Drug Discovery News and Research

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The drug discovery process begins with recognizing a disease or clinical condition in which there is a lack of adequate medical treatment. Once a potential drug has been identified, pre-clinical research can begin. This process includes several stages; the first of which involves identifying and validating the prospective drug’s target through assay development, high throughput screening, hit identification and finally, lead optimization. Once the pre-clinical process is complete, the newly synthesized drug candidate is selected for future clinical development.

Lilly presents results of JAK2, Hedgehog inhibitor preclinical cancer studies at 102nd AACR

Eli Lilly and Company announced results today from two preclinical studies of molecules that target genetic mutations and disable specific signaling pathways that can lead to cancer. The studies evaluated two unique molecules – a JAK2 inhibitor and a Hedgehog inhibitor – with results presented during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 102nd Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

5 Apr 2011

Caliper introduces novel fluorescent imaging agent for pre-clinical research

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery, life sciences research and molecular diagnostics, today announced the launch of XenoLight RediJect COX-2 Probe, a novel fluorescent imaging agent for pre-clinical research that specifically detects the cyclooxygenase-2 biomarker noninvasively in live animal models as well as in ex vivo tissue analysis applications.

5 Apr 2011

Techne's R&D Systems acquires Boston Biochem assets

Techne Corporation announced today that as of April 1, 2011, its R&D Systems subsidiary has acquired the assets of Boston Biochem, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative ubiquitin-related research products.

4 Apr 2011

Researchers identify four new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease

In the largest study of its kind, researchers from a consortium of 44 universities and research institutions in the United States, including Rush University Medical Center, identified four new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease. Each gene individually adds to the risk of having this common form of dementia later in life.

4 Apr 2011

Discovery of 4 new genes associated with Alzheimer's

In the largest study of its kind, researchers from a consortium led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and the University of Miami identified four new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease. Each gene individually adds to the risk of having this common form of dementia later in life. These new genes offer a portal into what causes Alzheimer's disease and is a major advance in the field.

3 Apr 2011

PBI commits to sponsor APS Novel Disease Model Awards for 2011 through 2013

Plato BioPharma, Inc. announced today that the company has committed to sponsor The American Physiological Society's Novel Disease Model Awards for 2011 through 2013.

2 Apr 2011

ACADIA extends collaboration agreement with Allergan for drug discovery platform

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovative technology to fuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for central nervous system disorders, today announced that it has extended its drug discovery and development collaboration with Allergan, Inc.

1 Apr 2011

Researchers study role of acetylation in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have determined that a well-known chemical process called acetylation has a previously unrecognized association with one of the biological processes associated with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The findings were published in the latest issue of Nature Communications.

1 Apr 2011

CPRIT awards $12.6M grant to Gulf Coast Consortia to develop new cancer treatments

The Gulf Coast Consortia has been awarded a grant of more than $12.6 million from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas to launch a collaborative program that brings together researchers with the common purpose of developing new cancer treatments.

1 Apr 2011

Broad opportunities for covalent drugs

Avila Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel targeted covalent drugs, today announced the publication of a scientific review article in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery titled "The Resurgence of Covalent Drugs".

1 Apr 2011

USPTO issues patent to Asterand's BioMAP technology

Asterand plc, a leading provider of human tissue-based services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in drug discovery research, and its subsidiary BioSeek LLC today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Nos. 7,908,089 entitled "Patient classification" and 7,912,651 entitled "Function homology screening."

1 Apr 2011

TAP announces new corporate identity

The Automation Partnership, a leading supplier of innovative automation for life science applications today announced that the company will now be known as TAP Biosystems.

30 Mar 2011

Positive results from Vertex VX-770 Phase 3 trial against CF

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced positive results from a 24-week analysis of the ongoing Phase 3 ENVISION study of VX-770, an oral medicine in development that targets the defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis.

30 Mar 2011

Researchers develop new drug for multiple cancer treatment

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a new drug called AT-406 with potential to treat multiple types of cancer.

30 Mar 2011

Metabolic Solutions initiates MSDC-0602 Phase 2a trial in patients with type 2 diabetes

Metabolic Solutions Development Company, a drug discovery and development company exploiting novel molecular targets to treat metabolic diseases, announced today that it has launched a Phase 2a trial for MSDC-0602, the company's second drug candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

30 Mar 2011

Scientists to discover new estrogen receptor-signaling networks for breast cancer treatment

The quandary of breast cancer in women is deep: the female hormone, estrogen, is considered to be a quasi-fuel for developing breast cancer.

29 Mar 2011

SRI International, CDD receive NIAID grant to develop TB information repository

SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, and Collaborative Drug Discovery, provider of a web-based drug discovery software platform, announced that they have been awarded a grant to support the first year of a software development project focused on tuberculosis drug discovery efforts.

29 Mar 2011

PPD introduces new mobile application for clinical trial searches

PPD, Inc. today announced it has launched its new Clinical Trials Mobile application for use on Apple iPad and Apple iPhone devices to help potential clinical research participants and investigators find clinical trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas.

29 Mar 2011

ADDF awards Yuma $249,810 grant for Alzheimer's research

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation announced today that it has awarded a grant of $249,810 to Yuma Therapeutics Corporation to develop small molecules to treat Alzheimer's disease.

28 Mar 2011

Molecular pharmacologist receives AACR Award for cancer research

Susan Band Horwitz, Ph.D., will receive the Eighth Annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research. Horwitz conducted pioneering research by discovering the mechanism of action of the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel, which prompted the development of this drug as an important therapy for many common solid tumors, including ovarian, breast, and lung carcinomas.

28 Mar 2011