Receptor News and Research

RSS

Scientists to develop a treatment for rare genetic disorder, FOP

An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is taking the first step in developing a treatment for a rare genetic disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), in which the body's skeletal muscles and soft connective tissue turns to bone, immobilizing patients over a lifetime with a second skeleton.

13 Nov 2009

Adolor commences clinical testing of its oral mu opioid receptor antagonist

Adolor Corporation today announced the initiation of clinical testing of ADL7445, its proprietary, oral mu opioid receptor antagonist for the treatment of Opioid Bowel Dysfunction (OBD). The Phase 1, single ascending dose trial in healthy volunteers will assess safety and tolerability of the compound and will be followed by a multiple ascending dose study in early 2010.

13 Nov 2009

OPKO Health acquires NK-1 compounds from Schering

OPKO Health, Inc. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of rolapitant and a related compound from Schering Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. ("Schering").

11 Nov 2009

New microplate for BioFlux live cell imaging workstations

Fluxion Biosciences introduces a new microplate for its BioFlux live cell imaging workstations, extending their shear flow limits to simulate a variety of pathological vascular conditions. With the new High Shear Plate, the BioFlux systems can be an effective tool in thrombosis and platelet studies, cardiovascular and immunological drug screening and cell/bacteria adhesion research.

From Fluxion Biosciences 11 Nov 2009

Researchers find link between two genes involved in cancer formation in humans

Researchers at Queen's University have found a link between two genes involved in cancer formation in humans, by examining the genes in worms. The groundbreaking discovery provides a foundation for how tumor-forming genes interact, and may offer a drug target for cancer treatment.

11 Nov 2009

Researchers identify new mechanism to create lasting memories; findings may yield potential treatment for memory impairments

Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered a mechanism that controls the brain's ability to create lasting memories. In experiments on genetically manipulated mice, they were able to switch on and off the animals' ability to form lasting memories by adding a substance to their drinking water. The findings, which are published in the scientific journal PNAS, are of potential significance to the future treatment of Alzheimer's and stroke.

11 Nov 2009

Sanofi-aventis, Regeneron sign agreement to expand development collaboration

Sanofi-aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) announced today that they have entered into agreements to expand and extend their existing global collaboration to discover, develop, and commercialize fully-human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

11 Nov 2009

Sprycel holds hope for treating Src dependent ovarian cancer

The drug Sprycel, approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, significantly inhibited the growth and invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and also promoted their death, a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found.

11 Nov 2009

Potential new drug for lung cancer eliminates tumors in mice

A potential new drug for lung cancer has eliminated tumours in 50% of mice in a new study published today in the journal Cancer Research. In the animals, the drug also stopped lung cancer tumours from growing and becoming resistant to treatment. The authors of the research, from Imperial College London, are now planning to take the drug into clinical trials, to establish whether it could offer hope to patients with an inoperable form of lung cancer.

11 Nov 2009

Tokai Pharmaceuticals commences TOK-001 Phase 1/2 clinical trial for treatment of castration resistant prostate cancer

Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for prostate cancer, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of its lead candidate TOK-001 for the treatment of patients with castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). TOK-001 is the only compound in development that combines three distinct mechanisms of action for the treatment of CRPC.

10 Nov 2009

Dark side of compulsive eating

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that intermittent access to foods rich in fat and sugar induces changes in the brain which are comparable to those observed in drug dependence. The findings, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may explain how abstinence from these foods contributes to relapse eating among dieters as well as related eating disorders.

10 Nov 2009

Yo-yo dieting and sugar-bingeing can lead to anxiety and withdrawal symptoms

In research that sheds light on the perils of yo-yo dieting and repeated bouts of sugar-bingeing, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have shown in animal models that cycling between periods of eating sweet and regular-tasting food can activate the brain's stress system and generate overeating, anxiety, and withdrawal-like symptoms.

10 Nov 2009

VaxInnate licensed to use 3M Drug Delivery Systems' TLR agonists

3M Drug Delivery Systems has signed an agreement with VaxInnate Corporation under which VaxInnate acquires the use of 3M’s patented toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists for use as vaccine adjuvants. Data suggest that 3M’s TLR agonists could enhance vaccine potency, potentially enabling VaxInnate to develop vaccines that provide faster, more robust protection.

9 Nov 2009

Shire's INTUNIV for treating ADHD now available in the U.S.

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the availability of INTUNIV(TM) (guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets in pharmacies across the United States for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents ages 6 to 17.

9 Nov 2009

Decision Resources forecasts sales of HER2-targeting agents to grow by 3.3% per year

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, in 2008, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeting therapies -- which include Roche/Chugai's Herceptin and GlaxoSmithKline/Nippon Kayaku's Tykerb/Tyverb -- were the highest-selling drug class in breast cancer treatment.

9 Nov 2009

GTx reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

GTx, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2009. The net loss for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $12.8 million and $35.4 million, respectively, compared with a net loss of $11.9 million and $37.9 million for the same periods in 2008. At September 30, 2009 GTx had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $55.5 million.

9 Nov 2009

Caliper Discovery Alliances and Services receives a $1.8M funding commitment for the EPA's ToxCast program

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced that its Caliper Discovery Alliances and Services (CDAS) unit has been awarded a new funding commitment for $1.8 million under its contract with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the EPA's ToxCast screening program.

9 Nov 2009

Grant awarded for research into a new treatment for methamphetamine addiction

Dr. Keith Flower - a research physician at the Addiction Pharmacology & Research Laboratory in San Francisco, CA - has been awarded a grant to investigate a new medication treatment for methamphetamine addiction. This grant has been awarded to California Pacific Medical Center's Research Institute through President Obama's AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009.

6 Nov 2009

ArQule reports financial results for the fiscal quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009

ArQule, Inc. today reported its results of operations for the fiscal quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

Compugen signs research and license agreement with a leading diagnostic company

Compugen Ltd. announced today that it has signed a research and license agreement with a leading diagnostic company covering CGEN-226, a novel biomarker candidate for early detection of preeclampsia.

5 Nov 2009