Pharmaceuticals News and Research

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Roche reports results of 5 taspoglutide Phase III studies for type 2 diabetes at 70th ADA

Ipsen a global biopharmaceutical group, today announced that its partner Roche disclosed results of five Phase III 24-week studies for taspoglutide for type 2 diabetes at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 70th Annual Scientific Sessions. Taspoglutide, the first once weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue based on a human sequence, originating from Ipsen's research is developed by Roche. This compound is similar to the natural hormone GLP-1 which has a key role in blood sugar regulation.

28 Jun 2010

Arena's lorcaserin reduces body weight across patient subgroups

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported pooled Week 52 data from more than 6,000 patients in lorcaserin's pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program that demonstrate lorcaserin 10 mg dosed twice daily reduced body weight in all patient subgroups evaluated, as defined by gender, age, ethnicity and starting body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). Greater improvements in cardiovascular risk factors were also achieved with lorcaserin treatment compared to placebo overall and in most subgroups.

28 Jun 2010

Tolerx presents preclinical data on TRX518 anti-GITR immunotherapy for cancer

Tolerx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer by modulating T cell activity, presented results from preclinical studies with TRX518, an early-stage agent Tolerx is developing as a treatment for cancer. TRX518 is a monoclonal antibody to glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) and is designed to enhance the immune system's ability to attack tumors by activating and rendering T effector cells resistant to T regulatory cell suppression.

28 Jun 2010

Data shows proportion of total sales from drugs dropped to below 7%

The pharmaceutical industry continues to rely heavily on sales from an aging portfolio of drugs, whilst the proportion of total sales from newer drugs has dropped, according to data released today from the 2010 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook complied by CMR International, a Thomson Reuters business.

28 Jun 2010

WellPoint research leads to limits on use of Boniva; FDA spars with tobacco company

"WellPoint Inc. (WLP), the largest U.S. managed-care concern by membership, made it harder last year for its members to gain approval for use of the Boniva osteoporosis drug after internal research linked it to higher fracture rates, lower patient compliance and higher total costs of care than two other drugs, a WellPoint executive said Thursday," Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports.

28 Jun 2010

TRL commences operations at San Diego facility with focus on biological drugs for autoimmune diseases

Tanabe Research Labs USA, Inc. (TRL) today announced commencement of its new operations at the TRL facility in San Diego with a focus on biological drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. TRL began its new activities in May with the appointment of three new senior executives: Masaki Yamada, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer; Toshihiro Hosaka, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, and Roland Newman, Ph.D., VP and Chief Scientific Officer.

28 Jun 2010

Poster presentation at MASCC Conference summarizes MuGard clinical experience

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in products for cancer and supportive care, is presenting a scientific poster today at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Conference in Vancouver, B.C. The poster presentation, co-authored by Dr. David Nowotnik of Access Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Caroline Dumas of SpePharm Holdings, summarizes MuGard clinical experience from cancer patients globally undergoing radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

28 Jun 2010

Mass. bill would lift gift ban; Workers rally in Md., Minn.

"A two-year-old state ban on gifts in the medical and pharmaceutical industries would be repealed under an economic development bill that the House budget committee began polling its members on yesterday. The ban, which prohibits drug firms from giving gifts and meals to health care professionals, has cut back on local business profits, a summary of the bill states. When it passed as part of a broader health care bill in 2008, supporters called it a way of curbing pharmaceutical companies' influence" (O'Sullivan, 6/25).

28 Jun 2010

Phase III clinical trials: Linagliptin achieves significant, sustained reductions in blood sugar

Data from four pivotal Phase III clinical trials demonstrate that linagliptin achieved statistically significant and sustained reductions in blood sugar as measured by hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma glucose and postprandial glucose. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is investigating the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor as an oral once-daily tablet, as monotherapy and combination therapy, to treat type 2 diabetes.

28 Jun 2010

Data on MetAP2 inhibitors for treatment of obesity presented at ADA 2010

Zafgen, Inc., a pharmaceutical company pioneering novel obesity therapeutics to help the body regain and sustain a lean, healthy state by targeting imbalances in fat metabolism, today announced data on ZGN-201, a prototype methionine aminopeptidase 2 inhibitor, for the treatment of obesity. Preclinical studies demonstrate MetAP2 inhibition eliminates excess body weight through the regulation of fat metabolism and food intake, and normalizes glucose tolerance in animal models.

28 Jun 2010

WCO signs declaration, vows to crack down on counterfeit drug industry

World Customs Organization Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya on Thursday signed a declaration vowing his group's commitment to crack down on the counterfeit drug industry, PBS NewsHour's "The Rundown" blog reports. The piece examines the growing threat of counterfeit medications worldwide and efforts to clamp down on the distribution of such drugs (Miller, 6/24).

28 Jun 2010

VPRIV receives positive opinion from CHMP for treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion on the marketing authorisation for VPRIV (velaglucerase alfa), the company's enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease.

28 Jun 2010

Phase 2b clinical trial data of SGLT2 inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes presented at ADA 2010

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. announced today that canagliflozin, an investigational, oral, selective sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitor, improved glycemic control, and was also associated with a decrease in body weight, in a Phase 2b dose-ranging trial in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were concurrently treated with metformin. The data were presented at the 70th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.

28 Jun 2010

New findings could lead to simple dietary solutions, possible therapeutics for gestational diabetes

The cause of diabetes during pregnancy is directly controlled by serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and normally known as a neurotransmitter, and is influenced by the amount of protein in the mother's diet early in pregnancy, according to new findings of an international team led by researchers at UCSF.

28 Jun 2010

Bayer signs agreement to supply Adalat XL product to Teva Canada

Bayer Inc. and Teva Canada Limited today announced they have entered an agreement regarding Bayer's Adalat XL (nifedipine) 20, 30 and 60 mg product. Effective immediately, Bayer Inc. will supply Adalat XL exclusively to Teva Canada Limited and Teva Canada Limited will become the sole distributor in Canada of brand name Adalat XL product.

28 Jun 2010

Psychotropic medications associated with adverse drug reactions in Danish children: Researchers

Between 1998 and 2007, psychotropic medications were associated with 429 adverse drug reactions in Danish children under the age of 17. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Studies have published an article in the open access journal BMC Research Notes concluding that more than half of the 429 cases were serious and several involved birth defects, such as birth deformities and severe withdrawal syndromes.

25 Jun 2010

Gilead Sciences signs definitive agreement to acquire CGI Pharmaceuticals

Gilead Sciences, Inc. and CGI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held, development-stage pharmaceutical company focused on small molecule chemistry and kinase biology, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Gilead will acquire CGI. Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will acquire CGI for up to $120 million, the majority as an upfront payment and the remaining based on clinical development progress, all of which will be financed through available cash on hand.

25 Jun 2010

Research provides hope and encouragement to people living with lupus

Research presented during the 9th International Lupus Congress held in Vancouver, Canada from June 24-27, 2010 should give hope and encouragement for the future of the treatment and management of lupus to the 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide living with lupus. In recent years, there have been significant advances made in many areas of lupus research including the development of new treatments, adult stem cell transplantation, genetics, lupus-related cardiovascular disease, and quality of life issues for people with lupus.

25 Jun 2010

New method to synthesize drug candidates for testing

Some drugs may be more effective the longer they last inside the body. To prevent such drugs from being broken down too rapidly, pharmaceutical manufacturers often attach a fluorine-containing structure called a trifluoromethyl group. However, the processes now used require harsh reaction conditions or only work in a small number of cases, limiting their usefulness for synthesizing new drug candidates for testing.

25 Jun 2010

CorMedix announces dosing of first patient with CRMD-001 in Phase II clinical trial

CorMedix Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the prevention and treatment of Cardiorenal disease, today announced dosing of the first patient with CRMD-001 (a proprietary formulation of deferiprone) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

25 Jun 2010

Pharmaceuticals News and Research

Roche reports results of 5 taspoglutide Phase III studies for type 2 diabetes at 70th ADA

Arena's lorcaserin reduces body weight across patient subgroups

Tolerx presents preclinical data on TRX518 anti-GITR immunotherapy for cancer

Data shows proportion of total sales from drugs dropped to below 7%

WellPoint research leads to limits on use of Boniva; FDA spars with tobacco company

TRL commences operations at San Diego facility with focus on biological drugs for autoimmune diseases

Poster presentation at MASCC Conference summarizes MuGard clinical experience

Mass. bill would lift gift ban; Workers rally in Md., Minn.

Phase III clinical trials: Linagliptin achieves significant, sustained reductions in blood sugar

Data on MetAP2 inhibitors for treatment of obesity presented at ADA 2010

WCO signs declaration, vows to crack down on counterfeit drug industry

VPRIV receives positive opinion from CHMP for treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease

Phase 2b clinical trial data of SGLT2 inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes presented at ADA 2010

New findings could lead to simple dietary solutions, possible therapeutics for gestational diabetes

Bayer signs agreement to supply Adalat XL product to Teva Canada

Psychotropic medications associated with adverse drug reactions in Danish children: Researchers

Gilead Sciences signs definitive agreement to acquire CGI Pharmaceuticals

Research provides hope and encouragement to people living with lupus

New method to synthesize drug candidates for testing

CorMedix announces dosing of first patient with CRMD-001 in Phase II clinical trial

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