Preclinical News and Research

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TRAP-1 may prevent cancer cell death, current research suggests

Current research suggests that TNF-receptor associated protein-1 (TRAP-1) may prevent cancer cell death. The related report by Leav et al, "Cytoprotective Mitochondrial Chaperone TRAP-1 as a Novel Molecular Target in Localized and Metastatic Prostate Cancer," appears in the January 2010 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

30 Dec 2009

Emerald BioStructures engineers new allosteric small molecule modulators of the PDE4 enzyme

Emerald BioStructures (formerly deCODE biostructures) announced today a publication in the December 27, 2009 advance online issue of Nature Biotechnology, detailing the application of structure-based drug design (SBDD) to engineer new allosteric small molecule modulators of the enzyme phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), with reduced side effects. According to the paper, the researchers established the structural basis of PDE4 regulation through crystal structures of the PDE4 regulatory domain in contact with small molecules.

29 Dec 2009

SVA submits the first clinical trial application for HFMD vaccine in China

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today that it has filed the application with China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) to commence a human clinical trial for its vaccine against human enterovirus 71 (EV 71), which causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). This is the first clinical trial application for HFMD vaccine submitted in China.

28 Dec 2009

Publication validates company's structure-based approach for addressing undruggable targets

28 Dec 2009

SemBioSys Genetics' Apo AI(Milano) program progress update

SemBioSys Genetics Inc. provided an update today on its progress on plant-produced Apo AI(Milano) in light of the Apo AI(Milano) license agreement between Pfizer Inc. and The Medicines Company, of Parsippany, New Jersey.

24 Dec 2009

AstraZeneca signs definitive agreement to acquire Novexel

Novexel, a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibiotics designed to overcome the significant global problem of microbial drug resistance, announces today that its shareholders have signed a definitive agreement whereby Novexel shall be acquired by AstraZeneca for a total cash consideration of up to $505 million, including contingent payments and the net cash position of the company at closing.

24 Dec 2009

Synta Pharmaceuticals initiates STA-9090 Phase 2 clinical trial for GIST

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that it is initiating a Phase 2 clinical study of STA-9090 in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). This is the sixth clinical study of STA-9090, a potent, synthetic, small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor with a novel chemical structure.

23 Dec 2009

Viron Therapeutics' three drug candidates granted U.S. patents

Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the development of virally-derived protein therapeutics, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patents related to three of its drug candidates, VT-111, VT-346 and VT-384.

23 Dec 2009

Emisphere's oral salmon calcitonin product addresses persistent musculoskeletal pain

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. today announced a meta-analysis published in the December 2009 edition of Rheumatology Reports examining independent evidence of the analgesic action of the hormone calcitonin. This publication restates the potential of calcitonin in filling a significant unmet need for alternative treatments for persistent musculoskeletal pain.

22 Dec 2009

DSM BioSolutions to manufacture Mayoly Spindler's 'MS1819' lipase biotherapeutic

DSM BioSolutions today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Laboratoires Mayoly Spindler, Chatou Cedex, France, for the manufacture of "MS1819" lipase.

22 Dec 2009

CSC completes a Series B financing round

California Stem Cell, Inc. (CSC), a leading stem cell company, announced that it has completed a Series B financing round with private investors. The financing will enable the company to support the advancement of its therapeutic products to human clinical trials, as well as the generation and distribution of its tools to aid in stem cell research and drug discovery.

21 Dec 2009

Durata Therapeutics acquires Vicuron Pharmaceuticals

Durata Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Vicuron Pharmaceuticals from Pfizer (PFE). Durata is a newly formed biopharmaceutical company that was created by a five-member venture capital syndicate to pursue late-stage clinical development of novel antibiotic programs. The acquisition was funded through a stock purchase by New Leaf Venture Partners, LLC, Domain Associates, LLC, Aisling Capital, Sofinnova Ventures Inc. and Canaan Partners.

21 Dec 2009

KVCI completes acquisition of former AAIPharma bioanalytical division

Kansas Venture Capital, Inc. (KVCI) has acquired the former AAIPharma bioanalytical division from ZeeCRO Inc. With its 30-year track record of developing entrepreneurial companies, KVCI will grow the bioanalytical business through organic and acquisition strategies to provide best-in-class analytical services for both the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

18 Dec 2009

Flamel Technologies initiates IFN-alpha-2b XL Phase 2a clinical trial for HCV

Flamel Technologies today announced the initiation of a Phase 2a clinical trial of Flamel’s Interferon alpha-2b XL (IFN-alpha-2b XL), which is based on Flamel’s Medusa® platform for controlled release of biologics. IFN-alpha-2b XL is being developed as a controlled release of unmodified interferon alpha-2b for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

18 Dec 2009

Vion Pharmaceuticals files for bankruptcy

VION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel cancer therapeutics, announced that it had voluntarily filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

18 Dec 2009

Proprietary adult stem cell platform, an effective treatment for diabetes, shows study

Australia's regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited, today announced significant preclinical trial results showing that the proprietary adult stem cell platform could be an effective treatment for diabetes.

18 Dec 2009

Phase 2 clinical study of STA-9090 in NSCLC initiated

18 Dec 2009

Adimab announces initiation of research collaborations with two other companies

Adimab, Inc., a leader in the discovery of fully human antibodies, today announced the initiation of research collaborations with Pfizer and an undisclosed second company. Adimab also announced the receipt of milestone payments from two recently announced discovery collaborations with Merck and Roche.

17 Dec 2009

Alcon increases its financial support for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals' research and development efforts

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company creating a new class of anti-infectives for treating multi-drug resistant pathogens, announced today that effective immediately, its partner, Alcon Inc. has increased its on-going financial support of the company's research and development efforts by more than $2 million per year. The additional funding is expected to enhance NovaBay's pre-clinical and clinical development programs in the areas of eye, ear and sinus infections, as well as contact lens solutions.

17 Dec 2009

New licensing agreement to develop and commercialize prophylactic vaccine against MRSA signed

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive, world-wide licensing agreement with Syntiron to develop and commercialize its prophylactic vaccine against Staphylococcus, including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.

17 Dec 2009