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Seaside Therapeutics reports positive data from STX209 Phase 2 study in fragile X syndrome

Seaside Therapeutics, Inc. announced today data from the largest randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted to date in individuals with fragile X syndrome. In a Phase 2 study of STX209, clinically meaningful improvements on global and specific neurobehavioral outcomes were observed in the general study population. The improvements were statistically significant in pediatric patients with more severe impairments in sociability -- a core symptom of fragile X syndrome.

26 Jul 2010

IDC secures $32 million in Series B financing

Immune Design Corp. (IDC), a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing novel vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious disease and cancer, announced today that it has secured $32 million in Series B financing. The round was led by ProQuest Investments and was joined by current investors: The Column Group, Versant Ventures, and Alta Partners. The Series B financing brings the total amount of equity capital raised by IDC to $50 million since its inception in 2008.

26 Jul 2010

New understanding on insulin resistance, action of diabetes drugs may lead to safer medication

A new understanding of insulin resistance and the action of diabetes drugs such as Avandia and Actos could pave the way for improved medications that are more selective and safer, say scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Scripps Research Institute.Our findings strongly suggest that good and bad effects of these drugs can be separated by designing second-generation drugs that focus on the newly uncovered mechanism, said Bruce Spiegelman, PhD, of Dana-Farber, senior author on a report appearing in the July 22 issue of Nature.

22 Jul 2010

Scientists uncover new mechanism that reduces risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease

In a joint study, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard University have uncovered a novel mechanism that dramatically increases insulin sensitivity and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

22 Jul 2010

Cara Therapeutics closes Series D financing of $15 million

Cara Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it had closed on a Series D financing of $15 million. The round was led by new investor, Rho Ventures, with participation from previous investors Alta Biopharma, Ascent Biomedical Ventures, CT Innovations, Devon Park BioVentures, Healthcare Private Equity, Mitsubishi International Corporation and MVM Life Science Partners.

21 Jul 2010

Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease prefer dopamine agonists, shows review

Of the three main types of oral drugs commonly added to levodopa therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, one might be the most effective, according to a new review.

9 Jul 2010

Biotage launches AFFINILUTE Molecularly Imprinted Polymer columns for analytical sample preparation

Biotage, a leading supplier of tools and technology for analytical and medicinal chemistry, announced the introduction of high-performance, AFFINILUTE MIP (Molecularly Imprinted Polymers) columns for analytical sample preparation. Highly selective extractions with AFFINILUTE MIPs are considerably simplified resulting in faster, more robust and ultimately lower cost sample preparation.

7 Jul 2010

Studies demonstrate analgesic properties of synthetic cannabinoid

A new compound similar to the active component of marijuana (cannabis) might provide effective pain relief without the mental and physical side effects of cannabis, according to a study in the July issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

2 Jul 2010

FUISZ files new patent, receives notice of issuance for patent claims for blood analysis devices

First, FUISZ announced that it has received a notice of issuance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for patent claims that cover a direct connection between prescribing physicians and blood analysis devices.

2 Jul 2010

FDA approves Purdue's Butrans Transdermal System CIII for management of chronic pain

Purdue Pharma L.P. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Butrans™ (buprenorphine) Transdermal System CIII for the management of moderate to severe chronic pain in patients requiring a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic for an extended period of time. Butrans Transdermal System is an analgesic product that delivers continuous release of medication for seven days.

2 Jul 2010

Researchers uncover potential drug treatment for noise-induced hearing loss

Researchers from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, have discovered that a potent new drug restores hearing after noise-induced hearing loss in rats. The landmark discovery found that injection of an agent called 'ADAC', activates adenosine receptors in cochlear tissues, resulting in recovery of hearing function. The finding paves the way for effective non-surgical therapies to restore hearing loss after noise-induced injury. Dr. Srdjan Vlajkovic and his team's work1 is published in a special edition of Springer's journal Purinergic Signalling, focusing on the inner ear.

1 Jul 2010

Metabolex, Sanofi-Aventis sign global license deal to develop GPR119 for type 2 diabetes treatment

Metabolex and Sanofi-Aventis announced today that they have entered into a global license and development agreement for the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of small molecules that modulate the G-protein coupled receptor 119 (GPR119), a receptor in the gut and pancreas that interacts with bioactive lipids to stimulate glucose-dependent incretin and insulin secretion.

30 Jun 2010

Aestus Therapeutics announces license agreement with Astellas Pharma

Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. announced today a license agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. (Astellas; Tokyo, Japan) to provide Aestus with exclusive, world-wide rights to the Astellas product FK614. Aestus will develop the product as ATx08-001, a novel, first-in-class therapeutic for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The first clinical trial will start later this year.

28 Jun 2010

Palatin announces completion of patient dosing, database lock in bremelanotide study for ED

Palatin Technologies, Inc. today announced the completion of patient dosing and database lock in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple dose, crossover study of bremelanotide, its subcutaneously administered melanocortin agonist for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Palatin expects to report top-line data in the next calendar quarter.

24 Jun 2010

Merck's DULERA Inhalation Aerosol for asthma receives FDA approval

Merck today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DULERA® (mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol, a new fixed-dose combination asthma treatment for patients 12 years of age and older. DULERA is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. DULERA combines an inhaled corticosteroid (mometasone furoate) with a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol fumarate).

24 Jun 2010

Novel MC4R agonist exhibits potential as new treatment for obesity, diabetes

Rhythm, a biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics for metabolic diseases, today announced a study of obese primates treated with RM-493 showing a reversal of obesity and insulin resistance, and improvement in both heart rate and blood pressure. RM-493 is a novel peptide agonist targeting the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) that is a clinical candidate for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

22 Jun 2010

Palatin reports preclinical study results of PL-3994 in respiratory tissue for asthma indications

Palatin Technologies, Inc. today announced results of preclinical studies in respiratory tissue with PL-3994. In rat, guinea pig and human tissues, PL-3994 produced potent relaxation of isolated airway smooth muscle, indicating that PL-3994 may be a potent bronchodilator in humans.

21 Jun 2010

Positive preclinical data on Aeterna Zentaris' AEZS-130/Ghrelin Receptor Agonist presented at ENDO meeting

Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today announced that a poster on its oral synthetic growth hormone secretagogue/ghrelin receptor agonist, AEZS-130, was presented yesterday at the 92nd Annual Endocrine Society (ENDO) Meeting and Expo, which is held through June 22, 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

21 Jun 2010

Zydus Cadila receives DCGI approval to initiate Phase I clinical trial for ZYOG1

Zydus Cadila, a global healthcare provider and one of India's leading healthcare companies has received Phase I clinical trial permission from the DCGI for ZYOG1 - a novel GLP-1 agonist. Designed and developed at the Zydus Research Centre using a unique platform technology, ZYOG1 is a novel, oral, anti-diabetic molecule.

21 Jun 2010

PAS technique to predict how blood platelets respond to complex conditions found during heart attack

A team of bioengineers from the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Medicine and Engineering have trained a computer neural network model to accurately predict how blood platelets would respond to complex conditions found during a heart attack or stroke.

21 Jun 2010

Agonist News and Research

Seaside Therapeutics reports positive data from STX209 Phase 2 study in fragile X syndrome

IDC secures $32 million in Series B financing

New understanding on insulin resistance, action of diabetes drugs may lead to safer medication

Scientists uncover new mechanism that reduces risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease

Cara Therapeutics closes Series D financing of $15 million

Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease prefer dopamine agonists, shows review

Biotage launches AFFINILUTE Molecularly Imprinted Polymer columns for analytical sample preparation

Studies demonstrate analgesic properties of synthetic cannabinoid

FUISZ files new patent, receives notice of issuance for patent claims for blood analysis devices

FDA approves Purdue's Butrans Transdermal System CIII for management of chronic pain

Researchers uncover potential drug treatment for noise-induced hearing loss

Metabolex, Sanofi-Aventis sign global license deal to develop GPR119 for type 2 diabetes treatment

Aestus Therapeutics announces license agreement with Astellas Pharma

Palatin announces completion of patient dosing, database lock in bremelanotide study for ED

Merck's DULERA Inhalation Aerosol for asthma receives FDA approval

Novel MC4R agonist exhibits potential as new treatment for obesity, diabetes

Palatin reports preclinical study results of PL-3994 in respiratory tissue for asthma indications

Positive preclinical data on Aeterna Zentaris' AEZS-130/Ghrelin Receptor Agonist presented at ENDO meeting

Zydus Cadila receives DCGI approval to initiate Phase I clinical trial for ZYOG1

PAS technique to predict how blood platelets respond to complex conditions found during heart attack

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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