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'Pre-vascularization' of device prior to implantation sustains circulation and suppresses scar formation

By creating a unique system of blood vessels that is engineered to interact with the tissue surrounding an implanted device, the longevity and function of these devices may be better preserved, according to a study led by researchers in the University of Louisville/ Jewish Hospital's Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII).

24 Aug 2010

USPTO grants Taligen patent for TT30 lead product candidate

Taligen Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies that regulate the complement system to treat inflammatory and immune diseases, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,759,304, entitled "Targeting Complement Factor H For Treatment of Diseases", covering the composition of matter for its lead product candidate, TT30, a novel fusion protein that selectively binds to complement activated cells to locally regulate the complement system.

24 Aug 2010

Alpha-synuclein gene silencing effective for treating neurodegenerative disorders: Research

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, and collaborators at The Parkinson's Institute and the Mayo Clinic have published new research findings in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS). The new data show effective silencing of the alpha-synuclein gene with an RNAi therapeutic administered directly to the substantia nigra in the CNS of non-human primates.

24 Aug 2010

Preclinical studies of BIND-014 to be presented at ACS National Meeting

BIND Biosciences announced today the presentation of its Medicinal Nanoengineering platform at the ACS National Meeting, including results from preclinical studies on its lead nanomedicine drug , BIND-014, scheduled to enter clinical trials later this year. BIND-014 is a targeted, polymeric nanoparticle containing the cytotoxic agent, docetaxel, which is approved in major cancer indications, including breast, prostate and lung.

23 Aug 2010

Taligen Therapeutics announces closing on $10M tranche of Series B financing

Taligen Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies that regulate the complement system to treat inflammatory and immune diseases, today announced that it has closed on a $10 million tranche of a Series B financing, based on substantial progress with the company's product pipeline including advancing the lead product candidate, TT30, toward clinical development.

23 Aug 2010

InSite Vision initiates Phase 1/2 clinical trial of ISV-303

InSite Vision Incorporated, a company developing novel ophthalmic therapeutics, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of ISV-303, a topical anti-inflammatory product intended to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with ocular surgery. ISV-303 combines a low dose of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory bromfenac with InSite Vision's proprietary DuraSite technology.

23 Aug 2010

Scientists develop new synthetic material to grow stem cells

Human pluripotent stem cells, which can become any other kind of body cell, hold great potential to treat a wide range of ailments, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. However, scientists who work with such cells have had trouble growing large enough quantities to perform experiments - in particular, to be used in human studies. Furthermore, most materials now used to grow human stem cells include cells or proteins that come from mice embryos, which help stimulate stem-cell growth but would likely cause an immune reaction if injected into a human patient.

23 Aug 2010

New antisense drugs may help treat accidental infections: Study

New studies show that treatments targeting specific viral genes protected monkeys infected with deadly Ebola or Marburg viruses. Furthermore, the animals were protected even when therapeutics were administered one hour after exposure-suggesting the approach holds promise for treating accidental infections in laboratory or hospital settings.

23 Aug 2010

US oncology announces its contributions in development of 42 novel cancer therapies

US Oncology, Inc., the nation's leading integrated oncology company, announced today that in less than two decades it has played a role in the development of 42 novel cancer therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

21 Aug 2010

Study finds genetic change in chromosome 4 causes FSHD

The Muscular Dystrophy Association today heralds a landmark muscular dystrophy advance by an international study team of scientists and physicians from the Netherlands, United States, France and Spain. Led by MDA-grantee Silvère van der Maarel, Ph.D., at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, the collaborative study of more than 2,300 people found that two distinct genetic changes on chromosome 4 must be present to cause facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

21 Aug 2010

Anchor Therapeutics announces initial closing of $10 million Series B financing

Anchor Therapeutics today announced an initial closing of $10 million in a Series B financing. The investment is being led by current investors TVM Capital, HealthCare Ventures and the Novartis Option Fund. The company is in continuing discussions with additional investors interested in joining the Series B. Anchor Therapeutics is focused on developing peptide drug candidates, called pepducins, that modulate G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly those historically difficult to target using standard pharmaceutical approaches.

20 Aug 2010

NIAID's renewed 'Centers for Countermeasures Against Radiation' program to support research at 7 institutions

A major research effort to develop medical products to diagnose, prevent and treat the short- and long-term consequences of radiation exposure after a radiological or nuclear terrorist attack has been renewed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

20 Aug 2010

ISCO to formalize eye care based stem cell therapeutic programs into Cytovis business unit

International Stem Cell Corporation, today announced that its stem cell therapeutic programs focused on protective, transparent corneas (CytoCor™) in the front of the eye and the light-sensitive retinal tissue (CytoRet™) in the back of the eye will be formalized into a new business unit, Cytovis™.

20 Aug 2010

UCI study is first to show reversal of long-term hind-limb paralysis

A UC Irvine study is the first to demonstrate that human neural stem cells can restore mobility in cases of chronic spinal cord injury, suggesting the prospect of treating a much broader population of patients.

20 Aug 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals announces option agreement with Novartis for QPI-1002 siRNA drug

Silence Therapeutics plc, a leading international RNAi therapeutics company, is pleased to note that its partner, Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has announced the grant of an option to Novartis to obtain an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialise QPI-1002, a p53 temporary inhibitor siRNA drug which incorporates Silence's AtuRNAi technology.

20 Aug 2010

Muscular Dystrophy Association awards $14.1M in new grants

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, which has invested almost $39 million in 2010 in worldwide research seeking treatments and cures for muscle diseases, today announced that it has awarded $14.1 million in new grants.

20 Aug 2010

Chelsea Therapeutics announces new investigator to conduct phase II clinical study of Droxidopa

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. announced that a new investigator-led phase II clinical study of Droxidopa, an oral synthetic precursor of norepinephrine, has been initiated in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

20 Aug 2010

FDA grants Acceleron's ACE-031 orphan designation for treatment of DMD

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 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan designation for ACE-031 for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal neuromuscular disease in which patients experience a progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. ACE-031 is an investigational protein therapeutic being developed to increase muscle mass and strength.

20 Aug 2010

Trius Therapeutics second quarter 2010 revenue increases to $2.1 million

Trius Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for serious, life-threatening infections, announced today its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

20 Aug 2010

Deficiencies in DNA loop formation can cause multiple diseases: Research

The genes that are responsible for maintaining each cell type form DNA loops that link control elements for these genes. This surprising genome structure is generated and reinforced by two essential protein complexes that bridge the loops and contribute to proper gene regulation.

19 Aug 2010