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.

Babraham Institute research may lead to new means of making purified T cells

Research from the Babraham Institute, reported today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, provides new insights into how our immune system produces T cells, a type of white blood cell that is an essential part of the body's immune surveillance system for fighting infection. The findings pave the way for a new means of making purified T cells, which gets over one of many hurdles faced in the use of T cells in regenerative medicine and transplantations, and in addition will open up new avenues of research and applications in drug and toxicity testing in industry.

18 Jan 2010

Sirnaomics certifies polypeptide nanoparticle technology

Sirnaomics, Inc. (www.sirnaomics.com) announced today that the company has licensed a polypeptide nanoparticle technology invented by Professor A. James Mixson of University of Maryland Medical School.

18 Jan 2010

Metabolon awarded US Patent for ‘metabolomics methods’

Metabolon, Inc., the leader in global metabolism through biomarker discovery and analysis, today announced that it was awarded US Patent 7,635,556 “Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 22, 2009.

18 Jan 2010

Sword Diagnostics launches Raman detection system for ultrasensitive immunoassays

Sword Diagnostics announced today the launch of its proprietary Raman detection system for ultrasensitive immunoassays. The system provides researchers with greater sensitivity which enables more accurate testing of low abundance markers.

18 Jan 2010

Era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding began in 1990's ends

After a decade of remarkable growth, total annual funding for biomedical research in the U.S. has decelerated and may have even fallen when adjusted for inflation. That is the conclusion of a study today published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

13 Jan 2010

The Automation Partnership announces the US launch of Cell-IQ

The Automation Partnership (TAP), a world leader in the design and development of innovative automation for life science applications, today announced the US launch of Cell-IQ® - a live cell observation and analysis system.

13 Jan 2010

Scientists identify fast-acting compound to improve cognitive function impairments

A fast-acting compound that appears to improve cognitive function impairments in mice similar to those found in patients with progressive Alzheimer's disease has been identified by scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program in Drug Discovery.

13 Jan 2010

ALS TDI to receive grant of $1.6M for research and development of potential therapeutics for ALS

In recognition of multiple studies connecting ALS to military service, the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, signed by President Obama on December 22, 2009, provided for the grant of $1.6 million for research and development of potential therapeutics for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease).

12 Jan 2010

miRagen Therapeutics establishes SAB

miRagen Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients’ lives by developing innovative microRNA (miRNA)-based therapeutics for cardiovascular and muscle disease, announced today the formation of the company’s world renowned Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB was established to provide miRagen with valuable guidance in developing an extensive pipeline of microRNA-based drugs and is comprised of leaders who are internationally recognized experts in their respective fields.

12 Jan 2010

MRCT announces licensing deal for development of novel therapy for inflammatory and immune diseases

Georg-August-University Gottingen, University of Regensburg and MRC Technology (MRCT) have signed exclusive license agreements through MBM ScienceBridge GmbH and in agreement with Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH, for the development of a novel therapy of inflammatory and immune diseases based on the depletion of inflammatory monocytes. The first targets will be rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

12 Jan 2010

4SC commences treatment in its resminostat Phase II trial for HL

4SC AG, a drug discovery and development company focused on autoimmune and cancer indications, today announced the treatment of the first patient in a Phase II study evaluating resminostat (4SC-201), an oral pan-histone-deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) patients.

12 Jan 2010

Pharmaron Holdings acquires Bridge Laboratories China

Pharmaron Holdings Limited, today announced it completed the acquisition of Bridge Laboratories China. Bridge Laboratories China is the leading contract research organization (CRO) in China providing western standard GLP-compliant toxicology services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies from around the world. With this acquisition, Pharmaron becomes the first integrated CRO in China supporting clients with drug discovery and development processes in support of IND filings. This strategic acquisition strengthens Pharmaron's leading position in the fast-growing, highly dynamic pharmaceutical CRO industry.

12 Jan 2010

GSK exercises option to obtain exclusive license to develop and commercialize Traficet-EN

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and ChemoCentryx, Inc. today announced that GSK has exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license for further development and worldwide commercialization of Traficet-EN(TM) (CCX282-B), a specific CCR9 antagonist with the potential to offer a new approach for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease.

12 Jan 2010

WuXi AppTec enters into partnership with QIAGEN

WuXi AppTec Inc. today announced that it has entered into a partnership with QIAGEN to provide an integrated single solution for molecular biomarker development, validation and personalized healthcare targets to their respective client bases.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 11 Jan 2010

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals to utilise additional funding in multiple myeloma drug development

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has closed on a $2 million investment from a new undisclosed private investor to bring its total financing to $9.25 million. This new investment will convert to stock in the next substantial round of preferred equity financing.

9 Jan 2010

Proteostasis Therapeutics enters into exclusive license agreement with New York University

Proteostasis Therapeutics announced today that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with New York University for intellectual property related to discoveries from the laboratory of David Ron, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Julius Raynes Professor of Cell Biology at NYU Langone Medical Center’s Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine.

8 Jan 2010

Phase 1 clinical trial of SIRT1 inhibitor for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease commenced

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that its partner, Siena Biotech S.p.A., has commenced Phase 1 clinical testing of Elixir’s potent, first-in-class SIRT1 (sirtuin-1) inhibitor for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease.

8 Jan 2010

Sundia MediTech Company recognized as technically-advanced service enterprise in Shanghai

Sundia MediTech Company, Ltd., a leading pharmaceutical R&D outsourcing Service Company in China, announced that the company has been officially recognized as a technically-advanced service enterprise in Shanghai.

7 Jan 2010

Educational sessions and special workshops highlight advancements in molecular imaging

SNM's Conjoint Mid-Winter Meetings, Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2010, in Albuquerque, N.M., will bring together four scientific meetings under one umbrella. The meeting, which provides attendees with the opportunity to earn up to 25 continuing education credits, will highlight the latest advancements in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. The educational sessions will conclude with special workshops on nanomedicine and clinical trials.

7 Jan 2010

Researchers identify new approach to eliminate side effects of drugs

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have taken an early step toward identifying a new approach to drug discovery that may eventually yield drugs with fewer side effects.

7 Jan 2010

Drug Discovery News and Research

Further Reading

Babraham Institute research may lead to new means of making purified T cells

Sirnaomics certifies polypeptide nanoparticle technology

Metabolon awarded US Patent for ‘metabolomics methods’

Sword Diagnostics launches Raman detection system for ultrasensitive immunoassays

Era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding began in 1990's ends

The Automation Partnership announces the US launch of Cell-IQ

Scientists identify fast-acting compound to improve cognitive function impairments

ALS TDI to receive grant of $1.6M for research and development of potential therapeutics for ALS

miRagen Therapeutics establishes SAB

MRCT announces licensing deal for development of novel therapy for inflammatory and immune diseases

4SC commences treatment in its resminostat Phase II trial for HL

Pharmaron Holdings acquires Bridge Laboratories China

GSK exercises option to obtain exclusive license to develop and commercialize Traficet-EN

WuXi AppTec enters into partnership with QIAGEN

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals to utilise additional funding in multiple myeloma drug development

Proteostasis Therapeutics enters into exclusive license agreement with New York University

Phase 1 clinical trial of SIRT1 inhibitor for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease commenced

Sundia MediTech Company recognized as technically-advanced service enterprise in Shanghai

Educational sessions and special workshops highlight advancements in molecular imaging

Researchers identify new approach to eliminate side effects of drugs

Drug Discovery - Second Edition eBook

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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