Fibroblast News and Research

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Fibroblasts are connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.

Researchers present definitive explanation of how fibrotic cells destroy human liver

In the latest of a series of related papers, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in Austria and elsewhere, present a new and more definitive explanation of how fibrotic cells form, multiply and eventually destroy the human liver, resulting in cirrhosis. In doing so, the findings upend the standing of a long-presumed marker for multiple fibrotic diseases and reveal the existence of a previously unknown kind of inflammatory white blood cell.

21 Dec 2010

Fibrocell Science submits response to FDA CR letter for azficel-T BLA

Fibrocell Science, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of autologous cell therapies for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications, announced today that it has submitted its complete response to the Complete Response (CR) letter issued by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Company's Biologics License Application (BLA) for azficel-T, proposed brand name laViv®, for the treatment of moderate to severe nasolabial folds and wrinkles.

20 Dec 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim reports positive results from afatinib phase IIb/III LUX-Lung 1 trial in advanced NSCLC

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that new data from a subgroup analysis of the phase IIb/III LUX-Lung 1 trial show that afatinib (BIBW 2992) reached a four-fold extension (4.4 months vs. 1.0 month for placebo) in progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients most likely to have an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. The updated LUX-Lung 1 data will be presented at the Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology.

13 Dec 2010

Creation of two-father offspring in mice, a step toward preserving endangered species

Using stem cell technology, reproductive scientists in Texas, led by Dr. Richard R. Berhringer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, have produced male and female mice from two fathers.

9 Dec 2010

Organovo releases data on bioprinted blood vessels

Organovo, Inc., a regenerative medicine company focused on bioprinting technology, today announced the release of data on the first fully bioprinted blood vessels. Data was presented at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) meeting in Orlando, Florida. The blood vessels were created through the use of the NovoGen MMX Bioprinter, Organovo's proprietary platform for the creation of 3D tissue constructs.

9 Dec 2010

ArQule initiates enrollment in ARQ 736 Phase 1 clinical trial for advanced solid tumors

ArQule, Inc. today announced the commencement of patient dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial with ARQ 736, a small molecule inhibitor of the RAF kinases.

7 Dec 2010

AVEO's RON antibody shows anti-tumor activity in human cancer xenografts

AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing cancer therapeutics, today announced preclinical data from AVEO's anti-RON antibody program which demonstrated the successful identification of antibodies with potent anti-tumor activity that demonstrated inhibition of the function of both wild type RON and the RONΔ160 variant, as well as a potential biomarker to identify tumors likely to respond to treatment with the anti-RON antibody.

19 Nov 2010

Data from AVEO's tivozanib-FOLFOX6 combination Phase 1b trial presented at 22nd EORTC-NCI-AACR

AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing cancer therapeutics, today announced that new clinical data from a Phase 1b trial evaluating the company's lead product candidate, tivozanib, a highly potent and selective inhibitor of VEGF receptors 1, 2, and 3, in combination with FOLFOX6, a standard chemotherapy regimen, will be presented during the 22nd Annual Symposium of EORTC-NCI-AACR being held November 16-19, 2010 in Berlin, Germany.

10 Nov 2010

Fibroblast growth factor-2 stimulates periodontal regeneration: Study

It is well known that oral infection progressively destroys periodontal tissues and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. A major goal of periodontal treatment is regeneration of the tissues lost to periodontitis. Unfortunately, most current therapies cannot predictably promote repair of tooth-supporting defects. A variety of regenerative approaches have been used clinically using bone grafts and guiding tissue membranes with limited success.

10 Nov 2010

ArQule reduces third quarter net loss to $6,394,000

ArQule, Inc. today reported its results of operations for the fiscal quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

9 Nov 2010

Research on immune system may help develop improved vaccines for cancer

Researchers at the University of Cambridge hope to revolutionise cancer therapy after discovering one of the reasons why many previous attempts to harness the immune system to treat cancerous tumours have failed.

8 Nov 2010

Skin to blood transformation in the lab

In a new study scientists have successfully transformed human skin cells into blood without first being sent through a primordial, stem-cell-like state. The findings were published online in the journal Nature. Earlier work has shown that fibroblast cells from mouse skin, treated with the right cocktail of chemicals, can be transformed into neurons and heart muscle. This is a first with human cells.

7 Nov 2010

Bortezomib reduces inflammation and promotes bone healing in arthritis models

A new study by Greek researchers suggests that the biologic drug bortezomib (Velcade), a proteasome inhibitor used to treat multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer), may represent a promising treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, bortezomib displayed favorable effects in an animal model of inflammatory arthritis that mimics RA, in reducing disease severity and inflammation, and promoting bone healing. Full findings of this study are published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

3 Nov 2010

Fibrocell, Meifu to develop and market autologous fibroblast therapies in Asia

Fibrocell Science, Inc. a biotechnology company focused on the development of autologous cell therapies for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications, announced today that it has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) with Hefei Meifu Bio-Tech Limited Co. for developing and marketing autologous fibroblast therapies in Asia, excluding Japan. The JV will be called Fibrocell Science Asia Co. Ltd.

3 Nov 2010

Research indicates stroma tissue provides new drug target for treating pancreatic cancer

A project focusing on the scar tissue surrounding cancer tumours aims to provide new targets for drugs for treating pancreatic cancer, the fifth highest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.

26 Oct 2010

BioMarin announces BMN-111 program for treatment of achondroplasia

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced its program for BMN-111, a peptide therapeutic for the treatment of achondroplasia. BioMarin plans to file an IND in the fourth quarter of 2011 and to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial by the first quarter of 2012.

19 Oct 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim announces results from afatinib clinical trials at 35th ESMO

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today results from two clinical trials for its investigational cancer compound afatinib* (BIBW 2992) presented at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Milan, Italy.

11 Oct 2010

ArQule announces ARQ 197 Phase 2 clinical trial results at ESMO annual meeting

ArQule, Inc. today announced the presentation of final results from a Phase 2 clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of ARQ 197, a selective small molecule inhibitor of the c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase, at the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

11 Oct 2010

Top research papers on venous disease receive VDC Research Awards

The Venous Disease Coalition (VDC) presented the Coalition's second annual Research Awards to the top three research papers on venous disease published in 2009 at the organization's Seventh Annual Meeting in Alexandria, VA.

7 Oct 2010

Five Prime Therapeutics receives patent for lead oncology product

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. today announced it has been issued two patents, U.S. Patent No. 7,678,890 and European Patent No.1910542B1, with claims covering various engineered Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor ("FGFR") fusion proteins, including composition of matter claims for its lead oncology product, FP-1039.

21 Sep 2010