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CRI, MedImmune partner to advance cancer immunotherapy research

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and MedImmune, the global biologics arm of AstraZeneca, today announced that they have signed a collaboration agreement to advance the research of immunotherapy in cancer.

10 Oct 2012

GnRH agonist may protect breast cancer patient fertility

Treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist may reduce the risk for chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea, research shows.

1 Oct 2012

Kisspeptin reverses hyperprolactinemia-induced ovarian acyclicity

Kisspeptin neurons appear to play a role in hypogonadotropic anovulation caused by excessive levels of prolactin, research shows.

1 Oct 2012

Aeterna Zentari expects to file AEZS-130 NDA with FDA for adult growth hormone deficiency

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. today announced that it continues to expect to file a New Drug Application (NDA) early next year, for its oral ghrelin agonist, AEZS-130, as a diagnostic test for adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD), after receiving notification from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Fast Track designation had not been granted.

27 Sep 2012

GW to evaluate effectiveness of glucose-lowering drugs against type 2 diabetes

John Lachin, professor of biostatistics, epidemiology and statistics at the George Washington University, has been awarded a five-year, $134 million grant from the National Institute of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to conduct a clinical trial examining the long-term effectiveness of several glucose-lowering medications for treatment of people with type 2 diabetes. The grant sets a record as the largest sum award GW has ever received.

27 Sep 2012

Wheeze predicts sickle cell disease crisis

Wheezing is a significant indicator for morbidity in patients with sickle cell disease, US researchers believe.

26 Sep 2012

EPO grants patent to Aeterna Zentaris’ AEZS-130 for diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. today announced that the European Patent Office has granted a patent for the use of the ghrelin agonist, AEZS-130, related to methods and kits for use in relation to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in a human or animal subject.

25 Sep 2012

Chronic respiratory disease treatments: an interview with Dr Sven Jan-Anders Karlsson, CEO of Verona Pharma

There are many different chronic respiratory diseases. Verona Pharma is mainly focused on two diseases: asthma and COPD. Asthma is a very common disease and unfortunately it has been increasing in prevalence in developed countries. This is the same with COPD; however, there may be different reasons for this.

25 Sep 2012

Positive data from Nektar’s NKTR-192 Phase 1a study on acute pain

Nektar Therapeutics announced today that positive data from the first single-ascending dose Phase 1a clinical study of NKTR-192, the company's novel short-acting mu-opioid analgesic candidate, demonstrate that the drug candidate achieved its target pharmacokinetic profile.

19 Sep 2012

Daily use of inhaled steroid may not be essential in mild asthma patients

Individuals with mild-to-moderate asthma who use inhaled corticosteroids only when symptomatic can achieve the same level of symptom control as those who use the drug daily, study results show.

18 Sep 2012

Intermittent hormone therapy effective for prostate cancer patients

Intermittent androgen deprivation is as effective as continuous therapy for men with rising prostate-specific antigen levels after primary or salvage radiotherapy, say researchers who believe the break from treatment improves quality of life.

10 Sep 2012

Heptares uses StaR technology to solve structure of CRF-1 receptor

Heptares Therapeutics today announces that it has used its StaR technology to solve entirely in-house the first structure of a Family B sub-class G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR).

10 Sep 2012

Boehringer Ingelheim announces data from olodaterol plus tiotropium Phase II COPD study

Boehringer Ingelheim presented today for the first time data from a Phase II dose ranging study investigationg the combination of olodaterol, an investigational long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA), and tiotropium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), in COPD patients, compared to the investigational agent olodaterol alone.

3 Sep 2012

First data from Boehringer Ingelheim’s Respimat Phase III asthma program

Boehringer Ingelheim presented today the first data from the Phase III UniTinA-asthma program. In two studies, presented at the 2012 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria, tiotropium delivered once daily via the Respimat inhaler significantly improved lung function and reduced asthma exacerbations in patients who remained symptomatic on current treatment with at least high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta agonists (LABA).

3 Sep 2012

VLST, Pfizer enter in-licensing agreement for anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody

VLST Corporation, a Seattle-based biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, today announced an in-licensing agreement with Pfizer Inc. for an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody.

31 Aug 2012

Doubt cast on LABA withdrawal in combination asthma therapy

Researchers have urged doctors to be cautious over withdrawal of long-acting beta-2 agonist therapy in patients with asthma controlled by this type of bronchodilator in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid, after finding the approach often results in destabilization of their condition.

31 Aug 2012

Glaucoma and cell death: an interview with Dr. Vivek Gupta

Glaucoma is normally caused by increased pressure of aqueous humour fluid in the eye. A defining feature of this disease is destruction of a particular type of cells in the retina called retinal ganglion cells and excavation of the optic disc region.

31 Aug 2012

FDA approves Ironwood’s LINZESS to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. announced today that LINZESS (linaclotide) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a once-daily treatment for adult men and women suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

31 Aug 2012

Aeterna Zentaris commences enrollment in AEZS-130 Phase 2A trial for cancer cachexia

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. today announced that a first patient has been recruited for a Phase 2A trial with its ghrelin agonist, AEZS-130 in patients with cancer cachexia.

28 Aug 2012

Debiopharm initiates enrollment in triptorelin phase III study for central precocious puberty

Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs and companion diagnostics, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in an open-label phase III study to investigate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the sustained release triptorelin pamoate 22.5 mg 6-month-formulation in children with central precocious puberty (CPP), a rare disease.

27 Aug 2012