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.

Zenobia, Lundbeck enter research collaboration for LRRK2 Parkinson's disease target

Zenobia Therapeutics, Inc. the leader in fragment-based lead discovery for CNS diseases, announced today a research collaboration with H. Lundbeck A/S utilizing Zenobia's expertise in protein expression and x-ray crystallography for the Parkinson's disease target, LRRK2. Under the agreement, Zenobia will continue to use its capabilities in fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD) to advance its internal LRRK2 drug discovery program independently of Lundbeck.

16 Dec 2010

Systematic study on protein-protein interfaces explain "promiscuous" phenomena of its binding

Interactions between proteins are at the heart of cellular processes, and those interactions depend on the interfaces where the direct physical contact occurs. A new study published this week suggests that there may be roughly a thousand structurally-distinct protein-protein interfaces - and that their structures depend largely on the simple physics of the proteins.

16 Dec 2010

NIH grants $7.5 million for researchers to develop novel compounds in treating nicotine addiction

The Scripps Research Institute and the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine have been awarded approximately $7.5 million over five years to develop novel compounds that could eventually become drug candidates for the treatment of nicotine dependence, and possibly other drug addictions.

16 Dec 2010

Synthetic derivative of curry spice can be effective neuroprotective for stroke and TBI

A synthetic derivative of the curry spice turmeric, made by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, dramatically improves the behavioral and molecular deficits seen in animal models of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury.

16 Dec 2010

Domainex wins 2010 Genesis Life Science Innovation and Enterprise Programme Of The Year Award

Domainex Ltd, the leading UK-based drug discovery CRO, has won the 2010 Genesis Life Science Innovation and Enterprise Programme Of The Year Award. This Award was made in recognition of Domainex's proactive work on promoting academic-industry collaborations, and was adjudicated by leading representatives of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

From Domainex 15 Dec 2010

Echo acoustic liquid handler improves discovery of potential therapeutics

When the revolutionary Echo® acoustic liquid handler is used in the process of discovering potential therapeutics, important drug candidates are identified that are missed using traditional liquid handlers. In a recently issued patent, the global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca describes the discovery of a novel set of potential cancer therapeutics that was found only when the Echo system was used. Other major pharmaceutical companies have also reported that the Echo liquid handler was a critical platform in discovering drug candidates.

15 Dec 2010

NCI initiates crolibulin/cisplatin combination Phase II trial in anaplastic thyroid cancer

EpiCept Corporation today announced that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has initiated a Phase II trial with crolibulinTM (EPC2407). The trial will assess the drug's efficacy and safety in combination with cisplatin in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). CrolibulinTM is a vascular disruption and apoptosis inducing agent that has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in both preclinical and early clinical studies.

15 Dec 2010

Horizon Discovery licenses new human isogenic cell models from Case Western Reserve

With the goal of developing new, more effective and personalized cancer treatments, Horizon Discovery, based in Cambridge, England, has secured from Case Western Reserve University exclusive rights to a panel of new human isogenic cell models developed by the laboratory of Zhenghe Wang, assistant professor of genetics at the university's School of Medicine.

10 Dec 2010

Caliper to acquire CRi for $20.0 million

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of products and services for drug discovery research, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc. (CRi) for approximately $20.0 million, including net debt. CRi's patented preclinical and tissue-based multiplexed analysis systems will expand Caliper's life sciences tools portfolio, particularly as it bridges into clinical research, pathology and clinical market applications.

10 Dec 2010

Horizon Discovery secures exclusive rights to human isogenic cell models

With the goal of developing new, more effective and personalized cancer treatments, Horizon Discovery, based in Cambridge, England, has secured from Case Western Reserve University exclusive rights to a panel of new human isogenic cell models developed by the laboratory of Zhenghe John Wang, assistant professor of genetics at the university's School of Medicine.

10 Dec 2010

Scientists determine 500 three-dimensional protein structures from bacterial and protozoan pathogens

9 Dec 2010

Excreted antibiotics become potential sources of antibiotic resistant genes

When an antibiotic is consumed, researchers have learned that up to 90 percent passes through a body without metabolizing. This means the drugs can leave the body almost intact through normal bodily functions.

9 Dec 2010

Nottingham researchers develop new 'score' to detect heart disease in younger people

Experts at The University of Nottingham have developed a new 'score' to help GPs detect heart disease in younger people - before it damages their health.

9 Dec 2010

SEEK reports Phase I safety trail for investigational flu vaccine

SEEK, a leading UK privately-owned drug-discovery group, today presented data on the successful conclusion of a Phase I safety and tolerability study for its investigational Universal Influenza Vaccine, FLU-v, at the World Influenza Congress in Amsterdam (7-9 December).

8 Dec 2010

Novel drug therapy treats brain diseases

Pankaj Karande, a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, is among a new generation of scientists and engineers developing exciting and novel new techniques to treat some of the most complex brain illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and brain cancer.

8 Dec 2010

Scientists work together to wipe out some of the most lethal diseases

Scientists at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have reached a major milestone in the effort to wipe out some of the most lethal diseases on the planet. As leaders of two large structural genomics centers, they've experimentally determined 500 three-dimensional protein structures from a number of bacterial and protozoan pathogens, which could potentially lead to new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to combat deadly infectious diseases.

8 Dec 2010

Swissmedic authorizes Phase I/II clinical trial of human neural stem cells for chronic spinal cord injury

A therapy developed by Aileen Anderson and Brian Cummings of UC Irvine's Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center in collaboration with researchers at StemCells Inc. will be the basis of the world's first clinical trial using human neural stem cells to treat spinal cord injury.

8 Dec 2010

Fluxion Biosciences announces launch of new BioFlux 1000Z system for live cell imaging

Fluxion Biosciences, Inc. announced that the new BioFlux 1000Z system for live cell imaging will be launched at the 50th American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting to be held December 11-15, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA. The BioFlux 1000Z is the latest addition to the BioFlux product family of instruments for cellular analysis under controlled shear flow.

From Fluxion Biosciences 7 Dec 2010

O2h signs agreement to provide chemistry, ADME services to Phytopharm

Executives from Phytopharm Plc (Huntingdon,UK) signed an agreement with O2h (Cambridge, UK, Ahmedabad, India) under which O2h will provide chemistry and ADME services to support drug discovery initiatives at Phytopharm.

6 Dec 2010

IP-K signs agreement to continue NITD research deal for new drug candidates

Institut Pasteur Korea (IP-K) has signed an agreements to continue to mine the chemical compound collection of Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) of Singapore for new drug candidates.

3 Dec 2010

Drug Discovery News and Research

Further Reading

Zenobia, Lundbeck enter research collaboration for LRRK2 Parkinson's disease target

Systematic study on protein-protein interfaces explain "promiscuous" phenomena of its binding

NIH grants $7.5 million for researchers to develop novel compounds in treating nicotine addiction

Synthetic derivative of curry spice can be effective neuroprotective for stroke and TBI

Domainex wins 2010 Genesis Life Science Innovation and Enterprise Programme Of The Year Award

Echo acoustic liquid handler improves discovery of potential therapeutics

NCI initiates crolibulin/cisplatin combination Phase II trial in anaplastic thyroid cancer

Horizon Discovery licenses new human isogenic cell models from Case Western Reserve

Caliper to acquire CRi for $20.0 million

Horizon Discovery secures exclusive rights to human isogenic cell models

Scientists determine 500 three-dimensional protein structures from bacterial and protozoan pathogens

Excreted antibiotics become potential sources of antibiotic resistant genes

Nottingham researchers develop new 'score' to detect heart disease in younger people

SEEK reports Phase I safety trail for investigational flu vaccine

Novel drug therapy treats brain diseases

Scientists work together to wipe out some of the most lethal diseases

Swissmedic authorizes Phase I/II clinical trial of human neural stem cells for chronic spinal cord injury

Fluxion Biosciences announces launch of new BioFlux 1000Z system for live cell imaging

O2h signs agreement to provide chemistry, ADME services to Phytopharm

IP-K signs agreement to continue NITD research deal for new drug candidates

Drug Discovery - Second Edition eBook

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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