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VIA Pharmaceuticals receives NASDAQ delisting notice

VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, today announced that on December 29, 2009, it received a written notice from the listing qualifications staff of the NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ") informing the Company that trading of the Company's common stock would be suspended prior to the open of business on January 4, 2010 and that NASDAQ would initiate procedures to delist the Company's common stock.

29 Dec 2009

Emerald BioStructures engineers new allosteric small molecule modulators of the PDE4 enzyme

Emerald BioStructures (formerly deCODE biostructures) announced today a publication in the December 27, 2009 advance online issue of Nature Biotechnology, detailing the application of structure-based drug design (SBDD) to engineer new allosteric small molecule modulators of the enzyme phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), with reduced side effects. According to the paper, the researchers established the structural basis of PDE4 regulation through crystal structures of the PDE4 regulatory domain in contact with small molecules.

29 Dec 2009

Small molecules reverse protein trafficking and mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease models

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowed movements. There is currently no cure for the disease, and current Parkinson's therapies only address disease symptoms, not the disease's cellular cause.

29 Dec 2009

Promising results from Soligenix' RiVax vaccine against ricin toxin

Soligenix, Inc., formerly known as DOR BioPharma, Inc., a late-stage biotechnology company, announced today the publication of an article in the January 2010 edition of Infection and Immunity, detailing the characteristics of several immunodominant regions of ricin A chain, the antigenic component of RiVax((TM)). RiVax((TM)) is Soligenix's vaccine to protect against exposure to ricin toxin and is currently being evaluated in Phase 1 human safety and immunogenicity trials, as well as nonhuman primate trials for efficacy.

29 Dec 2009

CGEN-671, a new drug target for multiple epithelial tumors discovered by Compugen

Compugen Ltd. announced today the discovery and experimental validation of CGEN-671, a new drug target for multiple epithelial tumors.

28 Dec 2009

Interesting aspects of bacterial sensing and signaling

Over the last fifteen years it has become increasingly obvious that bacteria are not as simple and solitary as once believed. Rather, an accumulating body of work shows that bacteria are highly complicated and social organisms, constantly sensing their surroundings and altering both their environments and behaviors to ensure survival. Direct communication between bacteria turns out to be quite common, as are coordinated intra- and interspecies responses that include the formation of highly sophisticated microbial communities.

28 Dec 2009

Senate health care bill will increase patient access and help create high-wage, high-value jobs

“These provisions mean increased access for the patients of today and renewed hope for the patients of tomorrow. In addition, they will help create high-wage, high-value jobs in our nation’s burgeoning biotech sector and help maintain U.S. global leadership in innovation.”

28 Dec 2009

Publication validates company's structure-based approach for addressing undruggable targets

28 Dec 2009

PhRMA applauds Senate for passing health care reform

"We applaud the Senate for taking an important and historic step toward expanding high-quality, affordable health care coverage and services to tens of millions of Americans, many of whom are struggling today financially. While considerable work remains to be done in reconciling differences between the Senate and House bills, we remain convinced that comprehensive health care reform, if done in a smart way, will benefit patients, our economy and the future of our nation.

27 Dec 2009

MDRNA closes $1M bridge loan

MDRNA, Inc., a leading RNAi-based drug discovery and development company, today announced the closing of a bridge loan pursuant to a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement. Under the terms of the loan, the Company sold promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million and issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of approximately 1.1 million shares of the Company's common stock at $1.02 per share to certain accredited investors.

24 Dec 2009

FDA provides guidance on applying for orphan drug designation

As part of its continuing effort to make the agency more transparent and accessible, the FDA has scheduled a series of workshops about orphan drug designation for academics, biotechnology companies, and those unfamiliar with the process. The

24 Dec 2009

Stem Cell Therapy International-Histostem merger on schedule

Stem Cell Therapy International, Inc. announced that its pre-closing conditions for its merger with Histostem Co. Ltd. ("Histostem") are proceeding on schedule with an expected close of the merger in January 2010.

24 Dec 2009

Planet Green to be acquired by IMAGIN Molecular

IMAGIN Molecular Corporation (OTCBB: IMGM) has agreed in a letter of intent to issue 49% of the post capitalization of IMGM in exchange for 84,000,000 Positron Corporation common shares plus 100% of the equity of the Planet Green Bottle, all IMGM shares to be distributed to shareholders or affiliates of Planet Green.

24 Dec 2009

Ligand Pharmaceuticals acquires Neurogen

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Neurogen Corporation, following approval of the transaction by Neurogen stockholders earlier today. As a result, Ligand gains a fully funded partnership with Merck & Co., additional pipeline assets, drug discovery resources and additional cash balances.

23 Dec 2009

Achievements in lupus research, education and advocacy cause for celebration and hope

The year 2009 will be remembered as a year of many firsts for lupus, including the first successful phase III clinical trial of a potential new treatment for lupus, the launch of the first-ever Ad Council public awareness campaign for lupus, and the first comprehensive report on the barriers to lupus drug development. And it appears there are no signs of any slowing of momentum as we enter the New Year.

23 Dec 2009

Compugen, Pfizer enter into multi-target collaboration

Compugen Ltd. announced today that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Pfizer for the predictive discovery by Compugen of therapeutic peptide product candidates for three drug targets of interest to Pfizer. The discovery process, which will be based on various Compugen discovery platforms and funded by Pfizer, is expected to take a few months, following which the predicted molecules will be synthesized and delivered to Pfizer.

23 Dec 2009

Special issue on climate justice highlights effects of global warming on human health

Global warming, pollution, and the environmental consequences of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities, and strategies to prevent these inequities are urgently needed.

23 Dec 2009

National MS Society calls for grant applications to examine the impact of CCSVI hypothesis

2009 saw exciting research progress, unprecedented opportunities on the horizon, and more scientists than ever working on resolving important questions. Despite the year's economic and financial challenges, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society continues to propel research forward to end MS. In 2009 the Society provided over $33.5 million to support 345 new and ongoing projects in its research portfolio, plus $1.5 million for Fast Forward, the Society's drug development subsidiary which continues to attract new funding streams.

23 Dec 2009

Cordyceps mushroom extract for cancer treatment

A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works. The research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and was carried out at The University of Nottingham.

23 Dec 2009

Microbial Pathogenomics: A collection of reviews and future trends in bacterial pathogenomics

'Microbial Pathogenomics' contains a unique collection of reviews demonstrating how genomics has revolutionized our understanding of virulence, host-adaptation strategies and the evolution of bacterial pathogens. Current technologies - computational tools and functional approaches to genome analysis - are carefully documented and clearly illustrated.

23 Dec 2009

Biotechnology News and Research

VIA Pharmaceuticals receives NASDAQ delisting notice

Emerald BioStructures engineers new allosteric small molecule modulators of the PDE4 enzyme

Small molecules reverse protein trafficking and mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease models

Promising results from Soligenix' RiVax vaccine against ricin toxin

CGEN-671, a new drug target for multiple epithelial tumors discovered by Compugen

Interesting aspects of bacterial sensing and signaling

Senate health care bill will increase patient access and help create high-wage, high-value jobs

Publication validates company's structure-based approach for addressing undruggable targets

PhRMA applauds Senate for passing health care reform

MDRNA closes $1M bridge loan

FDA provides guidance on applying for orphan drug designation

Stem Cell Therapy International-Histostem merger on schedule

Planet Green to be acquired by IMAGIN Molecular

Ligand Pharmaceuticals acquires Neurogen

Achievements in lupus research, education and advocacy cause for celebration and hope

Compugen, Pfizer enter into multi-target collaboration

Special issue on climate justice highlights effects of global warming on human health

National MS Society calls for grant applications to examine the impact of CCSVI hypothesis

Cordyceps mushroom extract for cancer treatment

Microbial Pathogenomics: A collection of reviews and future trends in bacterial pathogenomics

Biotechnology eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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