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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Cytheris initiates ORVACS Phase II clinical trial to study HIV infection

Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development of new therapies for immune modulation, today announced the initiation of Phase II clinical trial of the company's investigative immunomodulatory agent, CYT107 (rhIL-7), in combination with two potent antiretroviral drugs represented by the integrase inhibitor raltegravir (ISENTRESS- Merck & Co.) and the CCR5 inhibitor, maraviroc (SELZENTRY- ViiV Healthcare).

19 Oct 2010

UCSF professor receives National Medal of Science

UCSF Nobel laureate Stanley B. Prusiner, MD, UCSF professor of neurology and director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, today (Oct. 15, 2010) was named to receive the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest honor for science and technology.

18 Oct 2010

Researchers identify new paradigm for regulation of alternative splicing

How a T cell decides to make protein X, Y, or Z can have profound effects for fighting foreign invaders or staving off dire autoimmune reactions. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified the steps that control how different forms of an immune cell protein called CD45, which is critical for activating the immune system when faced with pathogens, are controlled in the arc of a body's immune response.

18 Oct 2010

Scientists find unexpected function of cell's protein-making machinery

When cells make the proteins that carry out virtually every function of life, it's vital that the right things happen at the right times, and maybe more importantly that wrong things are stopped from happening at the wrong times.

18 Oct 2010

EpiMark Analysis Kit simplifies DNA methylation analysis for epigenetics researchers

New England Biolabs (NEB) has launched a suite of new and validated products designed to simplify DNA methylation analysis for epigenetics researchers. These enzyme-based solutions address some of the challenges of the current methods, including the lack of a reproducible method for the analysis and quantitation of 5-hydroxymethlcytosine (5-hmC) in the epigenome.

15 Oct 2010

Acceleron announces ACE-031 Phase 1b study results

Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that modulate the growth of cells and tissues including muscle, bone, fat, red blood cells and the vasculature, today announced preliminary results from a Phase 1b study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamic (PD) activity of ACE-031 following multiple ascending doses in healthy postmenopausal volunteers.

14 Oct 2010

TrovaGene receives patent for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection

TrovaGene, Inc. a developer of transrenal molecular diagnostics to facilitate personalized medicine, received notice of U.S. Patent 7,803,929 entitled "Kits for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection by analysis of cell-free pathogenic nucleic acids in urine."

13 Oct 2010

Prosensa receives £7.5M milestone payment in GSK2402968 Phase IIa trial for DMD

Prosensa, the Dutch biopharmaceutical company focusing on RNA modulating therapeutics, has announced that it received a £7.5m milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as a result of achieving a data milestone in its Phase IIa open label extension trial of GSK2402968 (PRO051), being developed to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) under its agreement with GSK. The milestone payment was based upon achievement of a successful safety review, with no serious safety signals observed.

13 Oct 2010

Scientists design synthetic molecule to protect liver cancer cells from toxic effects of chemotherapy

Scientists have found that a synthetic molecule they designed can block activation of a gene in liver cancer cells, halting a process that allows some of those cancer cells to survive chemotherapy.

13 Oct 2010

QIAGEN, Abbott enter agreement to strengthen testing menus for automated in-vitro diagnostic applications

QIAGEN and Abbott today announced that they have entered into an agreement that significantly strengthens both companies' testing menus for automated in-vitro diagnostic applications in the United States and Canada. Financial terms were not disclosed.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 13 Oct 2010

Exiqon introduces on-line microRNA qPCR assay design software

Exiqon A/S, a leading supplier of high-value gene expression analysis products, today announced the extension of the miRCURY LNA microRNA PCR product line with the launch of a novel bioinformatics software for the design of custom qPCR assays for microRNA quantification.

12 Oct 2010

Researchers investigate 'friendly bacteria' to kill bone cancer cells

Children and young people who are diagnosed with bone cancer could benefit from better treatment in the future thanks to new research at The University of Nottingham. The Bone Cancer Research Trust launches Bone Cancer Awareness Week today and has funded a new project at the University which is testing a theory that 'friendly bacteria' can be used to kill bone cancer cells.

12 Oct 2010

An overview on Annual BioPartnering Europe 2010

TVG is pleased to welcome leading biotech and pharma executives at the 18th Annual BioPartnering Europe, held in London, UK. To open the conference, Dr. Anders Ekblom, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development at AstraZeneca, spoke about a commitment to innovation and AstraZeneca's unique approach to collaborations.

12 Oct 2010

Covidien presents hernia and abdominal wall repair products at EHS Meeting

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced that its hernia and abdominal wall repair products were featured in 18 podium presentations at the 32nd International Congress of the European Hernia Society (EHS).

12 Oct 2010

Biologists recommend virtual institute for RNA research

A Europe-wide network of labs focusing on RNA research is needed to make the most of RNA's high potential for treating a wide range of diseases. The recommendation for this virtual research institute comes from a panel of biologists at the European Science Foundation in a report published today, 'RNA World: a new frontier in biomedical research'.

12 Oct 2010

NIH awards La Jolla Institute $12.6M to develop San Diego's first Center for RNAi screening

The La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology will develop San Diego's first Center for RNAi screening -- a breakthrough genomics technology that will further enhance San Diego's reputation as a national research leader and provide the local biomedical community ready access to the Nobel-Prize winning technology.

11 Oct 2010

Researchers develop new approach to treat inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have developed a novel approach for delivering small bits of genetic material into the body to improve the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Delivering short strands of RNA into cells has become a popular research area because of its potential therapeutic applications, but how to deliver them into targeted cells in a living organism has been an obstacle.

11 Oct 2010

Roche, DKFZ announce research collaboration to predict cervical cancer risk

Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and the German Cancer Research Center announced today that they have entered into a research collaboration to enable more specific prediction of a woman's risk for developing cervical cancer.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 11 Oct 2010

'Achilles heel' for HCV infection

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology (GIVI) have found that an enzyme associated with the storage of fat in the liver is required for the infectious activity of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This discovery may offer a new strategy for treating the infection.

11 Oct 2010

Takeda, Envoy enter three-year research alliance to develop schizophrenia drug

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a global pharmaceutical company, and Envoy Therapeutics Inc., a recently formed drug discovery company, today announced that they have formed a three-year research alliance aimed at discovering drugs for schizophrenia that will have greater efficacy and safety compared to current therapies.

11 Oct 2010