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Stem cell research updates

Two studies have been published this Wednesday in the journal Nature that show that work remains before so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are ready for use in laboratory studies or clinical therapies. These iPS cells are body cells that are programmed to unwind back into an embryonic state. Like embryonic stem cells, they have potential to develop into any other type of cell in the body. However researchers are showing that these cells do not reprogram perfectly.

3 Mar 2011

Marijuana and psychosis linked in a study

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3 Mar 2011

DNA methylation patterns can accurately detect early bowel cancer

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered for the first time that DNA methylation patterns - a key process in cell development - could accurately detect early bowel cancer, according to research published in Gut, today.

3 Mar 2011

FDA approves Amneal's Indomethacin ER capsules

Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC is pleased to announce that it received U.S. FDA approval for Indomethacin Extended Release capsules, USP in the 75 mg strength effective December 1, 2010.

3 Mar 2011

Feet first? Old mitochondria might be responsible for neuropathy in the extremities

The burning, tingling pain of neuropathy may affect feet and hands before other body parts because the powerhouses of nerve cells that supply the extremities age and become dysfunctional as they complete the long journey to these areas, Johns Hopkins scientists suggest in a new study. The finding may eventually lead to new ways to fight neuropathy, a condition that often accompanies other diseases including HIV/AIDS, diabetes and circulatory disorders.

3 Mar 2011

Drugs Council says alcohol fundraisers at schools must stop

The Australian National Council on Drugs called for an end to “wine drives” and alcohol fundraisers at schools. The Federal Government peak advisory body on drug use has warned schools in an open letter by chairman Dr John Herron that selling wine to parents to raise funds may be sending the wrong message to students.

3 Mar 2011

Protalex initiates enrollment in 3rd cohort of PRTX-100 Phase 1b dose escalation clinical study in RA

Protalex, Inc, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which is engaged in developing a class of drugs for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced enrollment of the first patients in the 3rd cohort of its ongoing multicenter Phase 1b dose escalation clinical study of PRTX-100 in adult patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) being conducted in South Africa. The dose was increased by a factor of two from the 2nd cohort.

3 Mar 2011

Warwick begins research, training program to reduce pregnant mother, baby death rates in Malawi

Warwick Medical School has just begun a -2.6 million three year research and training programme to train Malawian clinical officers in a bid to reduce the country's high death rate for pregnant mothers and babies.

3 Mar 2011

Roche, OraSure receive FDA 510(k) clearance for Oral Fluid Drug Testing System

OraSure Technologies, Inc. and Roche announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted the Companies 510(k) clearance on four homogeneous fully automated oral fluid drugs of abuse assays developed to be used exclusively as part of OraSure's Intercept Oral Fluid Drug Testing System.

3 Mar 2011

Novel study deepens understanding of how chromosome replication works

A novel study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet has deepened the understanding of how chromosome replication, one of life's most fundamental processes, works.

3 Mar 2011

CTI meets officials of FDA's OND to support pixantrone NDA

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has met with officials of the FDA's Office of New Drugs in Maryland and presented its arguments supporting the Company's belief that the data contained in its New Drug Application 22-481 support the conclusion that pixantrone is effective for its planned use.

3 Mar 2011

FDA takes action against companies that manufacture unapproved prescription drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today took action against companies that manufacture, distribute, or market certain unapproved prescription oral cough, cold, and allergy products. The affected products cannot be legally marketed in the United States.

3 Mar 2011

Scientists discover genetic process that may allow ovarian cancer to resist chemotherapy

York University researchers have zeroed in on a genetic process that may allow ovarian cancer to resist chemotherapy.

3 Mar 2011

Omeros identifies orphan GPCR compounds associated to pancreatic cancer, cognitive disorders

Omeros Corporation today announced that it has identified compounds that interact selectively with two orphan G protein-coupled receptors linked to pancreatic cancer and cognitive disorders.

3 Mar 2011

IBM announces new Patient Empowerment System

Today IBM announced the next evolution of the patient portal, significantly expanding the types of information, alerts, recommendations and interactive coaching healthcare providers can offer to their patients online.

3 Mar 2011

New breakthrough in immunological research

Immunological research at the University of Haifa, Israel, has made a new breakthrough, revealing a critical component in the "decision-making" process of white blood cells that play a role in the healing process from bacterial inflammation.

3 Mar 2011

U-M scientists identify potential target to treat aggressive prostate cancer

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a potential target to treat an aggressive type of prostate cancer. The target, a gene called SPINK1, could be to prostate cancer what HER2 has become for breast cancer.

3 Mar 2011

FADD protein discovery can lead to better cancer and autoimmune disease drugs

Reporting in Nature, scientists from Thomas Jefferson University have determined that a single protein called FADD controls multiple cell death pathways, a discovery that could lead to better, more targeted autoimmune disease and cancer drugs.

3 Mar 2011

Turmeric may be 'the right spice' to fight colon cancer

Turmeric, a bright yellow spice from south Asia belonging to the ginger family, is the main ingredient in curries - and ancient wisdom suggests that it's also good for your health. Taking this wisdom to the laboratory, Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that turmeric's active ingredient called curcumin amplifies the therapeutic activity of highly toxic anti-inflammatory drugs used to fight colon cancer when used at high doses.

3 Mar 2011

Protein serum amyloid A could be a potential diagnostic biomarker for lung cancer

Scientists are reporting discovery of a protein in the blood of lung cancer patients that could be used in a test for the disease - difficult to diagnose in its earliest and most treatable stages - and to develop drugs that stop lung cancer from spreading. Their study appears in ACS's Journal of Proteome Research.

3 Mar 2011