Potassium Channel News and Research

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Researchers identify new gene that can influence person's risk of developing epilepsy

Vanderbilt University researchers have identified a new gene that can influence a person's risk for developing epilepsy. The findings, reported in the March 29 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could improve molecular diagnostic tools and point to novel therapeutic targets for epilepsy.

5 Apr 2011

Acorda reports fourth quarter net revenue of $133.1 million for full year ended December 31, 2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

17 Feb 2011

Patients with high blood pressure have benign endocrine tumours in adrenal gland: Research

High blood pressure may in some cases be caused by benign hormone-producing tumours of the adrenal cortex. A joint Swedish-American research effort has now uncovered a genetic cause behind the occurrence of such tumours. The findings were published today in the journal Science.

11 Feb 2011

Scientists discover KCNH2 gene mutation in patients with long QT syndrome

Researchers from the Hospital Virgen de las Nieves of the University of Granada have identified the most frequent mutations in the gene KCNH2 in patients with long QT syndrome.

10 Feb 2011

TREK1 activity offers a key target for fluoxetine and other antidepressant drugs

Using a unique and relatively simple cell-based fluorescent assay they developed, scientists with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley have identified a means by which fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, suppresses the activity of the TREK1 potassium channel.

8 Feb 2011

FDA lifts clinical hold on Icagen's IND for ICA-105665 epilepsy drug candidate

Icagen, Inc. today announced that, following a review of data from recently completed clinical studies as well as the Company's proposed protocol for a Phase II clinical trial in patients with treatment resistant epilepsy, the FDA has notified the Company that the clinical hold on Icagen's IND for ICA-105665, a novel orally available small molecule KCNQ potassium channel agonist, has been removed.

3 Feb 2011

Scientists discover key clue that can lead to sudden cardiac deaths

Australian researchers have come one step closer to understanding how the rhythm of the heartbeat is controlled and why many common drugs, including some antibiotics, antihistamines and anti-psychotics, can cause a potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythm.

29 Jan 2011

Acorda initiates enrollment in GGF2 Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with heart failure

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the first clinical trial of Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2). Acorda is collaborating with the Vanderbilt University Heart and Vascular Institute to conduct this Phase 1 single-dose trial in patients with heart failure.

9 Dec 2010

Researchers document novel form of splicing in nerve cell cytoplasm

Cells have their own version of the cut-and-paste editing function called splicing. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have documented a novel form of splicing in the cytoplasm of a nerve cell, which dictates a special form of a potassium channel protein in the outer membrane.

19 Nov 2010

Clinical trial shows dalfampridine tablets improve walking ability in MS patients

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that data from the second of two pivotal dalfampridine extended release tablets Phase 3 clinical trials in multiple sclerosis (MS) were published in the October 2010 edition of Annals of Neurology.

18 Nov 2010

Acorda reports net income of $12.4 million for third quarter 2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

1 Nov 2010

Essentialis, FDA enter agreement on SPA for DCCR Phase 3 efficacy study in patients with high triglycerides

Essentialis, Inc. announced today that the company has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for a Phase 3 efficacy study required for product registration for its product candidate, Diazoxide Choline Controlled Release Tablet (DCCR), for the treatment of patients with very high triglycerides.

25 Oct 2010

Acorda announces data of GGF2 preclinical studies for focal ischemic stroke

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc, today announced that data from preclinical studies show that Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2) promoted functional recovery following a permanent focal ischemic stroke.

19 Oct 2010

Acorda presents new analysis of AMPYRA tablets at ECTRIMS Congress

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that a new analysis of AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg data examining walking improvement in treatment responders has been presented at the 26th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).

15 Oct 2010

Essentialis receives patent for active component in DCCR product

Essentialis, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,799,777 entitled Salts of potassium ATP channel openers and uses thereof. The patent claims a novel composition of a polymorph of diazoxide choline, the active ingredient in the Essentialis lead product, DCCR. Essentialis has successfully completed phase 2b clinical trials with DCCR, showing a highly significant triglyceride reduction in dyslipidemic patients.

12 Oct 2010

Acorda second-quarter net loss decreases to $6.8 million

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Researchers identify new genetic route to treat epilepsy

New research points to a genetic route to understanding and treating epilepsy. Timothy Jegla, an assistant professor of biology at Penn State University, has identified an ancient gene family that plays a role in regulating the excitability of nerves within the brain.

2 Aug 2010

Research provides better understanding of drugs used to treat, prevent cardiovascular disease

Using chemical labeling and mass spectrometry-based techniques, Mark Chance, PhD, director of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics and professor of physiology and biophysics; Sayan Gupta, PhD, instructor at the Case Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics; and a research team from the University of Oxford, for the first time, were able to take a high resolution picture of the open state of a K+ channel, allowing them to comparatively analyze gating mechanisms important to heart function and nerve signaling - in addition these techniques have already permitted Case Western investigators to gain a deeper understanding of G-protein coupled receptors.

14 Jul 2010

Mutation in ion channel that changes its dynamics is implicated in epilepsy: Scientists

In 2004, Washington University in St. Lous researcher Jianmin Cui was handed a puzzling clue to the structure of an ion channel his lab had been studying for five years.

24 Jun 2010

Three leading scientists gather to discuss Improved Strategies for Pre-clinical Cardiac Testing

Three leading scientists in the field of cardiac safety in pre-clinical drug development are gathering to discuss Improved Strategies for Pre-clinical Cardiac Testing in a free webinar on June 23 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, sponsored by the Drug Safety Council.

22 Jun 2010