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CRI commits $29.3 million in new funds to accelerate development of cancer immunotherapies

The Cancer Research Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fueling the discovery and development of immunotherapies for all forms of cancer, announced that it has committed more than $29.3 million in new funds to accelerate cancer immunology research and cancer immunotherapy clinical development in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

5 Aug 2015

Study sheds light on certain antagonist drugs that block physiological responses

Members of the Consolidated Research Group of Molecular Neurobiology of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the University of Barcelona (UB), affiliated with the Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), have published a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) about the formation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) which allows understanding the unexpected behaviour of some antagonists that block physiological responses.

30 Jul 2015

Study points to new treatment strategies for liver cancer

A new study by researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, the National Cancer Institute, and the Chulabhorn Research Institute has found that blocking the activity of a key immune receptor, the lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTβR), reduces the progression of liver cancer.

25 Jul 2015

Isis Innovation, Ludwig Cancer Research announce launch of new cancer immunotherapy spinout

Isis Innovation, the University of Oxford's technology commercialisation company, and Ludwig Cancer Research are proud to announce the launch of a new spinout company, iOx Therapeutics. iOx Therapeutics will develop a novel cancer immunotherapy discovered through a collaboration between Ludwig Cancer Research and Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo, the director of the MRC Human Immunology Unit within the University of Oxford's Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine.

9 Jul 2015

Increased sleepiness may necessitate cautious PD management

Many patients with early Parkinson’s disease develop excessive daytime sleepiness as their condition progresses, a study shows.

3 Jul 2015

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Spiolto Respimat approved for COPD treatment in first European countries

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced regulatory authority approvals for Spiolto Respimat (tiotropium/olodaterol) in first European countries. Spiolto Respimat is a once-daily maintenance treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

3 Jul 2015

Hepatic ALT flares linked to HBsAg clearance

Hepatic alanine aminotransferase flares are associated with rapid decline and greater annual reductions of hepatitis B surface antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who achieve HBsAg seroclearance, say Japanese researchers.

30 Jun 2015

Aeterna Zentaris selects Ergomed to manage Phase 3 clinical study of Macrilen

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. announced today that it has executed a definitive agreement with Ergomed PLC, pursuant to which Ergomed will manage the new, confirmatory Phase 3 clinical study to demonstrate the efficacy of Macrilen (macimorelin), a novel orally-active ghrelin agonist for use in evaluating adult growth hormone deficiency ("AGHD").

25 Jun 2015

CytomX closes $70 million Series D financing round

CytomX, a biotechnology company developing Probody™ therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced the closing of a $70 million Series D financing round. The financing was led by Fidelity Management & Research Company with participation from Casdin Capital, Cormorant Asset Management, Deerfield Management, Perceptive Advisors, Redmile Group, Tekla Healthcare Investors and Tekla Life Sciences Investors, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Wellington Management Company and additional undisclosed investors.

17 Jun 2015

Clinical studies confirm safety, efficacy of opicapone in Parkinson’s disease patients

BIAL is presenting 11 research posters at the 19th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders (June 14–15, San Diego, CA). These evaluate the safety and efficacy of opicapone (BIA 9-1067), a novel once-daily catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor for use as adjunctive therapy in levodopa-treated Parkinson’s disease patients with end of dose motor fluctuations.

15 Jun 2015

Novartis announces FDA approval of Promacta for treatment of children with chronic ITP

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Promacta (eltrombopag) for the treatment of children six years and older with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy. Promacta was approved by the FDA in 2008 for use in adult patients with the same condition.

15 Jun 2015

Tioga Pharmaceuticals announces commencement of asimadoline Phase 2 study for treatment of pruritus

Tioga Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage biotechnology company, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical study of asimadoline, a novel, well-studied kappa-opioid receptor specific agonist, for the treatment of pruritus or itching. The double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and clinical efficacy of asimadoline in patients with pruritus due to atopic dermatitis and is being conducted at 20 clinical study centers in the United States.

11 Jun 2015

Can-Fite BioPharma receives Notice of Allowance for patent covering manufacturing method of CF101 drug

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd., a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs being developed to treat inflammatory diseases, cancer and sexual dysfunction, today announced the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance to the Company for an important manufacturing method patent for its drug candidate CF101.

10 Jun 2015

Brain protein key to binge drinking? An interview with Dr. Candice Contet

Alcohol binge drinking is mostly driven by positive reinforcement, a process in which a rewarding experience (e.g., the euphoria one feels when intoxicated) strengthens the behaviour leading to this experience (e.g., going to a bar).

9 Jun 2015

Lycera forms exclusive global collaboration with Celgene

Lycera Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing breakthrough immune modulatory medicines, announced today the formation of an exclusive global collaboration with Celgene Corporation to take forward Lycera's proprietary pipeline for cancer and immune-mediated diseases.

9 Jun 2015

Study shows how GLP-1 receptor agonists modify the brain's response to food

Gut hormone-based medications used to treat diabetes, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have also been shown to reduce body weight. Researchers have been working to understand how. This study, presented today at the American Diabetes Association's 75th Scientific Sessions, sheds light on how GLP-1 receptor agonists alter the brain's response to food, possibly reducing cravings and increasing satisfaction while eating.

9 Jun 2015

Sanofi announces results from Phase IIIb ELIXA study of Lyxumia in adults with diabetes and high CV risk

Sanofi announced today the presentation of full results of the Phase IIIb ELIXA study, which was designed to assess the cardiovascular (CV) safety of Lyxumia (lixisenatide) in adults with type 2 diabetes and high CV risk.

8 Jun 2015

Results from Intarcia's two phase 3 clinical trials of ITCA 650 to be presented at ADA's Scientific Session

Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the presentation of results from its first two phase 3 clinical trials (FREEDOM-1 and FREEDOM-1 HBL) of its late-stage investigational candidate ITCA 650 (exenatide delivered continuously via a small matchstick-size subcutaneous osmotic mini-pump just once or twice yearly) at the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

8 Jun 2015

Once-weekly Trulicity 0.75 mg shows promising results in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Results from a new study of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes showed once-weekly Trulicity 0.75 mg provided greater hemoglobin A1c (A1C) reduction compared to once-daily Victoza 0.9 mg after 52 weeks of treatment. Eli Lilly and Company will present these data at the 75th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in Boston.

7 Jun 2015

Rhythm announces initiation of two setmelanotide Phase 2 trials for treatment of PWS, POMC-null obesity

Rhythm announced today the initiation of two Phase 2 clinical trials focused on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of setmelanotide (RM-493), the company's novel melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, for the treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and POMC-null obesity.

4 Jun 2015

Agonist News and Research

CRI commits $29.3 million in new funds to accelerate development of cancer immunotherapies

Study sheds light on certain antagonist drugs that block physiological responses

Study points to new treatment strategies for liver cancer

Isis Innovation, Ludwig Cancer Research announce launch of new cancer immunotherapy spinout

Increased sleepiness may necessitate cautious PD management

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Spiolto Respimat approved for COPD treatment in first European countries

Hepatic ALT flares linked to HBsAg clearance

Aeterna Zentaris selects Ergomed to manage Phase 3 clinical study of Macrilen

CytomX closes $70 million Series D financing round

Clinical studies confirm safety, efficacy of opicapone in Parkinson’s disease patients

Novartis announces FDA approval of Promacta for treatment of children with chronic ITP

Tioga Pharmaceuticals announces commencement of asimadoline Phase 2 study for treatment of pruritus

Can-Fite BioPharma receives Notice of Allowance for patent covering manufacturing method of CF101 drug

Brain protein key to binge drinking? An interview with Dr. Candice Contet

Lycera forms exclusive global collaboration with Celgene

Study shows how GLP-1 receptor agonists modify the brain's response to food

Sanofi announces results from Phase IIIb ELIXA study of Lyxumia in adults with diabetes and high CV risk

Results from Intarcia's two phase 3 clinical trials of ITCA 650 to be presented at ADA's Scientific Session

Once-weekly Trulicity 0.75 mg shows promising results in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Rhythm announces initiation of two setmelanotide Phase 2 trials for treatment of PWS, POMC-null obesity

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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