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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

Autism study and gene therapy in vision are top scientific achievements in 2009

A landmark autism study and a dramatic success for gene therapy in reversing inherited blindness, both at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, were recognized among the top scientific achievements in 2009, according to three national publications: Time magazine, Discover magazine and the journal Science.

23 Dec 2009

QLT Ophthalmics to distribute Visudyne in the U.S. market

QLT Inc. ("QLT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the establishment of its commercial presence in the United States through a newly formed U.S. subsidiary, QLT Ophthalmics, Inc. ("QOI"). QOI will take on the sales and marketing of Visudyne(R) in the U.S.

22 Dec 2009

Omega-3 fatty acids lower AMD and chronic kidney disease, improve heart health

Start 2010 right: consume more seafood omega-3 fatty acids. Improvements or lower risks in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), chronic kidney disease and heart health have been reported in people with higher intakes of fatty fish or the omega-3s they contain.

22 Dec 2009

Diabetes patients at higher risk from glaucoma

An estimated 3 million Americans have glaucoma, which can stealthily cause vision loss even before people realize they have the disease. People with diabetes face special risks from glaucoma. This January during Glaucoma Awareness Month, through its EyeSmart™ campaign, the American Academy of Ophthalmology in partnership with the American Glaucoma Society and the Glaucoma Research Foundation, remind Americans that knowing your glaucoma risks can save your sight and that people with diabetes need to be extra-vigilant.

19 Dec 2009

Proprietary adult stem cell platform, an effective treatment for diabetes, shows study

Australia's regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited, today announced significant preclinical trial results showing that the proprietary adult stem cell platform could be an effective treatment for diabetes.

18 Dec 2009

JDRF to work with Johnson & Johnson to develop drug targets and pathways for treating diabetes

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, said today that it will begin working with The Johnson & Johnson Corporate Office of Science and Technology, and its affiliates, to speed the development of drug targets and pathways to promote the survival and function of insulin-producing cells in people who have diabetes.

18 Dec 2009

Roche discloses results of two of eight taspoglutide T-emerge phase III studies in diabetes patients

Ipsen, an innovation-driven global specialty pharmaceutical group, today announced that its partner Roche has disclosed headline results of the fourth and fifth of eight T-emerge phase III studies in patients with diabetes for taspoglutide, the first once weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue based on a human sequence.

17 Dec 2009

Can-Fite BioPharma to commence Glaucoma Phase II clinical study in Israel

Can-Fite BioPharma, a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, announced on December 13 the initiation of the regulatory process for a Glaucoma Phase II clinical study in Israel. Leading Medical Centers in Israel will enroll 44 patients with Ocular Hypertension or Glaucoma for the first segment of the trial, who will be treated for 16 weeks with CF101 or placebo.

15 Dec 2009

Genocea Biosciences to develop Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine with UPMC grant

Genocea Biosciences, a leading vaccine discovery and development company, today announced it has been awarded a grant from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Cooperative Research Center for the development of vaccines for Chlamydia trachomatis.

15 Dec 2009

Alcon signs definitive agreement to acquire Optonol

Alcon announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Optonol, Ltd., a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets novel miniature surgical implants used to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma.

14 Dec 2009

By understanding how gene works, scientists may find ways to prevent, cure diabetes

A gene commonly studied by cancer researchers has been linked to the metabolic inflammation that leads to diabetes.

12 Dec 2009

Stem cell therapy can be used for LSCD, reports newly published research

Newly published research, by investigators, at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) in the journal Stem Cells reported the first successful treatment of eight patients with "Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency" (LSCD) using the patients' own stem cells without the need of suppressing their immunity.

11 Dec 2009

Novartis presents 6-month results from its EVEREST study for PCV

QLT Inc. welcomed the 6-month results from the Novartis-sponsored EVEREST study which were presented during a scientific review today by Novartis in Basel, Switzerland.

9 Dec 2009

VERTICAL Phase II trial results for NHL released

The Takeda Oncology Company today reported data from a clinical trial evaluating a VELCADE based combination for patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).

9 Dec 2009

TECHGENE project: CLC bio selected as software partner

Today the EU project, TECHGENE, that focuses on developing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) diagnostic tools for genetic disorders, announced that CLC bio has been selected as the software partner for this project.

9 Dec 2009

New findings may help restore vision in patients with corneal injury

Winston Whei-Yang Kao, PhD, professor of ophthalmology, along with other researchers in UC's ophthalmology department found that transplanting human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells into mouse models that lack the protein lumican restored the transparency of cloudy and thin corneas.

9 Dec 2009

Clinical trial results of VELCADE based combinations for MM to be presented at the ASH meeting

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today reported the presentation of results from a double randomized Phase III clinical trial of VELCADE based combinations for the treatment of patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM). The VELCADE based combinations evaluated in the study demonstrated two-year overall survival rates ranging between 81 and 88 percent.

8 Dec 2009

CAM314 randomized Phase 3 clinical trial results released

Genzyme Corporation announced data from its CAM314 randomized Phase 3 clinical trial comparing Campath (alemtuzumab) in combination with Fludara (fludarabine phosphate) (FluCAM) to Fludara alone in patients with relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) demonstrated that the FluCAM regimen significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death compared to single-agent Fludara.

8 Dec 2009

VELCADE based regimens are cost-effective for payers and patients, finds study

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that two studies presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting found that VELCADE based regimens are more cost-effective for payers and reduced out-of-pocket costs for patients than other commonly used multiple myeloma treatments.

7 Dec 2009