Antibody News and Research

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An antibody is a blood protein that is produced in response to and counteracts an antigen. Antibodies are produced in response to disease and help the body fight against the particular disease. In this way, antibodies help the body develop an immunity to disease.

Researchers to develop vaccine for plague

Given the many pressing concerns of the day, fear of plague probably isn't what causes most Americans to lose sleep. But for those whose responsibility it is to combat bioterrorism, plague is among the highest priorities. Those charged with that mission include scientists like medical researcher Steve Smiley, whose lab at the Trudeau Institute is working to develop a vaccine that will protect the public against weaponized forms of plague.

21 Sep 2010

Childhood obesity linked to common cold virus

A new study has shown that obese children are more prone to carrying a common cold virus than slimmer children. The virus in question is adenovirus 36 and if the link is true then someday new obesity treatments might be tailored to attack the virus to treat or prevent childhood obesity. Childhood obesity affects 17% of American children and adolescents. The report appeared in the journal Pediatrics.

21 Sep 2010

Dengue fever vaccine in the pipeline

Australians researchers are moving towards producing the first ever vaccine for dengue fever, the potentially life-threatening infection spread by mosquitoes in the tropics. At present late stage clinical trials are underway for a vaccine that would protect against all four known strains of the disease. Participants are now being recruited in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

20 Sep 2010

MJFF selects Epitomics to distribute LRRK2 monoclonal antibodies

Epitomics, Inc. today announced that The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) has chosen the company to distribute a panel of LRRK2 monoclonal antibodies that were developed under an agreement between the two parties. Under a special arrangement the antibodies are being provided at low cost to the entire PD research community to help advance LRRK2 therapeutic development efforts. The antibodies will be available to Parkinson's researchers in academic/nonprofit and industry labs on a worldwide basis.

20 Sep 2010

Celldex commences CDX-011 Phase 2b trial in advanced breast cancer patients expressing GPNMB

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been treated in a randomized Phase 2b study of the Company's CDX-011 (glembatumumab vedotin) antibody drug conjugate in glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB) expressing advanced, refractory breast cancer patients. CDX-011 targets the protein GPNMB, which is over expressed in a variety of cancers including breast cancer, melanoma, and brain tumors.

20 Sep 2010

Micromet initiates MT103 phase 2 trial in adult ALL patients

Micromet, Inc. today announced the initiation of a phase 2 trial of the Company's lead product candidate blinatumomab (MT103) in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blinatumomab is the first of a new class of agents called BiTE antibodies, designed to harness the body's T cells to kill cancer cells.

20 Sep 2010

Adenovirus exposure may cause obesity in children: Study

The emerging idea that obesity may have an infectious origin gets new support in a cross-sectional study by University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers who found that children exposed to a particular strain of adenovirus were significantly more likely to be obese.

20 Sep 2010

Emergent BioSolutions signs contract with HHS to develop rPA anthrax vaccine

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced today that it has signed a contract, valued at up to $186.6 million, with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority of the Department of Health and Human Services, for the development of a recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine.

18 Sep 2010

FDA decides to review information on Avastin for advanced HER2-negative breast cancer

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, today announced that information submitted by the company to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the review of the supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLAs) for Avastin (bevacizumab) for previously untreated (first-line) advanced HER2-negative breast cancer has been deemed a major amendment.

18 Sep 2010

Conference to discuss frontline of immunological research, its clinical application

The immune system is evolved to protect our body against a variety of infectious agents which can cause serious and often fatal diseases. We now appreciate that the immune system is also involved in surveillance of malignant transformation of normal cells that constitute our body, as well as rejection of transplanted organs.

17 Sep 2010

Arena, Eisai provide update on lorcaserin NDA

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eisai Inc. announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9 to 5 that the available data do not adequately demonstrate that the potential benefits of lorcaserin outweigh the potential risks, when used long-term in a population of overweight and obese individuals to allow marketing approval.

17 Sep 2010

Researchers load biological molecules onto 'nanosprings'

Researchers at Oregon State University have reported the successful loading of biological molecules onto "nanosprings" - a type of nanostructure that has gained significant interest in recent years for its ability to maximize surface area in microreactors.

17 Sep 2010

BAC launches CaptureSelect technology for protein depletion from serum

BAC, the leading provider of antibody-based affinity purification technologies, announces the launch of CaptureSelect HumanPlasma14 for highly specific, reproducible depletion of the 14 most abundant proteins from human blood plasma or serum. HumanPlasma14 is designed for single-step, single-use depletion of more than 99% of the abundant proteins.

17 Sep 2010

PDL BioPharma completes retirement of 2.75% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2023

PDL BioPharma, Inc. announced today that it has completed the retirement of the remaining $54.3 million in aggregate principal of the Company's 2.75% Convertible Subordinated Notes, due August 16, 2023 (the "2023 Notes") in exchange for 8.9 million shares of common stock and $4.2 million in cash.

16 Sep 2010

GSK, Genmab to refocus on ofatumumab development program in autoimmune indications

GlaxoSmithKline and Genmab A/S Following the 1st July announcement by GSK and Genmab of an amendment to the collaborative agreement for ofatumumab in which GSK assumed development responsibility for autoimmune indications, GSK and Genmab announced today plans to refocus the development program of ofatumumab in autoimmune indications.

16 Sep 2010

ASG-5ME compound kills pancreatic cancer cells: Researchers

A new investigational drug designed to penetrate and attack pancreatic cancer cells has been administered to a patient for the first time ever at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare.

16 Sep 2010

MVI agrees to provide fund for evaluating Inovio's malaria DNA vaccine candidate in non-human primates

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) has agreed to provide follow-on funding to continue evaluation and development of Inovio's malaria DNA vaccine candidate in non-human primates.

15 Sep 2010

RAB-1 monoclonal antibody study shows positive result for rabies

With the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year, a new cost-effective rabies therapy developed by MassBiologics at the University of Massachusetts and the Serum Institute of India took an important step forward with positive results from a Phase 1 study. The recently completed study showed that a new monoclonal antibody (RAB-1) resulted in protective antibody levels in the serum of treated subjects equal to the current standard of treatment, which is often not available in the areas of the world hit hardest by rabies.

15 Sep 2010

PLX-PAD therapy improves quality of life in CLI patients

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. today reported that data from clinical trials show the Company's placenta-derived cell therapy, PLX-PAD, is safe and improves quality of life as well as other efficacy measurements in patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI), the end-stage of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

15 Sep 2010

Arizona State University receives grant to protect warfighters from infectious diseases

Scientists at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University have received a 2-year, $5.3 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to protect warfighters in the event of exposure to infectious diseases during deployment.

15 Sep 2010