Biomarker News and Research

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A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.

AFFiRiS AG receives 475,000 MJFF grant for Parkinson vaccine development

With a grant of USD 475,000, the Michael J. Fox Foundation is funding preclinical development of a vaccine against Parkinson's disease by AFFiRiS AG. The vaccine, known as PD01, targets the protein alpha-synuclein and might offer for the first time a possibility for a treatment that can slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease.

17 Dec 2010

Study: Biomarkers may aid in early diagnosis of breast cancer

Using a new, powerful method for rapidly screening molecules associated with disease, proteomics expert Joshua LaBaer and colleagues from the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University have identified a broad panel of 28 early predictors, or biomarkers, that may one day aid in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

17 Dec 2010

Almac recognised with 'News Flow of the Year' award

The Almac Group, one of the world's leading contract drug development and manufacturing organisations, was presented with the "News Flow of the Year" accolade at the 2010 Genesis Awards annual Gala dinner in London last week, following the company being shortlisted as a finalist in the category nominations. Now into its tenth year, Genesis is established as a leading life science networking conference.

16 Dec 2010

Combination therapy improves survival rates in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

A combination therapy for treating cancer discovered at the University of Colorado Cancer Center showed improved survival rates in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial run by Syndax Pharmaceuticals.

16 Dec 2010

HealthLinx's OvPlex performs better over CA125 in part 1 of multinational ovarian cancer biomarker study

Diagnostic company HealthLinx Limited reports that initial analysis of part 1 of its multinational ovarian cancer biomarker study confirms a statistically significant increase in diagnostic performance of OvPlex™ over CA125 alone. Enhanced performance of OvPlex™ was also established specifically for early stage (Stage I-II) disease.

16 Dec 2010

CTT, Bayer sign Research and License Option Agreement

Cancer Targeted Technology (CTT), a Seattle-based biotechnology firm focusing on small molecule cancer enzyme inhibitors for the generation of novel diagnostics and therapeutics, today announced that it has signed a Research and License Option Agreement with Bayer Pharma AG, Germany. Under the agreement, CTT will work with Bayer to optimize a novel PET imaging agent based on its unique inhibitor scaffold that recognizes a validated cancer enzyme biomarker.

15 Dec 2010

CMS increases reimbursement rate for Cylex's immune cell function assay by 267%

Cylex Incorporated® today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) nearly tripled the reimbursement for ImmuKnow®, the immune cell function assay FDA-cleared for the detection of cell-mediated immune response in populations undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplant. This significant increase was granted in a time when the overall CMS clinical fee schedule experienced a comprehensive decrease in laboratory reimbursement rates.

15 Dec 2010

Cell Biosciences receives US Patent for NanoPro assay technology

Cell Biosciences, Inc. today announced the issuance of Patent No. 7,846,676 for "Methods and Devices for Analyte Detection" by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

15 Dec 2010

Study broadens understanding of role of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in AML

Agios Pharmaceuticals, the leading biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel drugs in the rapidly emerging field of cancer metabolism, today announced the publication of a paper in Cancer Cell that illuminates the mechanism by which 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), and the mutations in the metabolic genes IDH1 and IDH2 that produce it, may be driving the growth of tumors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

15 Dec 2010

Case study sheds light on pathological course of Alzheimer's disease

A case study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet sheds light on the pathological course of Alzheimer's disease. The brain of the first Alzheimer's patient to display amyloids demonstrable with a PET scanner has been studied, both during progression of the disease and after death.

15 Dec 2010

BUSM awarded NCI EDRN, DOD grants to develop novel procedures for early detection of lung cancer

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have been awarded a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Early Detection Research Network (EDRN), as well as a four-year, $1.3 million grant from the Department of Defense (DOD). These grants will allow the scientists to develop novel and complementary procedures for early detection of lung cancer in high-risk patients.

15 Dec 2010

Abbott initiates ABT-806 Phase 1 trial in EGFR expressing tumors

Life Science Pharmaceuticals (LSP) announced today a milestone related to monoclonal-antibody (mAb) 806 licensed to Abbott. A Phase 1 trial with ABT-806, a humanized version of mAb 806 that selectively targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been initiated by Abbott in the U.S. The trial will assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of ABT-806 in patients with advanced solid tumors likely or known to express EGFR.

15 Dec 2010

Genomic Health announces results of Oncotype DX test in early-stage breast cancer patients

"We provide optimal care to breast cancer patients when we treat the underlying biology of their individual tumors," said Steven Shak, MD, chief medical officer of Genomic Health.

14 Dec 2010

Vitamin D deficiency flagged as a major concern in South Asia

Bone health experts attending the 1st Asia-Pacific Osteoporosis Meeting in Singapore this week have flagged vitamin D deficiency as a major concern in the region, particularly in South Asia where the problem is especially severe and widespread across the entire population.

14 Dec 2010

Elsevier announces special Issue on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Elsevier Inc., the world's leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information, announced today that Alcohol has published a special year-end double issue on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). It fills an urgent need to bring the widest possible readership current perspectives on using new research methods to improve identification and diagnosis of offspring at risk for FASD and its associated brain damage and behavioral dysfunction.

13 Dec 2010

bioTheranostics reports new findings from study evaluating Breast Cancer Index molecular oncology test

bioTheranostics, a bioMerieux company that develops innovative oncology diagnostic tests to support targeted disease management, announced today new findings from a clinical study evaluating the company's Breast Cancer Index (BCI) molecular oncology test. Data from the study were presented at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

13 Dec 2010

Better approaches to ovarian cancer screening could lower cancer deaths

Cancer prevention experts have long been frustrated by the lack of a meaningful way to screen women for ovarian cancer. It is a relatively rare disease that often progresses with few symptoms until it is too late for potentially curative treatments, and elevated values of the most commonly used biomarker used in screening, CA125, are also related to other disorders.

13 Dec 2010

Prometheus, UCLA collaborate to identify biological markers of mucosal healing in IBD

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, and The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles campus, today announced the execution of an exclusive research agreement that will focus on the identification of biological markers of mucosal healing in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The research will be led by Dr. Jonathan Braun, Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and a professor of molecular and medical pharmacology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

10 Dec 2010

Entinostat plus erlotinib improves survival in NSCLC patients with elevated E-cadherin

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, announces clinical results from ENCORE 401, a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results show that there was a survival advantage in the subset of patients with elevated E-cadherin (a molecular marker of epithelial tumors) receiving entinostat in combination with erlotinib (Tarceva®).

10 Dec 2010

Caliper to acquire CRi for $20.0 million

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of products and services for drug discovery research, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc. (CRi) for approximately $20.0 million, including net debt. CRi's patented preclinical and tissue-based multiplexed analysis systems will expand Caliper's life sciences tools portfolio, particularly as it bridges into clinical research, pathology and clinical market applications.

10 Dec 2010