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DURATION-4 study tests superiority of BYDUREON as compared to other type 2 diabetes medications

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc. today announced results from DURATION-4, the fourth in a series of studies designed to test the superiority of BYDUREON (exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension), an investigational type 2 diabetes therapy, as compared to other type 2 diabetes medications.

18 Jun 2010

Positive results from Phase I clinical trial of GLYX-13 presented at NCDEU meeting

Naurex Inc., a clinical stage company developing innovative treatments for depression and other CNS disorders, today reported that it presented data at the NCDEU 50th Anniversary Meeting showing that its novel mechanism compound GLYX-13 appeared safe in a Phase I trial. GLYX-13 is a glycine site functional partial agonist selective modulator of the NMDA receptor that is being developed initially for use in depression as adjunctive therapy.

17 Jun 2010

Neurocrine Biosciences, Boehringer Ingelheim collaborate to develop GPR119 agonists for Type II diabetes

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced today that they have established a worldwide collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to research and develop small molecule GPR119 agonists for the treatment of Type II diabetes and other indications. The companies will work jointly to identify and advance candidates into pre-clinical development. Boehringer Ingelheim is responsible for the global development and commercialization of potential GPR119 agonist products.

17 Jun 2010

Norgine to develop and commercialize Tranzyme's ulimorelin ghrelin agonist

Tranzyme Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and Norgine B.V., a European specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that they have entered into a licensing agreement that provides Norgine with the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Tranzyme's novel ghrelin agonist, ulimorelin (TZP-101), in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, South Africa and North Africa. Ulimorelin is entering Phase 3 development for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysmotility conditions in acute care settings.

16 Jun 2010

Aeterna Zentaris to present poster on AEZS-130 growth hormone secretagogue/ghrelin receptor agonist at 92nd ENDO

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, will be presented at the upcoming 92nd Annual Endocrine Society (ENDO) Meeting and Expo, which will be held June 19 through 22, 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

15 Jun 2010

CoLucid's lasmiditan NAAMA effective in treatment of acute migraine attacks

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,, an innovative biotechnology company focusing on therapies for central nervous system disorders, today announced that its investigational first-in-class Neurally Acting Anti-Migraine Agent (NAAMA), lasmiditan (also known as COL-144), a selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist, was effective when given orally to treat acute migraine attacks, as documented in a Phase IIb study.

10 Jun 2010

Aerovance reports top-line results from Aerovant Phase 2b clinical trial for eosinophilic asthma

Aerovance Inc. today announced top-line results from its Phase 2b clinical trial that show the inhaled dry powder formulation of Aerovant (pitrakinra inhalation powder) is effective in a pre-defined subset of patients with eosinophilic asthma.

8 Jun 2010

Amgen to present Phase 2 study data of AMG 479 in metastatic pancreatic cancer at 2010 ASCO

Amgen today announced results from a small, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study indicating that adding AMG 479 to gemcitabine improved overall survival at six months (primary endpoint) and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The study, which also included a separate arm of conatumumab plus gemcitabine, is being presented in a Poster Discussion at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

5 Jun 2010

Preclinical data of dual TLR7 and TLR8 agonist in cancer published

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of data from studies of a dual agonist of Toll-like Receptor 7 and TLR8 in preclinical models of cancer. The Company created this first-in-class RNA-based dual agonist of TLR7 and TLR8 through its chemistry-based approach to identifying novel TLR-targeted drug candidates.

4 Jun 2010

FDA issues letter directing GSK to revise product labeling for Serevent and Advair

GlaxoSmithKline today announced that it has received a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration directing revisions to product labeling for its respiratory products Serevent and Advair. The letter concludes discussions between GSK and the agency following FDA advisory committee meetings regarding the safety profile of long-acting beta2-agonists in the treatment of asthma, including salmeterol, the active ingredient in Serevent and one of the active ingredients in Advair.

3 Jun 2010

Roche, ATCC partner to research real-time endogenous GPCR function with xCELLigence System

G-coupled protein receptors (GPCRs), also known as 7-transmembrane proteins, constitute the single largest class of therapeutic targets for clinical and investigational drugs. There are ~800 predicted members of this class in the human genome, involved in diverse signaling pathways in a wide array of cells and tissue types. Modulation of GPCR function has proven to have therapeutic benefit in a wide variety of diseases in immunology, neurology, cardiology, and oncology.

2 Jun 2010

Targeted monoclonal antibodies show promise for pancreatic and metastatic breast cancer

Early trials using targeted monoclonal antibodies in combination with existing therapies show promise in treating pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer, according to research that will be presented by investigators from the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology June 4 through 8.

2 Jun 2010

Filing of Clinical Data's NDA for vilazodone accepted for FDA review

Clinical Data, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for filing the Company's New Drug Application for vilazodone for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

24 May 2010

New findings on INTUNIV Extended Release Tablets presented at major psychiatric meeting

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced new findings on once-daily INTUNIV (guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets, the first selective alpha-2A agonist approved for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, at a major psychiatric meeting.

24 May 2010

Tranzyme Pharma to present data on prokinetic agent TZP-101 in GI recovery at ASCRS 2010

Tranzyme Pharma today announced that Philippa Charlton, MD, Tranzyme's Medical Director, and her colleagues G. Bochicchio, J.C. Pezullo, G. Kosutic, and A. Senagore, will present a poster entitled "The Prokinetic Agent TZP-101 (a Ghrelin Agonist) Accelerates GI Recovery in Partial Colectomy Patients Independently of Total Opioid Use and Type of Surgery" at the upcoming 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS; Minneapolis, May 15-19).

17 May 2010

Female sex hormones may work with estrogen in reducing airway constriction: Research

Female sex hormones may work with beta-agonists in reducing airway constriction, according to new bench research from the Mayo Clinic.

17 May 2010

Athersys presents data supporting MultiStem programs

Athersys, Inc. today presented data supporting its MultiStem® programs in cardiovascular disease, neurological disease and immune system modulation, and highlighted advancements in other areas, including progress in its drug development program in the area of obesity.

15 May 2010

Study shows direct cellular interaction between endocannabinoids and alcohol in the brain

In findings that should finally put to rest a decade of controversy in the field of neurobiology, a team at The Scripps Research Institute has found decisive evidence that a specific neurotransmitter system-the endocannabinoid system-is active in a brain region known to play a key role in the processing of memory, emotional reactions, and addiction formation. The new study also shows that this system can dampen the effects of alcohol, suggesting an avenue for the development of drugs to combat alcohol addiction.

13 May 2010

Researchers discover molecular mechanism behind smoking cessation effect

The tobacco addiction epidemic is a major public health problem worldwide. Professor Zhao Baolu and his group from the State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences set out to tackle this problem. After 20 years of innovative research, they have developed a novel tea filter to treat cigarette addiction and have discovered the molecular mechanism behind the smoking cessation effect.

12 May 2010

Phase IIb study of EVP-6124 initiated in patients with Alzheimer's disease

EnVivo Pharmaceuticals today announced the initiation and dosing of patients in a Phase IIb study of its EVP-6124 compound, a selective alpha-7 nicotinic agonist in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.