Balance Disorders News and Research

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A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady, giddy, woozy, or have a sensation of movement, spinning, or floating. An organ in our inner ear, the labyrinth, is an important part of our vestibular (balance) system. The labyrinth interacts with other systems in the body, such as the visual (eyes) and skeletal (bones and joints) systems, to maintain the body's position. These systems, along with the brain and the nervous system, can be the source of balance problems.

Merial, GenVec extend deal to develop and commercialize foot-and-mouth disease vaccine

GenVec, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a second agreement with Merial, the animal health division of sanofi-aventis.

3 May 2011

Positive results from Otonomy's OTO-104 Phase 1b study in Meniere's disease

Otonomy, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the inner and middle ear, today announced positive data from a Phase 1b study of the company's lead product candidate, OTO-104, in patients with Meniere's disease.

28 Apr 2011

New discovery may improve cochlear implants for deafness

University of Utah scientists used invisible infrared light to make rat heart cells contract and toadfish inner-ear cells send signals to the brain.

28 Mar 2011

Encouraging GenVec RSV vaccine program data presented at International Respiratory Syncytial Virus Symposium

GenVec, Inc. announced today that data were presented on GenVec's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine program at the International Respiratory Syncytial Virus Symposium, which took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands on December 2-5, 2010. The presentation was given by Barney S. Graham, MD, PhD, Chief, Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory and Chief, Clinical Trials Core, at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

7 Dec 2010

GenVec receives $244,479 grant under QTDP program

GenVec, Inc. announced today that it was awarded a cash grant of approximately $244,479 under the U.S. Government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project program.

3 Nov 2010

Cascade enters non-binding letter of intent to acquire AcuNetx

Cascade Technologies Corp. announced today that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire all of the assets of AcuNetx, Inc., a Nevada corporation in exchange for common stock of Cascade.

2 Nov 2010

UW Medicine patient receives implantable device for vestibular problems

A University of Washington Medical Center patient on Thursday, Oct. 21, will be the world's first recipient of a device that aims to quell the disabling vertigo associated with Meniere's disease.

21 Oct 2010

GenVec completes initial milestone in collaboration with Novartis

GenVec, Inc. today announced that it has achieved the first milestone in its collaboration with Novartis, related to the development of treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders. The milestone was triggered by the successful completion of certain preclinical development activities.

14 Sep 2010

Otonomy announces closing of $38.5 million Series B financing

Otonomy, Inc. announced today that it has closed a $38.5 million Series B financing co-led by Novo Ventures and RiverVest Venture Partners, and joined by Domain Associates and TPG Biotech. This financing is incremental to the $10 million Series A closed with Avalon Ventures in June 2010. Avalon also participated in the Series B round.

30 Aug 2010

GenVec signs new agreement with Novartis for supply of services relating to development materials

GenVec, Inc. today announced a new agreement for the supply of services relating to development materials with Novartis, related to the companies' collaboration in hearing loss and balance disorders. Under this new agreement, GenVec could receive approximately $13 million over four years to manufacture clinical trial material for up to two lead candidates.

7 Aug 2010

GenVec reports net loss of $4.2M for second-quarter 2010

GenVec, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

6 Aug 2010

GenVec creates novel vectors for vaccine development

GenVec, Inc. announced that research regarding GenVec's efforts to create novel vectors for vaccines is appearing in Vol. 28, issue 35, pages 5691-5702 of Vaccine. The article, "Potent immune responses and in vitro pro-inflammatory cytokine suppression by a novel adenovirus vector based on rare human serotype 28," describes GenVec's efforts to identify and utilize novel adenovirus serotypes as vectors in vaccine development.

27 Jul 2010

GenVec engages Wells Fargo Securities to conduct comprehensive review of strategic alternatives

GenVec, Inc. today announced that it has engaged Wells Fargo Securities, LLC to conduct a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives aimed at enhancing shareholder value.

16 Jun 2010

Otonomy completes $10 million Series A financing with Avalon Ventures

Otonomy, Inc. announced today that it has completed a $10 million Series A financing with Avalon Ventures. Proceeds from the financing will be used to support the ongoing clinical trial for OTO-104 in Meniere's disease, initiate IND-enabling studies for OTO-203, and continue early-stage development of a third program.

11 Jun 2010

Motion Therapeutics to launch BalanceWear Stabilizing Garments for MS

For those who suffer from balance disorders and loss of mobility, promising results from a new stabilizing device may help to reestablish mobility, confidence and independence. This week, Motion Therapeutics premieres its BalanceWear™ Stabilizing Garments at the 24th Annual Meeting for the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers in San Antonio.

2 Jun 2010

New way to coax embryonic stem cells and reprogrammed adult cells to develop sensory cells

After ten years of effort, researchers reporting in the May 14th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, say they have found a way to coax embryonic stem cells as well as reprogrammed adult cells to develop into sensory cells that normally reside in the mammalian inner ear. Those mechanosensitive sensory hair cells are the linchpin of hearing and balance.

14 May 2010

Stanford researchers make hair-cell-like cells in a petri dish

Deep inside the ear, specialized cells called hair cells detect vibrations in the air and translate them into sound. Ten years ago, Stefan Heller, PhD, professor of otolaryngology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, came up with the idea that if you could create these cells in the laboratory from stem cells, it would go a long way toward helping scientists understand the molecular basis of hearing in order to develop better treatments for deafness.

14 May 2010

Clinical and preclinical malaria vaccine data presented at Keystone Symposium

GenVec, Inc. announced that encouraging clinical and preclinical malaria vaccine data were presented at the Keystone Symposium -- Malaria: New Approaches to Understanding Host-Parasite Interactions taking place April 11-16, 2010 in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

12 Apr 2010

GenVec announces discontinuation of TNFerade PACT trial for pancreatic cancer

GenVec, Inc. announced today that it is discontinuing its Phase 3 clinical trial of TNFerade™ in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer based on results of an interim analysis. This interim analysis of overall survival, conducted after the 184th death (two-thirds of total expected events), was designed to determine whether the study should continue.

30 Mar 2010

TNFerade's suppression of cancer metastases: Mechanisms revealed

GenVec, Inc. announced the publication of new preclinical research revealing mechanisms by which TNFerade(TM) suppresses cancer metastases through activation of the immune system.

4 Mar 2010