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ATP-sensitive potassium channel can contribute to fat deposition and obesity, new study says

A new study involving the University of Iowa, Mayo Clinic and two other institutions provides insight on weight control, suggesting that a ATP-sensitive potassium channel critical to survival and stress adaptation can contribute to fat deposition and obesity.

6 Jan 2010

Tarantula venom protein promising for MD

University at Buffalo biophysicists have found a protein in tarantula venom that shows promise as a potential therapy for muscular dystrophy (MD). They have formed a start-up biotech company in Buffalo -- Rose Pharmaceuticals -- to advance the drug to clinical trials.

30 Dec 2009

Research suggests common mechanism is associated with different human diseases

Inherited mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are associated with many different human diseases, including genetic forms of epilepsy and chronic pain. Theodore Cummins and colleagues, at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, have now determined the functional consequence of three such mutations.

29 Dec 2009

Researchers discover how protein can be controlled and under what circumstances it can go awry

A team of researchers studying the protein that, when defective or absent, causes cystic fibrosis (CF) has made an important discovery about how that protein is normally controlled and under what circumstances it might go awry.

18 Dec 2009

Scientists use optical technique to trace out neurons interaction

Scientists at Harvard University have used light and genetic trickery to trace out neurons' ability to excite or inhibit one another, literally shedding new light on the question of how neurons interact with one another in live animals.

18 Dec 2009

Winner of the 2010 Avanti Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research

Sarah L. Keller, a professor of chemistry and adjunct professor of physics at the University of Washington, has been named the winner of the 2010 Avanti Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research for her innovative and cutting-edge studies on membrane lipids.

11 Dec 2009

Tranzyme Pharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb sign collaboration agreement

Tranzyme Pharma today announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to discover, develop and commercialize novel macrocyclic compounds directed against targets of interest to Bristol-Myers Squibb.

8 Dec 2009

Fluxion Biosciences signs distribution agreement with DI Biotech and Novel Science

Fluxion Biosciences announced today that it has expanded its sales and service network into Asia. The company signed a distribution agreement for its BioFlux™ line with Korea-based DI Biotech. A second agreement with Novel Science covers sales of both the BioFlux and IonFlux™ platforms in Japan. Fluxion has also sold its first BioFlux 1000 system into China.

From Fluxion Biosciences 4 Dec 2009

Inhaled carbon dioxide increases brain acidity and evokes fear behavior: Study

Breathing carbon dioxide can trigger panic attacks, but the biological reason for this effect has not been understood. A new study by University of Iowa researchers shows that carbon dioxide increases brain acidity, which in turn activates a brain protein that plays an important role in fear and anxiety behavior.

26 Nov 2009

Antioxidant found in vegetables can protect cells from damage caused by infection and injury

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that a dietary antioxidant found in such vegetables as broccoli and cauliflower protects cells from damage caused by chemicals generated during the body's inflammatory response to infection and injury. The finding has implications for such inflammation-based disorders as cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegeneration.

17 Nov 2009

Abbott signs agreement to acquire global rights to PanGenetics BV's PG110

Abbott announced today a definitive agreement to acquire the global rights to PanGenetics BV's PG110 fully humanized antibody to Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), expanding the company's pain care portfolio and leveraging its expertise in biologics. PG110 is a novel biologic in Phase I clinical trial development that targets NGF for the treatment of chronic pain.

13 Nov 2009

Researchers find compound that reverses type 1 myotonic dystrophy

A compound already used to treat pneumonia could become a new therapy for an inherited muscular wasting disease, according to researchers at the University of Oregon and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York.

7 Nov 2009

Research reveals new biological function of polycystins in regulating pressure sensing

What is the role of proteins called polycystins in patients with polycystic kidney disease? A team of researchers from CNRS and INSERM, led by Eric Honoré from the Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis/CNRS) has elucidated the molecular and cellular mechanisms linked to polycystin malfunctions that cause this common hereditary disease.

6 Nov 2009

Aureus Pharma to provide new AurSCOPE knowledge databases for sanofi-aventis’ R&D division

Aureus Pharma, a leading provider of knowledge management solutions to accelerate discovery in the life sciences industry, announces today the extension of its knowledge database agreement with sanofi-aventis research & development for an additional three-year term.

5 Nov 2009

Patient enrollment in three late-stage clinical trials completed

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today patient enrollment is complete in three of its late-stage clinical trials.

5 Nov 2009

Third quarter 2009 financial results announced by Synta Pharmaceuticals

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

4 Nov 2009

Caliper Life Sciences to use SRU Biosystems’ label-free BIND technology for new functional assays

SRU Biosystems today announced that Caliper Life Sciences will use SRU Biosystems’ label-free BIND® technology to offer new functional assays as part of its Discovery Alliances and Services.

3 Nov 2009

Optical system for simultaneous imaging electrical and metabolic quantities in the heart

Cardiac rhythm disorders can result from disturbances in cardiac metabolism. These metabolic changes are tightly linked with specific cardiac electrophysiology (CEP) abnormalities, such as depressed excitability, impaired intra- and extracellular conductivities, wave propagation block, and alteration of conduction velocity, action potential amplitude, and duration.

24 Oct 2009

Hydra Biosciences and Cubist Pharmaceuticals join to develop novel ion channel drugs

Hydra Biosciences today announced that they have entered into an agreement with Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for a joint collaboration to develop novel ion channel drugs.

20 Oct 2009

Advanced Projects Group and Cellectricon collaborate to produce the Dynaflow HT patch clamp equipment system

The Automation Partnership (TAP), a world leading supplier of innovative automation for life science applications today announced its Advanced Projects Group, has successfully collaborated with Cellectricon, the Swedish provider of innovative screening solutions for drug discovery, to produce fully automated high throughput patch clamp equipment known as the Dynaflow®HT System.

From Cellectricon 14 Oct 2009