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Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 protease-inhibitor in complex with a Chinese herb Shikonin

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has been spreading rampantly over the whole world, infecting millions of people (over 8.45 million at last count), with over 452,000 deaths, as of June 19, 2020. It causes a broad spectrum of disease manifestations, from asymptomatic disease to severe or even fatal respiratory symptoms.

18 Jun 2020

Researchers caution use of chloroquine therapy for patients at higher risk of heart rhythm abnormalities

A patient who met many of the published safety guidelines for chloroquine therapy against COVID-19 was observed to have a very abnormal ECG pattern after treatment began, leading to multiple episodes of torsade de pointes (TdP), a life-threatening arrhythmia in which the lower chambers of the heart beat out of sync with the upper chambers.

18 Jun 2020

Overcoming leukemia treatment resistance with nanoparticle drug delivery system

UConn associate professor of pharmaceutics Xiuling Lu, along with professor of chemistry Rajeswari M. Kasi, was part of a team that recently published a paper in Nature Cell Biology finding a commonly used chemotherapy drug may be repurposed as a treatment for resurgent or chemotherapy-resistant leukemia.

18 Jun 2020

Survey: 9 in 10 Americans concerned pharma will leverage COVID-19 to increase drug prices

Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults are "very" (55%) or "somewhat" (33%) concerned that the pharmaceutical industry will leverage the COVID-19 pandemic to raise drug prices.

18 Jun 2020

Study: Vitamin D can reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy

As many cancer patients will confirm, the chemotherapy prescribed to kill the disease is often more debilitating than the cancer itself, with a range of horrendous side effects.

18 Jun 2020

Researchers develop tool to identify proteins associated with drug side effects

A multi-institutional group of researchers led by Harvard Medical School and the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research has created an open-source machine learning tool that identifies proteins associated with drug side effects.

18 Jun 2020

Repurposing immunosuppressants to manage COVID-19

It might seem paradoxical to suggest immunosuppression could play a role in managing COVID-19. The seemingly logical therapeutic option for this disease would be an antiviral.

18 Jun 2020

Scientists aim to understand the biology of SARS-CoV-2 virus to enable drug development

The University of Huddersfield has awarded funding to a research team that aims to provide a head start in developing drugs that will combat future pandemics.

18 Jun 2020

Japanese health supplement could help tackle Covid-19 in people with comorbid conditions

A unique Beta 1,3-1,6 Glucan based Japanese health supplement, produced by black yeast, Aureobasidium Pullulans, could strategically help tackle Covid-19 in people with comorbid conditions like diabetes, kidney and heart diseases, as published in Frontiers in Immunology Journal recommending clinical studies, for validation.

18 Jun 2020

Lonza and CELLINK collaborate to advance complete 3D cell culture workflows

Lonza and the Swedish company CELLINK have partnered to offer a comprehensive 3-dimensional bioprinting solution designed to optimize and increase access to complete 3D cell culture workflows.

18 Jun 2020

Scientists use CRISPR tool to make rapid, precise cuts in genomic material

In a series of experiments using human cancer cell lines, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have successfully used light as a trigger to make precise cuts in genomic material rapidly, using a molecular scalpel known as CRISPR, and observe how specialized cell proteins repair the exact spot where the gene was cut.

18 Jun 2020

C-Path's Transplant Therapeutics Consortium receives positive FDA response for its Letter of Intent

Critical Path Institute announced today that its Transplant Therapeutics Consortium has received a positive response to its Letter of Intent from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration detailing the decision to accept the Composite Biomarker Panel (iBox Scoring System) into the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Biomarker Qualification Program.

17 Jun 2020

Study paints clear picture of how a protein that calms brain activity works

As the body goes about its daily business, molecules called neurotransmitters control the level of electrical activity within the brain.

17 Jun 2020

Insufficient evidence for cognitive efficacy of drug treatments in multiple sclerosis

Researchers at Kessler Foundation conducted a comprehensive review of pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, seeking evidence for efficacy for the cognitive dysfunction experienced by more than half of affected individuals.

17 Jun 2020

Study reveals new insight into Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy

The molecular changes that lead to Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) occur decades before the disease causes blurry vision and other noticeable symptoms in patients, new research by UT Southwestern scientists shows.

17 Jun 2020

NIST updates its database of chemical fingerprints

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has updated its database of chemical fingerprints, called mass spectra, that are used to identify unknown chemical compounds.

17 Jun 2020

Researchers use cellular nanosponges to soak up SARS-CoV-2

Scientists are working overtime to find an effective treatment for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

17 Jun 2020

Low potassium levels in COVID-19 disease

Now a new study by an Italian team of researchers published in June 2020 on the preprint server medRxiv reports that potassium levels are often low in COVID-19 disease, mostly due to the urinary loss of potassium.

17 Jun 2020

NJIT researchers develop new efficient method for targeted protein analysis

Researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology in collaboration with Ohio University and Merck & Co. Inc. recently developed a new efficient method for targeted protein analysis -- one they say could speed up processes for disease testing, drug discovery and vaccine development.

17 Jun 2020