Receptor News and Research

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CLC bio announces acquisition of Molegro

Today, CLC bio announced the acquisition of Molegro, a specialized software company focusing on molecular docking, including prediction and analysis of protein-ligand interactions, screening of compound databases for activities against a receptor, and determination of molecule similarity.

3 Sep 2012

Heavy alcohol use rewires brain circuitry and increases risk of PTSD

Doctors have long recognized a link between alcoholism and anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those who drink heavily are at increased risk for traumatic events like car accidents and domestic violence, but that only partially explains the connection. New research using mice reveals heavy alcohol use actually rewires brain circuitry, making it harder for alcoholics to recover psychologically following a traumatic experience.

3 Sep 2012

MDA7 compound shows promise against Alzheimer's disease

A compound developed to treat neuropathic pain has shown potential as an innovative treatment for Alzheimer's disease, according to a study by researchers at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute and Anesthesiology Institute.

3 Sep 2012

New intriguing knowledge on blood haemoglobin

Scientists at the research centre MEMBRANES at Aarhus University, Denmark, have completed an old puzzle, which since the 60s from many sides has been regarded as impossible to complete. The challenge was to solve the structure of the protecting protein complex that forms when haemoglobin is released from red cells and becomes toxic. This toxic release of haemoglobin occurs in many diseases affecting red cell stability, e.g. malaria.

1 Sep 2012

Dysfunctional RyRs play a role in stress-induced cognitive dysfunction

ARMGO Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative small molecule drugs known as "Rycals™," which act on the ryanodine receptor calcium-release channel (RyR), announced that a study published today in the prestigious scientific journal Cell reveals the underlying role of calcium leak through the RyR as an important contributor to stress-induced cognitive dysfunction.

1 Sep 2012

LCZ696 could be of PARAMOUNT importance in heart failure

The first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 could improve treatment of heart failure, report researchers who conducted a phase II trial of the drug and found it had superior results to an alternative therapy already in use.

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

Researchers discover how tamoxifen-resistant breast-cancer cells grow and proliferate

A study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) has discovered how tamoxifen-resistant breast-cancer cells grow and proliferate.

31 Aug 2012

UH pharmacologist examines age-related oxidative, inflammatory stress

Gaining new insight to managing sodium balance and blood pressure, investigators at the University of Houston (UH) College of Pharmacy believe their work may identify future therapeutic targets to control hypertension.

30 Aug 2012

Novartis receives FDA approval for Afinitor Disperz to treat subependymal giant cell astrocytoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Afinitor Disperz (everolimus tablets for oral suspension), a new pediatric dosage form of the anti-cancer drug Afinitor (everolimus) used to treat a rare brain tumor called subependymal giant cell astrocytoma.

30 Aug 2012

SPR microscopy examines binding kinetics of membrane proteins

Proteins adorning the surfaces of human cells perform an array of essential functions, including cell signaling, communication and the transport of vital substances into and out of cells. They are critical targets for drug delivery and many proteins are now being identified as disease biomarkers - early warning beacons announcing the pre-symptomatic presence of cancers and other diseases.

29 Aug 2012

Eplerenone shown to reduce cumulative heart failure hospitalisations

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced results from a new post-hoc analysis of the EMPHASIS-HF trial showing statistically significant reductions in rates of cumulative heart failure (HF) hospitalisations in patients with HF treated with eplerenone compared with placebo on a background of standard optimal therapy.1 The results were presented at The European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC) in Munich.

28 Aug 2012

Herceptin® (trastuzumab) delivery methods: an interview with Dr Gustavo Ismael

Approximately 20% of all breast cancer patients have overexpression of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), resulting in a more aggressive phenotype, and a poor prognosis.

28 Aug 2012

Positive results from Spinifex’s EMA401 Phase 2 trial on postherpetic neuralgia

Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, an Australian pain drug development company, today announces positive headline results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of its lead product, EMA401, in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a painful condition that develops in some patients following herpes zoster (shingles) and where existing therapy does not relieve pain in all individuals.

28 Aug 2012

Cholera toxin binds differently to intestinal cells than previously thought

The likelihood of becoming seriously ill from cholera depends on your blood group. It is possible to find a new remedy for the feared illness by studying the molecular structure in the toxin in the cholera bacteria.

28 Aug 2012

EphA4 receptor may be promising target for future ALS drug

Leuven scientists (VIB/KU Leuven) are using zebrafish as a model in their search for genes that play a role in the mechanism of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As a result, they have identified a molecule that could be the target for a future ALS treatment.

28 Aug 2012

Personalized antiplatelet treatment leads to better outcomes in patients undergoing PCI

Personalized antiplatelet treatment leads to better outcomes than standard antiplatelet treatment in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation, according to results from the MADONNA study presented at ESC Congress 2012.

28 Aug 2012

Study explores gender-related differences in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure

Women with acute heart failure have similar in-hospital mortality to men but are less treated in the real world, according to results from the global ALARM-HF registry presented today at the ESC Congress 2012. The findings were presented by Dr John T. Parissis from Greece.

27 Aug 2012

Spironolactone should be considered as a treatment option in hypertensive patients with DHF

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists should be considered as a treatment option in hypertensive patients with diastolic heart failure, said Professor Burkert Pieske presenting results today of the Aldosterone Receptor Blockade in Diastolic Heart Failure (Aldo-DHF) study at ESC Congress 2012.

27 Aug 2012

Obesity at diagnosis of breast cancer associated with increased risk of recurrence

Extra pounds-even within the overweight but not obese range-are linked to a higher risk of recurrence of the most common type of breast cancer despite optimal cancer treatment, according to a new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

27 Aug 2012