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Calithera Biosciences completes Series A financing totaling $40M

Calithera Biosciences, a company developing novel oncology therapeutics, today announced the completion of a Series A financing totaling $40 million. Morgenthaler Ventures led the financing with U.S. Venture Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, Delphi Ventures and Mission Bay Capital also participating in the round. The capital will be used to support the company's pioneering efforts to develop activators of caspases, the proteases that promote apoptotic cell death, for the treatment of cancer and other proliferative diseases.

8 Jul 2010

Japanese scientists identify long-elusive enzyme necessary for proper regulation of cilia

It's safe to say that cilia, the hairlike appendages jutting out from the smooth surfaces of most mammalian cells, have long been misunderstood - underestimated, even.

8 Jul 2010

Scientists shrink distant sarcomas with genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and anti-vascular drug

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice – still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy.

8 Jul 2010

PolyMAC technique retrieves specific proteins needed to study formation of cancer cells

A Purdue University researcher can better retrieve specific proteins needed to study how cancer cells form by using a newly developed technique and synthetic nanopolymer.

8 Jul 2010

Aethlon Medical files provisional patent on behalf of ESI for exosome detection assay

Aethlon Medical, Inc., the pioneer in developing therapeutic filtration devices to address infectious disease and cancer, announced today that it has filed a provisional patent on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary Exosome Sciences, Inc. (ESI), relating to the development of an assay that will allow researchers to detect exosomes in blood and other fluids.

8 Jul 2010

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

New findings reported in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said.

8 Jul 2010

Researchers develop computer program to accurately simulate protein folding

All proteins self-assemble in a fraction of the blink of an eye, but it can take a long time to mimic the process. And there has been no guarantee of success, even with the most powerful computers - until now.

8 Jul 2010

Scientists use genetically reprogrammed herpes virus to shrink distant sarcomas

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice - still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy.

8 Jul 2010

FDA grants orphan drug designation for Synageva BioPharma's SBC-102

Synageva BioPharma Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation for SBC-102, the Company's enzyme replacement therapy in development to treat Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency, also known as Wolman Disease and Cholesteryl Ester Storage Disease, a condition for which there is currently no approved treatment.

7 Jul 2010

Researchers identify key players in biochemical pathway that regulates blood pressure

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified key players in a little-known biochemical pathway that appears to regulate blood pressure. The findings, reported in the early online version of Cardiovascular Research, have evolved from studies conducted by Jeffrey S. Isenberg, M.D., Eileen M. Bauer, Ph.D., and their colleagues at Pitt's Vascular Medicine Institute.

7 Jul 2010

Study finds additional targets for new therapies to treat advanced prostate cancer patients

In its early stages, prostate cancer requires androgens (hormones that promote the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics) for growth, and current first-line therapies target the receptor for these hormones to slow cancer's development and spread.

7 Jul 2010

Scientists discover nanoparticle to deliver DNA with minimum toxic effect

In lab experiments, the researchers have found that this device, a vector, is able to deliver DNA deeply enough into a cell to allow genetic material to be activated - a critical step in gene therapy. This vector is between 2 - and 10 times more effective than other experimental materials, according to the research.

7 Jul 2010

PI3 kinase boosts body heat, helps burn excess calories

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggest that an enzyme in the brain known as PI3 kinase might control the increased generation of body heat that helps burn off excess calories after eating a high-fat meal.

7 Jul 2010

Hope for ovarian cancer patients not responding to conventional chemotherapy

Investigators at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have discovered a way that may help ovarian cancer patients who no longer respond to conventional chemotherapy.

6 Jul 2010

MabCent finds extraordinary life forms in the Arctic

During its short existence the Centre on Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery (MabCent) in Tromsø has analysed some 70,000 fractions of Arctic marine organisms. Patents on two molecules have been applied for and applications for another 20 will soon follow.

3 Jul 2010

Eli Lilly, Alnara sign definitive merger agreement

Eli Lilly and Company and Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced they have signed a definitive merger agreement whereby Lilly will acquire Alnara, a privately held biotechnology company developing protein therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Alnara's lead product in development is liprotamase, a non-porcine pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).

2 Jul 2010

Shire presents positive data from TKT-025 EXT Phase I/II study for VPRIV in type 1 Gaucher disease patients

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced positive data from its long-term extension to its open label Phase I/II study (TKT-025 EXT) for VPRIV® (velaglucerase alfa), the company's enzyme replacement therapy for patients with type 1 Gaucher disease. The data were presented at the 9th Annual European Working Group on Gaucher Disease (EWGGD) in Cologne, Germany, and add to the growing body of clinical evidence which supports the safety and sustained efficacy of VPRIV.

2 Jul 2010

Histone H1 phosphorylation involved in control of ribosomal RNA gene transcription

A protein that helps pack DNA into the cell nucleus has an important role in regulating gene activity, scientists report. The researchers found that the protein, histone H1, also takes part in the formation of ribosomes, the cellular workbenches on which all proteins are made.

2 Jul 2010

Advanced Cancer Therapeutics secures $10M in investments

Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT), a for-profit private company dedicated to bringing new anti-cancer therapies to market, today announced that it has secured $10 million in investments from high net-worth individuals and institutions. This round of investment, which closed six months ahead of the company's year-end goal, will provide ACT additional capital to continue its development and commercialization of potentially lifesaving therapeutics for cancer patients.

2 Jul 2010

Studies link anti-cholesterol statin drugs to increased risk of anxiety and depression

Scientists are reporting a possible explanation for the symptoms of anxiety and depression that occur in some patients taking the popular statin family of anti-cholesterol drugs, and reported by some individuals on low-cholesterol diets. These symptoms could result from long-term, low levels of cholesterol in the brain, the report suggests. It appears in ACS' weekly journal Biochemistry.

1 Jul 2010

Enzyme News and Research

Calithera Biosciences completes Series A financing totaling $40M

Japanese scientists identify long-elusive enzyme necessary for proper regulation of cilia

Scientists shrink distant sarcomas with genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and anti-vascular drug

PolyMAC technique retrieves specific proteins needed to study formation of cancer cells

Aethlon Medical files provisional patent on behalf of ESI for exosome detection assay

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

Researchers develop computer program to accurately simulate protein folding

Scientists use genetically reprogrammed herpes virus to shrink distant sarcomas

FDA grants orphan drug designation for Synageva BioPharma's SBC-102

Researchers identify key players in biochemical pathway that regulates blood pressure

Study finds additional targets for new therapies to treat advanced prostate cancer patients

Scientists discover nanoparticle to deliver DNA with minimum toxic effect

PI3 kinase boosts body heat, helps burn excess calories

Hope for ovarian cancer patients not responding to conventional chemotherapy

MabCent finds extraordinary life forms in the Arctic

Eli Lilly, Alnara sign definitive merger agreement

Shire presents positive data from TKT-025 EXT Phase I/II study for VPRIV in type 1 Gaucher disease patients

Histone H1 phosphorylation involved in control of ribosomal RNA gene transcription

Advanced Cancer Therapeutics secures $10M in investments

Studies link anti-cholesterol statin drugs to increased risk of anxiety and depression

Measuring Drug-Target Residence Times with Biochemical Assays eBook

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