Central Nervous System News and Research

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Study suggests heredity may play a role in determining infant's susceptibility to AOP

A potentially life-threatening challenge characterized by pauses in breathing that can last for more than 20 seconds, apnea of prematurity (AOP) affects more than 50 percent of premature infants and is almost universal in the smallest of preemies. Caused in part by an underdeveloped central nervous system that can't adequately regulate breathing outside of the womb, especially during sleep, AOP is not yet fully understood by scientists and remains a grave concern among neonatologists and parents alike.

3 Nov 2010

Somaxon awarded $245,000 grant for Silenor under QTDP program

Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the in-licensing, development and commercialization of proprietary branded pharmaceutical products and late-stage product candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders in the central nervous system therapeutic area, today announced that it has been awarded a non-taxable grant of approximately $245,000 related to Silenor® (doxepin) under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) program included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010.

3 Nov 2010

Lactic acid levels in brain linked to aging process

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have shown that they may be able to monitor the aging process in the brain, by using MRI technique to measure the brain lactic acid levels. Their findings suggest that the lactate levels increase in advance of other aging symptoms, and therefore could be used as an indicator of aging and age-related diseases of the CNS.

2 Nov 2010

FDA approves NUEDEXTA capsules for pseudobulbar affect

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved NUEDEXTA (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate) capsules, as the first treatment for pseudobulbar affect.

30 Oct 2010

DiaGenic third quarter income increases from NOK -9.3 million to NOK -9.6 million

DiaGenic: The interim report for the third quarter 2010 was approved by the Board of Directors on 28 October 2010.

29 Oct 2010

Scientists identify potential new treatment for Nipah and Hendra viruses

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College have identified a potential new treatment for the Nipah and Hendra viruses, two lethal and emerging viruses for which there is currently no treatment or vaccine available. The approach could also lead to new therapies for measles, mumps and the flu. The new research appears in today's edition of the prestigious journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathogens.

29 Oct 2010

StemCells initiates HuCNS-SC second clinical trial for Batten disease in children

StemCells, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a second clinical trial of its HuCNS-SC product candidate (purified human neural stem cells) in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL, also often referred to as Batten disease), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder in children.

29 Oct 2010

AACN joins call for system-wide programs for medication reconciliation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) added its bold voice to hospital healthcare leaders by endorsing a white paper that calls for system-wide programs for medication reconciliation — the process of verifying that current patient medications are correct, medically safe and necessary.

28 Oct 2010

MedAvante's centralized ratings to be used in Rexahn's Serdaxin Phase 2a study in MDD patients

MedAvante, Inc., the leader in centralized expert evaluation of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, announced that Rexahn will use MedAvante 's Remote Centralized Ratings™ in their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b clinical study assessing the efficacy of Serdaxin® in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

27 Oct 2010

Salk discovers potential new target for MS

Scientists are closer to solving one of the many mysteries of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, thanks to a recent study conducted at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The research revealed a previously unknown connection between two ion channels, which, when misaligned, can cause the many bizarre symptoms that characterize the condition.

26 Oct 2010

UCI scientists receive CIRM grants to improve stem cell treatments

UC Irvine scientists will receive grants totaling $9.35 million to help create stem cell treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, Huntington's disease and traumatic brain injury.

25 Oct 2010

Arena's NDA receives Complete Response Letter for lorcaserin

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eisai Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) regarding Arena's New Drug Application (NDA) for lorcaserin. Lorcaserin is intended for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, in patients who are obese

25 Oct 2010

Scientists discover new cell that may limit inflammation in CNS

Scientists at Barrow Neurological Institute have recently made discoveries about a type of cell that may limit inflammation in the central nervous system - a finding that could have important implications in the treatment of brain disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The research, led by Barrow's Fu-Dong Shi, MD, PhD, was published in the August 2010 issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine, and simultaneously highlighted in Nature.

22 Oct 2010

ISCTM to develop solutions for CNS clinical trial methodology

The International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM) met recently to develop solutions to challenges facing CNS clinical trial methodology.

21 Oct 2010

Joint stem cell study to investigate multiple sclerosis

A $2.2 million project by Victorian and Californian researchers will assess whether stem cell therapies can be used to combat diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Type-1 diabetes, and help organ transplant recipients. Speaking at AusBiotech 2010 in Melbourne today, Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the Brumby Labor Government had contributed $575,505 to the project, the fifth to be funded through the $28 million Victoria–California Stem Cell Alliance which was established in 2008 under the Biotechnology Strategic Development Plan.

21 Oct 2010

Arena reports results of APD916 Phase 1 clinical trial for narcolepsy with cataplexy

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of APD916, a novel drug candidate discovered by Arena that targets the histamine H3 receptor for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy.

20 Oct 2010

Envoy expands drug discovery collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute

Envoy Therapeutics, Inc., a recently-formed drug discovery company, today announced that it has expanded its research collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute aimed at identifying new drugs for neurological and psychiatric diseases.

20 Oct 2010

Pfizer enters partnership with Teuto to develop, commercialize generic medicines

Pfizer Inc. announced today that it is entering into a partnership with Laboratorio Teuto Brasileiro S.A., a leading company in the Brazilian generics industry, to develop and commercialize generic medicines.

20 Oct 2010

Study finds massive blood transfusion associated with severe complications

A study presented at this year's American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting indicates that massive blood transfusion is associated with a significant increase in perioperative risk for mortality, cardiopulmonary complications, and wound-related and infectious complications in the long term.

20 Oct 2010

Rexahn announces publication of 3-aryl-1-isoquinolinamines preclinical data

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, today announced the publication of new preclinical data on the development of 3-aryl-1-isoquinolinamines in the European Journal & Medicinal Chemistry.

19 Oct 2010