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.

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals closes $12M Series B financing

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing compounds to treat sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia and EBV-related cancers, announced today the closing of a $12M Series B financing led by new investor, Aberdare Ventures. HemaQuest's investor syndicate includes Aberdare Ventures, De Novo Ventures, Forward Ventures and Lilly Ventures.

21 Apr 2010

BIO-key International, Healthcare-ID to present biometric identity solutions at 56th CBBS Annual Meeting

BIO-key International, Inc., a leader in finger-based biometric identification solutions, today announced that BIO-key and its partner, Healthcare-ID, a leader in automated donor management solutions, will jointly participate at the 56th Annual Meeting of the California Blood Bank Society in BOOTH #123.

21 Apr 2010

New method to analyze molecular activity of cancer drugs for solid tumors using skin biopsies

A research team today reported clinical results of a new method for analyzing the molecular activity of cancer drugs for solid tumors using skin biopsies. The approach, enabled by Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.'s imaging and analysis systems, was presented in a poster session at the American Association of Cancer Research's Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.

21 Apr 2010

Clarient Insight Dx Pulmotax assay helps predict response to chemotherapy in lung cancer patients

Clarient, Inc., a premier technology and services resource for pathologists, oncologists and the pharmaceutical industry, today announced that data from a new study suggest that the Clarient Insight® Dx Pulmotax™ assay may effectively predict which lung cancer patients will respond favorably to chemotherapy. The study, titled "TLE3 expression is predictive of response to chemotherapy in NSCLC," included 368 samples from carcinoma patients.

21 Apr 2010

EGFR levels may help early detection of breast cancer

Levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may be elevated in the blood of women within 17 months prior to their breast cancer diagnosis, according to findings presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting 2010, held here April 17-21.

21 Apr 2010

Duke University Medical Center, LabCorp form joint venture to commercialize new biomarkers

Duke University Medical Center and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings announced today the formation of a joint venture to commercialize new biomarkers. The new entity is designed to speed the translation of newly discovered biomarkers into widely available clinical tools that can measure individual therapeutic responses, predict disease progression, and evaluate any number of biologic or disease-causing processes.

21 Apr 2010

NEDD9 protein plays significant role in development of HER2-driven breast cancer: Researchers

Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified a potentially significant molecular player in the development of aggressive breast cancer. The team's findings show that a protein called NEDD9 is critical in the formation of breast tumors induced by high levels of the cell-surface receptor HER2/neu in mice.

21 Apr 2010

Positive results from pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA in SLE patients

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC today announced topline secondary endpoints from BLISS-76, the second of two pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) in seropositive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

20 Apr 2010

NextBio announces new Sequence-Centric module for mining high throughput array and sequencing data

NextBio today announced the latest evolution of its innovative life science research platform, adding new capabilities for the integration and mining of high-throughput array and next-generation sequencing data. The new NextBio Sequence-Centric module enables researchers to effectively explore and utilize massive amounts of public and internally generated sequencing data, while allowing organizations to create corporate-wide genomic data platforms to serve the needs of their global research teams.

20 Apr 2010

NanoString Technologies launches new miRNA assay kits

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held life sciences company marketing a complete solution for detecting and counting large sets of target molecules in biological samples, today announced a unique new product for miRNA analysis that includes a multiplexed assay for profiling the human miRNA transcriptome in a single tube. The company introduced the new assay kit, which expands the applications for its nCounter® Analysis System, at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting.

From NanoString Technologies 20 Apr 2010

UAB researchers discover four miRNAs to assess survival rate of colorectal cancer patients

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pathology have discovered a set of four biomarkers that will help predict which patients are more likely to develop aggressive colorectal cancer and which are not. The findings also shed light on the genetics that result in worse colorectal cancer-treatment outcomes for African-Americans, compared with Caucasians, the researchers said.

20 Apr 2010

Atherotech to showcase VAP Cholesterol Test at Internal Medicine 2010

Atherotech Inc. announced it will exhibit its VAP® Cholesterol Test in booth #1305 at Internal Medicine 2010, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The meeting takes place April 22-24, 2010, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada.

20 Apr 2010

Updated survival data from Phase I/II trial of nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine combination for pancreatic cancer

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated biotechnology company, today announced updated overall survival findings from a phase I/II study of nab®-paclitaxel (ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension) (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) given in combination with gemcitabine, demonstrated increased survival of the first-line treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

19 Apr 2010

SPI-Bio to distribute and sell Aterovax's sPLA2 activity test in Europe

Aterovax SA, a company developing innovative products for atherosclerosis, today announced the signing of a 3 year, exclusive agreement with SPI-Bio, a specialist distributor of products and services in drug development, to distribute and sell Aterovax's sPLA2 activity test in Europe to academic and research laboratories for research use.

19 Apr 2010

Biomarkers to help predict development of aggressive colorectal cancer discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pathology have discovered a set of four biomarkers that will help predict which patients are more likely to develop aggressive colorectal cancer and which are not. The findings also shed light on the genetics that result in worse colorectal cancer-treatment outcomes for African-Americans, compared with Caucasians, the researchers said.

19 Apr 2010

Methotrexate therapy not recommended beyond 6 months after remission: JAMA

For patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in remission, withdrawal of treatment with the drug methotrexate over 12 months vs. 6 months did not reduce the rate of relapse, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

19 Apr 2010

Encouraging early data from Bellicum Pharmaceuticals' Phase I/II study of BPX-101 for mCRPC

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company developing therapeutic cancer vaccines, today announced the presentation of interim Phase I/II efficacy data for BPX-101, a novel dendritic cell vaccine for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), in a Late Breaking poster at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010 held in Washington, D.C.

19 Apr 2010

Radiolabeled hedgehog can differentiate stem-like cancer cells, identify aggressive tumors

At the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting 2010, scientists and clinicians will present more than 6,300 abstracts dealing with innovative aspects of biology, technology and emerging therapies.

19 Apr 2010

Amgen announces results from pivotal Phase 3 "408" trial of Vectibix

Amgen today announced detailed results from a new biomarker analysis of the pivotal Phase 3 "408" trial of Vectibix® (panitumumab) plus best supportive care compared to BSC alone. The analysis used massively parallel, next-generation sequencing technology to investigate whether mutations in nine genes known to be mutated in colorectal cancer, including the previously unanalyzed exon 3 mutation of the KRAS gene, are predictive of response to Vectibix in metastatic colorectal cancer.

19 Apr 2010

Results of BATTLE Trial presented at AACR 2010

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in men and women, but huge randomized trials of thousands of patients have either failed completely or shown negligible survival differences.

19 Apr 2010

Biomarker News and Research

Further Reading

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals closes $12M Series B financing

BIO-key International, Healthcare-ID to present biometric identity solutions at 56th CBBS Annual Meeting

New method to analyze molecular activity of cancer drugs for solid tumors using skin biopsies

Clarient Insight Dx Pulmotax assay helps predict response to chemotherapy in lung cancer patients

EGFR levels may help early detection of breast cancer

Duke University Medical Center, LabCorp form joint venture to commercialize new biomarkers

NEDD9 protein plays significant role in development of HER2-driven breast cancer: Researchers

Positive results from pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA in SLE patients

NextBio announces new Sequence-Centric module for mining high throughput array and sequencing data

NanoString Technologies launches new miRNA assay kits

UAB researchers discover four miRNAs to assess survival rate of colorectal cancer patients

Atherotech to showcase VAP Cholesterol Test at Internal Medicine 2010

Updated survival data from Phase I/II trial of nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine combination for pancreatic cancer

SPI-Bio to distribute and sell Aterovax's sPLA2 activity test in Europe

Biomarkers to help predict development of aggressive colorectal cancer discovered

Methotrexate therapy not recommended beyond 6 months after remission: JAMA

Encouraging early data from Bellicum Pharmaceuticals' Phase I/II study of BPX-101 for mCRPC

Radiolabeled hedgehog can differentiate stem-like cancer cells, identify aggressive tumors

Amgen announces results from pivotal Phase 3 "408" trial of Vectibix

Results of BATTLE Trial presented at AACR 2010

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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