white fat tissue forms the typical curves in the notorious problem areas to store energy. Exactly the opposite happens in brown fat tissue: Instead of being stored, energy gets transformed into heat. To the dismay of many people, adults have only small amounts of this energy burner. By contrast, babies and animals in hibernation have lots of it in their bodies where it serves for heat regulation.

7 May 2010

NanoString Technologies receives ISO 13485:2003 certification

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held life sciences company marketing a complete solution for detecting and counting large sets of target molecules in biological samples, today announced it has received ISO 13485:2003 certification, an internationally recognized quality standard for medical devices.

From NanoString Technologies 6 May 2010